10 Best Python IDEs To Use [2025]
IDE stands for Integrated Development Environment is software that facilitates the programmers to develop applications. It provides a bundle of functionalities like writing the code, highlighting the errors, debugging, testing the code, etc.
In this article, we are going to have an overview of the Best Python IDE and the features a developer must know and take into account before choosing one for their project. Let's also discuss a few points about Python programming and why Python IDE is used instead of a text editor.
What is IDE?
Python IDEs (Integrated Development Platforms) are dedicated platforms to code, compile, run, test, and debug python code. It is said that Python IDEs understand the code better than any text editors. They possess an integrated build process.
Why Python IDE instead of a Text Editor?
IDEs contain vast packages and libraries and are best for file management. Highlighting features to improve the code readability, auto-completion of the code, and code suggestions are other important functionalities of an IDE.
| IDE | Code Editor |
|---|---|
| Feature-rich environment with built-in tools for coding, debugging, testing, version control, etc. | Primarily focused on writing and editing code, with limited built-in functionalities. |
| Steeper learning curve due to the abundance of features and options. | Easier to learn and use, with a simpler interface and fewer bells and whistles. |
| Ideal for complex projects requiring various development tools and functionalities. | Perfect for smaller projects or programmers who prefer a lightweight and customizable coding environment. |
Top 10 Best Python IDEs 2025
Here is the list of Top Python IDEs for 2025:
Table of Content
1. PyCharm
PyCharm is an Integrated Development Environment specifically for the development of applications in Python and Java. Its functionalities include analysis of the code, a graphical debugger, etc. PyCharm helps to easily connect with a database. It contains an integrated unit tester and other testing frameworks such as pytest, nose, doctest, tox, and trial. PyCharm has got a lot of shortcuts to search and navigate different files and projects. It supports a lot of popular Version Control systems such as Git (and Github), Mercurial, Perforce, and Subversion.
PyCharm is available in two versions, namely the professional and community. The community edition is open-sourced and free with limited but adequate features whereas the professional edition comes with a price and contains many extraordinary features.
Key Features
- Code Analysis and Refactoring: PyCharm provides sophisticated static code analysis, detects code smells, and offers quick fixes, refactoring, and code suggestions based on Python best practices.
- Integrated Debugger and Profiler: Debugging is made seamless with advanced breakpoints, live variable monitoring, and a profiler to analyse performance bottlenecks.
- Database Integration: Native database management tools allow you to connect, browse, and query SQL databases from within the IDE.
Pricing:
- Community Edition: Free, with core Python features.
- Professional Edition: Paid, includes advanced web development and database tools.
2. IDLE
IDLE (Integrated Development and Learning Environment) is a dedicated platform or software to develop Python applications. It is a full-fledged editor that is used to create, modify, and execute python code. It can also be used like the Python Shell to execute single statements. Python IDLE would be of great help, especially to beginners.
Basic syntax highlighting, auto-completion of the code, auto-indentation, call tips, code context, etc. are a few noteworthy features. It also comes with a debugging tool. Stack Viewer is one of the underlining features of IDLE as it helps to trace back the error or exception that is encountered. It also allows the customization of fonts, keys, extensions, highlights, etc. IDLE is open-sourced and available free of charge.
Key Features
- Interactive Shell: IDLE’s interactive shell allows you to execute Python code one statement at a time, making it a great learning tool.
- Simple Debugger: Provides basic debugging capabilities such as stepping through code and inspecting variables.
- Auto-Completion: A basic auto-completion feature helps you avoid syntax errors as you write.
Pricing:
- Free: Open-source and bundled with Python installation.
3. Visual Studio Code
Visual Studio Code referred to as VS Code is a lightweight source code editor used to develop projects in various programming languages such as Python, HTML, C, C#, JavaScript, etc. The User Interface is well-documented and user-friendly with custom themes. The Python extension allows the user to code Python scripts in CS Code. The various features that support development include code completion with the help of IntelliSense, debugging and testing supports, use of conda and virtual environments, etc.
VS code also provides linting support using linters like pylint, bandit, flake8, etc. Linting is a process that analyses the code and flags potential problems. The addition of an a.git folder in the project turns on Git functionality, enabling tasks like commit, push, pull, check-out, and many more. Visual Studio Code is free and built on open source.
Key Features
- IntelliSense and Code Completion: Uses IntelliSense for autocompletion, quick suggestions, and method signatures based on context.
