9 Best IDEs for Android Development of 2026

1. 1

   Android Studio

   Google's official IDE for Android app development, built on IntelliJ IDEA's editor and developer tools.

   9.5overall

   Google's official IDE for Android app development, built on IntelliJ IDEA's editor and developer tools.

   Best forDevelopers building native Android apps in Kotlin or Java, including Jetpack Compose, Wear OS, TV and car apps.

   Adoption data

   15%In the 2025 Stack Overflow Developer Survey, 15% of all respondents said they used Android Studio regularly, the same share as PyCharm.

   Stack Overflow, Technology, 2025 Stack Overflow Developer Survey (2025): “PyCharm 15% Android Studio 15%”

   Android Studio is the default choice for native Android work, and Google describes it as the official IDE for Android app development. It is built on the code editor and developer tools from IntelliJ IDEA, then adds Android-specific pieces: a Gradle build system driven by the Android Gradle plugin, build variants for free and paid versions of an app, resource shrinking that works with R8, and lint checks for performance, usability and API compatibility. Testing is well covered, with the Android Emulator, Android Device Streaming, UI test tooling and code coverage reports. Live Edit pushes Jetpack Compose changes to an emulator or phone in real time, and the profilers record system traces, heap dumps and power use. Gemini in Android Studio adds an AI agent, and Google offers individuals a no-cost tier with a limited quota. The IDE itself is free. Its scope is the limit: it targets Android devices, so cross-platform teams often pair it with another editor.

   Strengths

   • +Google builds it specifically for Android, so new platform features land here first
   • +Covers phones, tablets, foldables, Wear OS, Android TV, Android XR and cars in one environment
   • +Profilers for CPU, memory, power and jank are built in

   Limitations

   • −Focused on Android, so iOS and desktop work need other tools unless you use Kotlin Multiplatform
   • −The emulator and Gradle builds are heavy on RAM and disk
   • −Paid Gemini tiers for teams are priced separately from the free IDE

   SummaryAndroid Studio is the most complete free IDE for native Android apps and the one Google documents first. Start here unless your app is built with a game engine or a non-Kotlin framework.

2. 2

   Visual Studio Code

   Microsoft's free, open source code editor that handles Android work through extensions such as Flutter.

   8.9overall

   Microsoft's free, open source code editor that handles Android work through extensions such as Flutter.

   Best forCross-platform developers using Flutter or other frameworks who want a light editor rather than a full IDE.

   Adoption data

   75.9%Visual Studio Code was the most used development environment in the 2025 Stack Overflow Developer Survey, used regularly by 75.9% of all respondents.

   Stack Overflow, Technology, 2025 Stack Overflow Developer Survey (2025): “All Respondents Visual Studio Code 75.9%”

   Visual Studio Code is the most widely used editor among developers, and it earns a place on an Android list mainly through cross-platform frameworks. Flutter's own documentation covers VS Code as a supported editor: with the Flutter extension installed you can create projects, select a target device, run apps in debug, profile or release mode, set breakpoints and use hot reload. The same marketplace offers extensions for other mobile frameworks and languages, so a team writing Dart, JavaScript or C# can stay in one editor for Android, iOS and web code. Microsoft describes VS Code as fast, lightweight, free and open source. What it lacks is the Android-specific tooling that Android Studio bundles, such as the layout editor, device manager and performance profilers. Many Flutter developers keep Android Studio installed for the SDK manager and emulator while they write code in VS Code, which is a sensible split.

   Strengths

   • +Free, open source and runs on Windows, macOS and Linux
   • +The Flutter team documents VS Code as a supported editor
   • +Lighter than a full IDE for day-to-day editing

   Limitations

   • −No built-in Android layout editor or profilers like Android Studio
   • −Native Android builds still rely on the Android SDK and Gradle installed separately
   • −Kotlin support depends on community extensions

   SummaryVS Code is the best free editor for Flutter and other cross-platform Android work. Pair it with Android Studio's SDK and emulator for native features.

3. 3

   IntelliJ IDEA

   JetBrains' Kotlin and Java IDE, the base Android Studio is built on, with Android support added through plugins.

   8.4overall

   JetBrains' Kotlin and Java IDE, the base Android Studio is built on, with Android support added through plugins.

