Best Embedded Development IDEs in 2026
Updated
In short: Arm Keil MDK is ranked #1 of 27 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of C2000Ware and CS+. The best-ranked option with a free plan is C2000Ware. The lowest first paid tier on this page is PlatformIO IDE at $20.75/mo.
Building software for embedded devices calls for tools that match your targets and hardware workflow. Compare supported targets and RTOS support alongside hardware probe support, integrated debugging, and integrated flashing. Desktop platforms and free plan availability can help you assess access and compatibility, while “Paid from” provides a pricing point. The ranking starts with Arm Keil MDK, C2000Ware, and CS+, followed by PlatformIO IDE and Arduino IDE. ESP-IDF Extension for VS Code and MPLAB X IDE are also among the first entries. Use the listed capabilities to weigh which IDEs fit the devices and development tasks you work with.
27 embedded development IDEs ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
27ranked
10free plans on this page
$20.75/molowest paid tier
4 Oct 2026last checked
#1 Arm Keil MDK Top pick · 7.4 Free plan · $99/mo
#2 C2000Ware Runner-up · 7.3 Free plan · Free
#3 CS+ Also great · 7.2 Free plan · Free- Free plan apiextensionLinuxmacOSWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Supported targets
- Arm Cortex-M, Armv8-M, SecurCore and legacy Arm microcontrollers; Ethos-U processors; Fast Models
- Integrated debugging
- Yes
- Hardware probe support
- both
- RTOS support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$99/mofirst paid tier About Arm Keil MDKVisit site - Free plan LinuxmacOSWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Supported targets
- Sitara, DSP, Automotive, Keystone, SimpleLink, C2000, MSP430, TM4C, Hercules, UCD, PGA, wireless connectivity devices and radar sensors
- Integrated debugging
- Yes
- Hardware probe support
- vendor
- RTOS support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free plan LinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Supported targets
- RA Family, RZ Family, RL78 Family, RX Family, RH850 Family, RISC-V MCU
- Integrated debugging
- Yes
- Hardware probe support
- both
- RTOS support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree About CS+Visit site - Free plan extensionLinuxmacOSself-hostedWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Supported targets
- Aceinna IMU, Atmel AVR, Atmel megaAVR, Atmel SAM, CHIPS Alliance, Espressif 32, Espressif 8266, Freescale Kinetis, Heltec CubeCell, Intel ARC32, Intel MCS-51 (8051), Lattice iCE40, Maxim 32, Microchip PIC32, Nordic nRF51, Nordic nRF52, NXP i.MX RT, NXP LPC, OpenHW Group, Raspberry Pi RP2040, Renesas RA, RISC-V GAP, Shakti, SiFive, Silicon Labs EFM32, ST STM32, ST STM8, Teensy, TI MSP430, TI TIVA
- Integrated debugging
- Yes
- Hardware probe support
- both
- RTOS support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$20.75/mofirst paid tier About PlatformIO IDEVisit site - Free plan LinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Supported targets
- Arduino AVR, megaAVR, SAMD, SAM, Mbed OS Nano, Mbed OS Portenta
- Integrated debugging
- Yes
- Hardware probe support
- both
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free plan extensionLinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Supported targets
- ESP32, ESP32-S2, ESP32-S3, ESP32-C2, ESP32-C3, ESP32-C5, ESP32-C6, ESP32-C61, ESP32-H2, ESP32-H21, ESP32-H4, ESP32-P4
- Integrated debugging
- Yes
- Hardware probe support
- both
- RTOS support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free plan LinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Supported targets
- PIC, dsPIC, AVR, SAM, PIC32 and other Microchip MCU, DSC and MPU families
- Integrated debugging
- Yes
- Hardware probe support
- vendor
- RTOS support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free plan extensionLinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Supported targets
- nRF91, nRF70, nRF53, and nRF52 Series devices
- Integrated debugging
- Yes
- Hardware probe support
- third-party
- RTOS support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free plan LinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free trial LinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- No
- Supported targets
- Cortex-M, Cortex-A, Cortex-R, ARM7, ARM9, ARM11, Feroceon, XScale
- Integrated debugging
- Yes
- Hardware probe support
- both
