Best Android Studio Alternatives in 2025

Looking for alternatives to Android Studio? In this comparison, we take a closer look at Android Studio alongside similar software solutions including Android Studio, IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition, Java SDK SE, AppWizard, Visual Studio Community 2017, Visual Studio Community 2019, IntelliJ IDEA, LDPlayer, Joplin, NetBeans IDE and CapCut.

Our detailed comparison table highlights key features, pricing, and performance of these leading solutions, empowering you to make an informed decision. Whether you're seeking robust functionality, user-friendly design, or cost-effective alternatives, explore how Android Studio, IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition, Java SDK SE, AppWizard, Visual Studio Community 2017, Visual Studio Community 2019, IntelliJ IDEA, LDPlayer, Joplin, NetBeans IDE and CapCut stack up to find the perfect software for your goals.

Platform Support

Android Studio
Android Studio
Supports Android app development on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition
IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition
Cross-platform, supports Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Java SDK SE
Java SDK SE
Platform-independent environment runnable on various systems.
AppWizard
AppWizard
Supports both iOS and Android app development.
Visual Studio Community 2017
Visual Studio Community 2017
Supports Windows; supports Android and iOS app development.
Visual Studio Community 2019
Visual Studio Community 2019
Supports Windows; supports desktop, web, mobile, gaming, IoT apps.
IntelliJ IDEA
IntelliJ IDEA
Cross-platform IDE for Windows, macOS, Linux.
LDPlayer
LDPlayer
Windows only (Android emulator).
Joplin
Joplin
Cross-platform note-taking app for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS.
NetBeans IDE
NetBeans IDE
Cross-platform on Windows, macOS, Linux.
CapCut
CapCut
Mobile video editing on Android and iOS.

Primary Use Case

Android Studio
Android Studio
Integrated development environment for Android app development.
IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition
IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition
General-purpose IDE focusing on Java and JVM languages; free edition.
Java SDK SE
Java SDK SE
Software Development Kit for Java with standard libraries and tools.
AppWizard
AppWizard
App builder platform with drag-and-drop interface for non-coders.
Visual Studio Community 2017
Visual Studio Community 2017
Full featured IDE supporting various programming languages and apps including mobile development.
Visual Studio Community 2019
Visual Studio Community 2019
Feature-rich IDE with advanced functionalities for various application types.
IntelliJ IDEA
IntelliJ IDEA
Advanced Java IDE with powerful coding assistance and advanced refactoring; commercial and free editions.
LDPlayer
LDPlayer
Android emulator optimized for gaming on Windows PCs.
Joplin
Joplin
Open-source note-taking and to-do list application supporting Markdown and synchronization.
NetBeans IDE
NetBeans IDE
IDE for Java and other languages with modular architecture and plugin ecosystem.
CapCut
CapCut
Mobile video editing application targeting social media content creators.

Programming Languages Supported/Focus

Android Studio
Android Studio
Primarily Java, Kotlin, Groovy; optimized for Android apps development.
IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition
IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition
Java, Kotlin, Groovy, Scala, JavaScript among others via plugins.
Java SDK SE
Java SDK SE
Java language and platform libraries; supports JVM languages like Kotlin, Scala.
AppWizard
AppWizard
No coding required; focus on user without programming skills.
Visual Studio Community 2017
Visual Studio Community 2017
C#, C++, Visual Basic, Python, JavaScript, TypeScript among others.
Visual Studio Community 2019
Visual Studio Community 2019
Similar to 2017 with extensive multi-language support including Python and C++.
IntelliJ IDEA
IntelliJ IDEA
Java and JVM languages plus support for PHP, JavaScript etc. in Ultimate edition.
LDPlayer
LDPlayer
'Supports running Android apps developed in any language compatible with Android.'
Joplin
Joplin
Focuses on note-taking; supports Markdown syntax.
NetBeans IDE
NetBeans IDE
Java primarily; also supports C++, HTML5, PHP via plugins.
CapCut
CapCut
Not applicable — video editing app without coding features.

Licensing and Cost Model

Android Studio
Android Studio
Free and open-source software provided by Google.
IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition
IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition
Free and open-source edition without official support or certain advanced features.
Java SDK SE
Java SDK SE
Free to use under Oracle Binary Code License Agreement with restrictions on commercial use versions.
AppWizard
AppWizard
Subscription based pricing plans with 24/7 support; no long-term commitments required.
Visual Studio Community 2017
Visual Studio Community 2017
Free for individual developers but restricted license terms in enterprise environments.
Visual Studio Community 2019
Visual Studio Community 2019
Free version with paid versions available offering more support and features.
IntelliJ IDEA
IntelliJ IDEA
Community Edition is free; Ultimate Edition is paid with additional features and support.
LDPlayer
LDPlayer
Free Android emulator with no hidden fees or malware risks mentioned.
Joplin
Joplin
Completely free and open source note-taking software.
NetBeans IDE
NetBeans IDE
Open source under Apache License; free to use including commercial use.
CapCut
CapCut
Free app available on mobile platforms without subscription noted.

Choosing the right software isn’t just about features. Size, license type, user ratings, and popularity also matter.

This quick comparison shows how Android Studio stacks up against Android Studio, IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition, Java SDK SE, AppWizard, Visual Studio Community 2017, Visual Studio Community 2019, IntelliJ IDEA, LDPlayer, Joplin, NetBeans IDE and CapCut in these key areas—helping you find the best alternative for your needs.