   Best forKotlin developers who also build backend or multiplatform code and want one JetBrains IDE for everything.

   Adoption data

   27.1%In the 2025 Stack Overflow Developer Survey, 27.1% of all respondents said they used IntelliJ IDEA regularly.

   Stack Overflow, Technology, 2025 Stack Overflow Developer Survey (2025): “Notepad++ 27.4% IntelliJ IDEA 27.1%”

   IntelliJ IDEA matters to Android developers because Android Studio is built on it, and because many Kotlin teams already use it for server code. JetBrains' documentation is clear that support for developing Android applications is not bundled with IntelliJ IDEA: you install the Android and Android Design Tools plugins from JetBrains Marketplace. Once added, you get Android project support inside the same IDE you use for Kotlin backends, Gradle builds and Java libraries, with JetBrains' code analysis, refactoring and debugger. The core IDE is free, and an Ultimate subscription adds backend frameworks such as Spring, with a 30-day trial. For a developer who works only on Android apps, there is little reason to choose it over Android Studio, which ships the same editor with Android tooling preinstalled and updated by Google. For a full-stack Kotlin developer, one IDE for app and server code can be worth it. The Ultimate price page showed euros from our location, so the USD price is pending.

   Strengths

   • +Same editor foundation as Android Studio, so shortcuts and workflows carry over
   • +Strong fit for teams that share Kotlin code between Android and server projects
   • +Free core edition covers most editing and debugging

   Limitations

   • −JetBrains states that Android support is not bundled and must be installed as plugins
   • −Android features can trail the official Android Studio releases
   • −USD price for Ultimate could not be confirmed from this location

   SummaryIntelliJ IDEA suits Kotlin developers who split time between Android and backend work. Pure Android teams get the same editor, preconfigured, in Android Studio.

4. 4

   Visual Studio

   Microsoft's full IDE for .NET and C++, used for Android apps written in C# with .NET MAUI.

   8.3overall

   Microsoft's full IDE for .NET and C++, used for Android apps written in C# with .NET MAUI.

   Best forC# and .NET teams that want to ship Android, iOS and Windows apps from one codebase.

   Adoption data

   29%In the 2025 Stack Overflow Developer Survey, 29% of all respondents said they used Visual Studio regularly, second only to VS Code.

   Stack Overflow, Technology, 2025 Stack Overflow Developer Survey (2025): “Visual Studio Code 75.9% Visual Studio 29%”

   Visual Studio is the Android choice for developers who already live in C# and .NET. Microsoft describes Visual Studio Community as a fully featured, extensible, free IDE for creating applications for Android, iOS and Windows, along with web apps and cloud services, and any individual developer can use it to create free or paid apps. The Android route here is .NET, so you write C# rather than Kotlin, and share most of the code with iOS and Windows versions. The IDE brings Microsoft's debugger, project system and extension marketplace. Paid subscriptions add Azure DevOps access, monthly Azure credits and training: Professional is $45 per user per month on a monthly plan, or $99.99 per month paid annually for the standard subscription in the first year. The trade-offs are clear. Visual Studio runs on Windows, it does not suit native Kotlin projects, and Android-specific tooling such as Compose previews belongs to Android Studio.

   Strengths

   • +Community edition is free for individual developers building free or paid apps
   • +One C# codebase can target Android, iOS and Windows
   • +Professional subscriptions bundle Azure DevOps and monthly Azure credits

   Limitations

   • −Runs on Windows only, so iOS builds need a connected Mac
   • −Not a fit for Kotlin or Java Android code
   • −Paid tiers cost far more than other entries here

   SummaryVisual Studio is the right pick for .NET teams building Android apps in C#. Kotlin and Java developers should look at Android Studio instead.

5. 5

   Unity

   A real-time 3D engine and editor used to build Android games and interactive apps.

   8.2overall

   A real-time 3D engine and editor used to build Android games and interactive apps.

   Best forGame developers and studios publishing 2D, 3D or XR titles to Android and other platforms.

   Adoption data

   70%Unity says more than 70% of the top 1,000 mobile games are made with Unity.

