--- title: "Microsoft Visual Studio Pricing 2026 | Capterra" description: "Learn more about Microsoft Visual Studio pricing plans including starting price, free versions and trials." source_url: "https://www.capterra.com/p/80230/microsoft-visual-studio/pricing/" page_type: "pricing" language: "en" --- # Microsoft Visual Studio Pricing - Overall rating: 4.6 out of 5 from [3,014 reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/80230/microsoft-visual-studio/reviews/) - Starting at $45.00 per month - Free trial: Available - Free version: Available - Credit card required: Not provided by vendor --- ## How much does Microsoft Visual Studio cost? Microsoft Visual Studio has **5 different plans**. The pricing **starts at $45 per user per month** with a free plan available. ### Enterprise Standard - Price: $499.92 - Billing: Per User, Per Month #### Enterprise Standard plan includes: - Visual Studio Enterprise - Azure DevOps (Basic + Test Plan) - $150 Azure Credit Per Month - Premium Dev/Test Software - Extended Training And Support - Power BI Pro - Perpetual IDE License Included - Azure DevOps Server License And CAL Included - Test Plans Included - Self-Hosted Pipelines Included - Artifacts Included - Microsoft 365 Developer Subscription (E5) - Windows Store Developer Account - Windows Virtual Desktop - Microsoft 365 Apps For Enterprise - Office Professional Plus 2021 (Licensed For One Device) - Pluralsight Training (12 Months Included) - CODE Magazine (12 Months Included) - Cloud Academy (12 Months Included) - Dometrain (50% Discount For 12 Months) - DevForge (50% Discount For 12 Months) - Technical Support (4 Incidents) - Developer Community Access - Concierge Chat - Azure Community Access - Microsoft Q&A Access - Microsoft Tech Community Access ### Professional Standard - Price: $99.99 - Billing: Per User, Per Month #### Professional Standard plan includes: - Visual Studio Professional - Azure DevOps (Basic Plan) - $50 Azure Credit Per Month - Basic Dev/Test Software - Training And Support - Perpetual IDE License Included - Azure DevOps Server License And CAL Included - Artifacts Included - Microsoft 365 Developer Subscription (E5) - Windows Store Developer Account - Windows Virtual Desktop - Pluralsight Training (6 Months Included) - CODE Magazine (12 Months Included) - Cloud Academy (12 Months Included) - Dometrain (50% Discount For 12 Months) - DevForge (50% Discount For 12 Months) - Technical Support (2 Incidents) - Developer Community Access - Concierge Chat - Azure Community Access - Microsoft Q&A Access - Microsoft Tech Community Access ### Enterprise Monthly - Price: $250.00 - Billing: Per User, Per Month #### Enterprise Monthly plan includes: - Visual Studio Enterprise - Azure DevOps (Basic + Test Plan) - Microsoft SQL Server Developer Edition - Test Plans Included - Self-Hosted Pipelines Included - Artifacts Included ### Professional Monthly - Price: $45.00 - Billing: Per User, Per Month #### Professional Monthly plan includes: - Visual Studio Professional - Azure DevOps (Basic Plan) - Microsoft SQL Server Developer Edition - Artifacts Included ### IDE Standalone - Price: $499.00 - Billing: Flat Rate, One Time #### IDE Standalone plan includes: - Perpetual Licensing Without Subscription Benefits --- ## Is Microsoft Visual Studio worth the price? ### Value for Money - Overall rating: 4.4 out of 5 - Good or excellent value for money: 88% AI summary based on 311 value-for-money rating reviews: Reviewers indicate that Microsoft Visual Studio offers a variety of versions, including Visual Studio Code, Professional, and Enterprise, each with additional features corresponding to their costs. Users appreciate the free Community edition, which provides essential functionalities and is particularly beneficial for students and individual developers. However, some reviewers feel that the cost of the Professional and Enterprise editions can be prohibitive for freelancers, small teams, or companies with limited budgets. #### Rating breakdown - Ease of use: 4.3 - Customer service: 4.2 - Features: 4.6 - Ease of deployment: 4.5 - Likelihood to recommend: 85% Based on 3,014 total Microsoft Visual Studio reviews. --- ## How does Microsoft Visual Studio compare to other alternatives? Microsoft Visual Studio's $45 per user per month starting price is toward the higher end compared to its best alternatives; alternatives start between $4 and $29. Microsoft Visual Studio pricing comparison | Product | Plans | Starting price | Free version | Free trial | Value for Money | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Microsoft Visual Studio — 4.6 out of 5 ([3,014 reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/80230/microsoft-visual-studio/reviews/)) | 5 plans | $45.00 /user/mo | Available | Available | 4.4 | | [GitLab](https://www.capterra.com/p/159806/GitLab/) — 4.6 out of 5 ([1,226 reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/159806/GitLab/reviews/)) | 1 plan | $29.00 /user/mo | Available | Available | 4.5 | | [Essential Studio](https://www.capterra.com/p/228226/Essential-Studio/) — 4.5 out of 5 ([946 reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/228226/Essential-Studio/reviews/)) | 5 plans | Not available | Available | Available | 4.6 | | [GitHub](https://www.capterra.com/p/129067/GitHub/) — 4.8 out of 5 ([6,205 reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/129067/GitHub/reviews/)) | 3 plans | $4.00 /user/mo | Available | Available | 4.6 | | [Jira](https://www.capterra.com/p/19319/JIRA/) — 4.4 out of 5 ([15,483 reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/19319/JIRA/reviews/)) | 5 plans | $7.91 /user/mo | Available | Available | 4.3 | --- ## What reviewers say about Microsoft Visual Studio's pricing ### What they like - **Microsoft Visual Studio offers a variety of versions** Including Visual Studio Code, Professional, and Enterprise, each with additional features corresponding to their costs. Users appreciate the free Community edition, which provides essential functionalities and is particularly beneficial for students and individual developers. - **The free version is sufficient for many use cases** And the availability of multiple extensions enhances its value. Some users report that the Professional and Enterprise versions are good value for money for larger team projects, despite the higher cost. - **The free trial of the paid versions** Which allows them to test the software before committing financially. ### What holds them back - **The cost of the Professional and Enterprise editions can be prohibitive for freelancers** Small teams, or companies with limited budgets. They mention that the licensing fees are high and that maintaining enterprise licenses can be expensive. - **The software can be resource-intensive** Requiring high-end hardware, which adds to the overall cost. Others find the numerous versions and pricing models confusing and feel that the Community edition lacks some advanced features available in the paid versions. ## Price & value in reviewers' words * * * 5 out of 5 stars > "I love its versatility, you can code free of charge from anywhere and the software is user-friendly as even a beginner can navigate through it easily." Reviewer: Verified Reviewer Role: RETAIL MARKETING OFFICER * * * 5 out of 5 stars > "Visual Studio is the best tool to create and open vsc apps in the market , having the free version being completely fool of top tools ." Reviewer: Tiago M. Role: Owner * * * 3 out of 5 stars > "Some features can feel bloated, and licensing costs may be high for smaller teams." Reviewer: Verified Reviewer Role: App Developer * * * 4 out of 5 stars > "Other than the free community edition, the paid versions can be expensive for individuals." Reviewer: Paul S. Role: Software Engineer [Check all reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/80230/microsoft-visual-studio/reviews/)