- Integrated Git Support: Built-in Git capabilities allow for seamless version control operations like commit, push, pull, branch management, etc.
- Customizable Extensions: A vast array of extensions available to add language support, debuggers, and other development tools.
Pricing:
- Free: Open-source with extensive customization options.
4. Replit
Replit is a cloud-based IDE that allows you to write, run, and collaborate on Python code directly from your browser. It is a powerful and versatile platform suitable for both beginners and advanced developers. Replit supports a wide variety of programming languages, with Python being one of its core offerings. It stands out due to its collaborative features, ease of use, and accessibility, making it a top choice for anyone looking to develop Python applications on the go.
Replit provides a rich set of features for code execution, debugging, and collaboration. Its cloud-based nature means you can access and work on your projects from any device, without the need to install anything on your computer. Additionally, Replit provides an easy-to-use interface, real-time collaboration, and the ability to share your code instantly with others.
Key Features
- Cloud-based Development: Replit allows you to write and execute Python code from any browser, eliminating the need for local setup.
- Real-Time Collaboration: You can collaborate with others in real time, making it easy to work on projects together, share code, and review each other’s work.
- Integrated Debugger: Replit includes an interactive debugger that helps identify issues in your code and fixes them quickly
Pricing:
- Free: Open-source, no paid version.
- Paid Plans: Replit offers several premium plans that unlock additional resources like private projects, more computing power, and faster performance
5. Sublime Text
Sublime text is a source code editor said to support many programming and markup languages. However, its Python support is considered the best. Since it has got a rich package ecosystem. Sublime text can be fine-tuned easily to what you are using it for. The Auto Docstring is a feature that creates a template for a selected class, function, or method when enabled. Anaconda Plugin helps with auto-completion of code, highlighting the syntax errors, navigate to anywhere in the project like function, object usage, etc.
Git Integration is also made easy with Sublime Text. Sublime Text uses a custom UI toolkit, optimized for speed and beauty while taking advantage of native functionality on each platform. Sublime Text may be free to be downloaded and evaluate, however, a license is required for continued use which must be purchased. Each subscription has its own business name and billing cycle.
Key Features
- Goto Anything: Quickly navigate to any file, symbol, or line of code within the project.
- Command Palette: A powerful feature to perform various operations, such as switching files, running scripts, or accessing settings.
- Package Control: The package manager allows easy installation of plugins and extensions to enhance functionality.
Pricing:
- Free to Evaluate: Requires a paid license for continued use.
If you're a Linux user, you can read out the 6 Best Python IDE For Linux
6. Spyder
Spyder is an open-source Integrated Development Environment that is written in Python for Python. It is referred to as a powerful scientific environment. It is specifically built to be used for data science. The customizable interface lets the user change themes, syntax color, font, etc. based on user preference.
Spyder IDE allows its users to install different packages and modules with a simple command-line code. Introspection, code completion, a debugger linked to IPdb, static code analysis by Pylint, an internal console, file documentation, etc. are the key features. Further, there are a variety of plugins available. Spyder is free to use and there is no paid version.
Key Features
- IPython Console: Features an interactive console for running Python commands and scripts with inline plotting.
- Variable Explorer: A tool for inspecting variables, data structures, and objects directly within the IDE.
- Scientific Libraries Integration: Built-in support for data science tools such as NumPy, SciPy, and Matplotlib.
Pricing:
- Free: Open-source and community-supported.
7. PyDev
PyDev, a plug-in for Eclipse is an Integrated Development Environment used for programming in Python Programming Language. In order to use PyDev, we have to first install followed by Eclipse Integrated Development Environment. Code completion, code analysis, refactoring, Django integration, debugger, etc. are the notable features that make an advanced type interface.
Earlier, two versions were available, the free version and the other one named PyDev Extensions which was a paid one with a few advanced features. However, now the Eclipse Public License covers the combined version of PyDev and PyDev Extensions.
Key Features
- Code Completion: Advanced code completion capabilities, offering method/function signatures and arguments.
- Django Support: Full Django support for template debugging, managing views, and model structures.
- Integrated Python Debugger: Allows breakpoints, stack inspection, and evaluation of Python expressions during debugging.
Pricing:
- Free: Open-source, with extended features available via the PyDev Extensions.
8. Jupyter
Jupyter Notebook is another Integrated Development Environment specifically used for Data Science. It can be executed on a local desktop or can be installed on a remote server. Installing Anaconda would be the first step, to begin with in using Jupyter. It is an interactive computational environment. The interface is similar to a word processor.