   Unity, Our company (2026): “More than 70% of the top 1000 mobile games are made with Unity”

   Unity is the engine behind a large share of Android games, and for that work it replaces a traditional IDE as the center of the project. Unity says more than 70% of the top 1,000 mobile games are made with it and that customers can deploy projects to 20 or more platforms. The Unity 6 manual has a full Android section covering setup, development and building and delivering to devices and stores. Scripting is in C#, usually edited in an external code editor such as Visual Studio or VS Code, while scenes, assets and builds live in the Unity Editor. Pricing depends on revenue. Unity Personal is free for individuals and small organizations with under $200,000 in revenue and funds raised over the last 12 months. Above that, Pro costs $2,310 per seat per year or $210 per seat per month. Unity is not the tool for a banking or retail app: for non-game work, Android Studio or a cross-platform framework is a better fit.

   Strengths

   • +Dominant engine for mobile games, by Unity's own figures
   • +One project can target Android, iOS, PC, consoles and XR
   • +Free Personal plan covers individuals under the revenue limit

   Limitations

   • −Built for games and real-time 3D, not standard business apps
   • −Pro is required above $200,000 in annual revenue and funding
   • −Pro costs $210 per seat per month on monthly billing

   SummaryUnity is the strongest choice for Android games, with a free plan for small creators. For regular apps, pick a code-first IDE.

6. 6

   Cursor

   An AI coding agent and editor for understanding codebases, planning features and fixing bugs.

   7.9overall

   An AI coding agent and editor for understanding codebases, planning features and fixing bugs.

   Best forAndroid developers who want an AI agent to plan, write and review code alongside their main IDE.

   Adoption data

   17.9%In the 2025 Stack Overflow Developer Survey, 17.9% of all respondents said they used Cursor regularly.

   Stack Overflow, Technology, 2025 Stack Overflow Developer Survey (2025): “Vim 24.3% Cursor 17.9%”

   Cursor is an AI-first editor rather than an Android IDE, but many Android developers now use it next to Android Studio for agent-driven coding. Cursor's documentation describes it as a coding agent that helps you understand a codebase, plan and build features with Plan Mode, find and fix bugs and review changes, with plugins, MCP servers and rules, and connections to GitHub, GitLab, JetBrains, Slack and Linear. For Android work, that means asking the agent to trace a feature through modules, refactor Kotlin code or write tests, then running the app from Android Studio's emulator. Pricing starts with a free plan with limited AI usage. Plus costs $8 per month but, according to the pricing page, only Grok models are available on it. Premium at $30 per month adds more usage, cloud agents and third-party models billed by usage, and Teams starts at $30 per user per month. It does not replace Android-specific tools.

   Strengths

   • +Low entry price with a free plan
   • +Agent features help with large Gradle and Kotlin codebases
   • +Works with JetBrains tools, per Cursor's docs

   Limitations

   • −No Android emulator, layout editor or profilers of its own
   • −The $8 Plus plan is limited to Grok models, per the pricing page
   • −Third-party model usage is billed separately from the plan price

   SummaryCursor is a useful AI companion for Android codebases from $8 per month. Keep Android Studio for building, emulating and profiling.

7. 7

   B4A

   A free Windows IDE from B4X for building native Android apps in a BASIC-style language.

   7.2overall

   A free Windows IDE from B4X for building native Android apps in a BASIC-style language.

   Best forHobbyists, beginners and small businesses who want native Android apps without learning Kotlin or Java.

   Adoption data

   tens of thousandsB4X says B4A is used by tens of thousands of developers worldwide.

   B4X, B4A: The simple way to develop native Android apps (2026): “B4A is used by tens of thousands of developers from all over the world”

   B4A is a long-running, free alternative for developers who find Kotlin and Gradle heavy. B4X describes it as including all the features needed to develop any type of Android app, used by tens of thousands of developers, and states that B4A is 100% free, with optional donations. Apps are written in the B4X language, a BASIC-style syntax, and compile to native Android apps. Setup is manual: you download OpenJDK, the Android SDK command line tools and a resource package, then point B4A at javac and android.jar. Android Studio is not needed. For testing, the B4A-Bridge app connects the IDE to a phone over the local network, and USB debugging also works. Pairing B4A with B4i lets you share code with an iOS version. The trade-offs are a smaller community than mainstream tools, Windows-oriented installation steps and fewer modern Android libraries documented for it. For internal tools and simple apps it is a quick route.