- RTOS support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free plan Windows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Supported targets
- Ambiq, Android, Espressif, GigaDevice, Infineon, JavaScript/WebGL, Microchip, NXP Semiconductors, Raspberry Pi, Renesas, STMicroelectronics, Texas Instruments; 90+ Platform Packages
- Integrated debugging
- Yes
- RTOS support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms€199/mofirst paid tier About Embedded WizardVisit site - WindowsmacOSLinux
- Free plan
- Yes
- Supported targets
- STM32 microcontrollers and microprocessors; all STM32 MCUs and MPUs
- Integrated debugging
- Yes
- Hardware probe support
- both
- RTOS support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - WindowsLinux
- Free plan
- No
- Supported targets
- SHARC-FX, SHARC, Blackfin, Arm, ADuCM302x, ADuCM36x, ADuCM4x50, ADSP-SC5xx, ADSP-SC57x, ADSP-SC58x, ADSP-SC59x, ADSP-2183x
- Integrated debugging
- Yes
- Hardware probe support
- vendor
- RTOS support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - WindowsLinux
- Supported targets
- ARM AArch32/AArch64; Power Architecture; AURIX/TriCore; RH850; Intel x86/x64; RISC-V
- Integrated debugging
- Yes
- Hardware probe support
- both
- RTOS support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - WindowsLinux
- Free plan
- Yes
- Supported targets
- NuMicro 8-bit; NuMicro Cortex-M; NuMicro Cortex-A bare metal
- Integrated debugging
- Yes
- Hardware probe support
- vendor
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Windows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Supported targets
- AURIX TC2xx, TC3xx, TC4xx
- Integrated debugging
- Yes
- Hardware probe support
- both
- RTOS support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Windows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Supported targets
- GD32 Arm Cortex-M3, Cortex-M4, Cortex-M23, Cortex-M33, Cortex-M7, and GD32VW5 RISC-V MCUs
- Integrated debugging
- Yes
- Hardware probe support
- both
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Windows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Supported targets
- 8051 microcontrollers, including Microchip/Atmel AT89 and Silicon Labs C8051 families; 202 MCUs documented
- Integrated debugging
- Yes
- Hardware probe support
- vendor
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Windows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Supported targets
- AVR microcontrollers (214 devices)
- Integrated debugging
- Yes
- Hardware probe support
- both
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Windows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Supported targets
- Microchip PIC microcontrollers; over 808 MCUs
- Integrated debugging
- Yes
- Hardware probe support
- vendor
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Windows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Supported targets
- Rabbit 2000, Rabbit 3000, Rabbit 4000, Rabbit 5000, Rabbit 6000
- Integrated debugging
- Yes
- Hardware probe support
- third-party
- RTOS support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - WindowsLinux
- Free plan
- No
- Supported targets
- Arm, RISC-V, Renesas RL78, Renesas RH850, Renesas RX, STM8, AVR32, MSP430, 8051, AVR, Renesas 78K, Renesas V850, Renesas M16C/R8C
- Integrated debugging
- Yes
- Hardware probe support
- both
- RTOS support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Windows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Supported targets
- Arduino-compatible boards, ESP8266, ESP32
- Integrated debugging
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Windows
- Free plan
- No
- Supported targets
- ARM Cortex-M0, M0+, M3, M4, M7; STM32; NXP Kinetis; Microchip ARM; Texas Instruments Tiva
- Integrated debugging
- Yes
- Hardware probe support
- both
- RTOS support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Windows
- Supported targets
- dsPIC30, dsPIC33, PIC24
- Integrated debugging
- Yes
- Hardware probe support
- vendor
- RTOS support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which embedded development IDE is ranked first on Everything Xiaomi?
Arm Keil MDK is ranked #1 of 27 with a score of 7.4. C2000Ware is second and CS+ third.
How many of these have a free plan?
10 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, PlatformIO IDE has the lowest first paid tier we found: $20.75/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes: documentation depth, a free tier and the platforms it runs on. Paid placements never change a rank.
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