As Jupyter is more specifically designed for data science investigations, it revolves around the concepts of kernels and cells. Pandas, Matplotlib, Seaborn, Numpy, etc. could easily work with data and plot charts. The documents created in Jupyter might contain visualizations, equations, narrative text, etc. Jupyter is open-sourced and free to use.
Key Features
- Interactive Data Science: Execute code in blocks (cells) with immediate feedback, which is ideal for iterative analysis and visualization.
- Inline Plotting and Visualization: Supports inline plotting with libraries like Matplotlib, enabling data scientists to visualize data easily.
- Notebook Sharing: Allows sharing of notebooks with live code, text, and visualizations, making it great for collaborative work.
Pricing:
- Free: Open-source, available for local or cloud-based setups.
9. Thonny
Thonny is a dedicated IDE for python that is specifically useful for beginners. It is best used to program the ESP32, ESP8266 boards, Raspberry Pi, etc. as it provides support for CPython and MicroPython. Thonny IDE has a basic interface with key features like highlighting errors, code completion, step-by-step expression evaluation, debugging, etc.
Though recommended for beginners, it serves as a great developing environment for full-fledged Python projects. The Installation and setup process is also simple as it comes with a built-in Python version. Install and code is all it takes. Thonny also provides a whole variety of plugins that could be installed. Thonny is a free Python Integrated Development Environment.
Key Features
- Beginner-Friendly Interface: A simple interface with easy-to-understand tools for beginners to start coding in Python.
- Expression Evaluation: Thonny allows step-by-step evaluation of code, making it easier to learn how Python expressions are executed.
- Automatic Package Management: Handles package installations and dependencies easily for users.
Pricing:
- Free: Open-source and beginner-friendly.
10. PyScripter
PyScripter is a lightweight Integrated Development Platform designed specifically for Python. Integrated Python Interpreter, Syntax highlighting, Integrated testing framework, regular expression testing, find and replace options, debugging, etc. are the few features that stand out. It contains a Modern Graphical User Interface with docked forms and a configurable look.
Coding and scripting are made easy. The project manager includes import extant directories and multiple run configurations. It also allows the integration of external tools like Pylint. It is now available only for windows. PyScripter is free and open-sourced.
Key Features
- Fast Execution: PyScripter allows for lightning-fast code execution with minimal latency.
- Built-in Debugger: Includes advanced debugging tools with step-through code and call stack inspection.
- External Tool Integration: Allows integration with external tools such as Pylint and version control systems.
Pricing:
- Free: Open-source, though currently only available on Windows.
Comparison Table
| IDE | Code Analysis | Debugger | Extensibility | Git Integration | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PyCharm | Static code analysis, refactoring, error detection | Advanced debugger, profiler | Plugin ecosystem for web dev, database | Full Git support | Full-stack Python development, professional |
| IDLE | Basic syntax error detection | Simple debugger | Limited extensibility | No native Git support | Ideal for beginners and learning |
| VS Code | IntelliSense, linting with extensions | Powerful debugging tools | Highly extensible with thousands of plugins | Integrated Git and GitHub support | General-purpose coding in multiple languages |
| Replit | Basic linting with plugins | Basic debugging | Highly customizable, plugin-driven | Git and GitHub integration | Lightweight editor for versatile projects |
| Sublime Text | Limited code analysis, uses plugins for linting | Basic debugging | Extensible via Package Control | Git plugin available | Fast code editing, general Python scripting |
| Spyder | Static code analysis with Pylint | Integrated debugging with IPdb | Limited plugin support | No native Git support | Data science and scientific computing |
| PyDev | Intelligent code completion, static analysis | Advanced Python debugging | Good extensibility via Eclipse plugins | Git integration via Eclipse | Eclipse-based Python and Django development |
| Jupyter Notebook | Code execution with visual feedback | No traditional debugger | Extensions available | No Git integration | Data science, research, and teaching |
| Thonny | Basic error detection | Simple, beginner-friendly debugger | Minimal extensibility | No Git support | Python learning and beginner projects |
| PyScripter | Syntax highlighting and Pylint integration | Advanced debugging tools | Limited extensibility | No native Git support | Lightweight Python scripting (Windows) |
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Conclusion
The above article must have given an overall idea about list of top Python IDE. These Python IDE come with immense features designed to build perfect web applications. It is important to select an appropriate developing environment for the project to be more effective. Hence go through all of the features mentioned and choose the best one.