   Strengths

   • +Completely free, with optional donations
   • +Simpler language than Kotlin or Java for newcomers
   • +Does not need Android Studio installed

   Limitations

   • −Setup requires downloading OpenJDK and the Android SDK manually
   • −The installation steps target Windows
   • −Smaller ecosystem than mainstream Android tools

   SummaryB4A is the easiest free route to native Android apps for people who do not want to learn Kotlin. Larger teams will outgrow it.

8. 8

   Delphi

   Embarcadero's visual IDE for building native Windows, macOS, Android and iOS apps from one Delphi codebase.

   7.1overall

   Embarcadero's visual IDE for building native Windows, macOS, Android and iOS apps from one Delphi codebase.

   Best forDelphi and Object Pascal teams that want native Android and iOS apps from existing desktop skills.

   Adoption data

   2.5%In the 2025 Stack Overflow Developer Survey, 2.5% of all respondents said they had done extensive development work in Delphi over the past year.

   Stack Overflow, Technology, 2025 Stack Overflow Developer Survey (2025): “Scala 2.6% Delphi 2.5%”

   Delphi is a niche but capable option for teams with Object Pascal skills. Embarcadero's Delphi uses the VCL framework for Windows and the FireMonkey framework for mobile and cross-platform desktop apps, so one codebase can produce native Android, iOS, Windows and macOS apps. The IDE includes a visual designer, built-in debugging tools, an integrated toolchain, data binding and hundreds of components, with direct access to REST services and local databases such as InterBase and SQLite. Delphi 13 Community Edition is a free, full-featured version, and Embarcadero says it brings refreshed Android 15 and iOS 18 support. Its license is limited: individuals can sell apps until revenue reaches US$5,000 per year. Paid editions and the wider RAD Studio bundle cost more, and the store did not show USD prices to our fetcher, so pricing is pending. Only 2.5% of developers in the 2025 Stack Overflow survey reported extensive work in Delphi, so hiring and community help are thinner than for Kotlin.

   Strengths

   • +Free Community Edition covers Android, iOS, Windows and macOS
   • +Visual UI design with hundreds of included components
   • +Native compiled apps rather than web views

   Limitations

   • −Community Edition is limited to revenue under US$5,000 per year
   • −Small share of developers use Delphi today
   • −USD prices for paid editions could not be confirmed from this location

   SummaryDelphi suits existing Delphi shops that want native Android apps from familiar tools. New teams have more mainstream choices.

9. 9

   Android Code Studio

   An open source IDE that runs on Android devices and builds Gradle-based Android apps on the phone or tablet itself.

   6.2overall

   An open source IDE that runs on Android devices and builds Gradle-based Android apps on the phone or tablet itself.

   Best forLearners and tinkerers who want to write and build Android apps directly on an Android tablet or phone.

   Android Code Studio is an unusual entry: an IDE that runs on Android itself. The project describes it as an IDE to develop real, Gradle-based Android applications on Android devices, and it is a maintained fork of the earlier AndroidIDE project. The feature list is broader than you might expect: Gradle support with JDK 11 and 17, a terminal with essential packages, an SDK and NDK manager, Java, XML and Kotlin language servers, a log reader for running apps, a drag and drop UI designer, an asset studio for icons, Git integration and a project-aware AI agent. It is free under the GPL-3.0 license and distributed through GitHub releases. The limits are significant. The maintainers say it is in beta and may not be stable, projects need Android Gradle Plugin 7.2.0 or newer, and some tools such as the NDK are not built for Android. Treat it as a learning and on-the-go tool rather than a main IDE.

   Strengths

   • +Builds real Gradle-based Android apps without a computer
   • +Free and open source
   • +Includes a log reader, terminal and UI designer

   Limitations

   • −The maintainers describe it as beta software that may not be stable
   • −Projects must use Android Gradle Plugin 7.2.0 or newer
   • −Some tools, such as the NDK, cannot be installed through its SDK manager

   SummaryAndroid Code Studio is the pick for coding Android apps on a tablet or phone. Its beta status rules it out as a primary work IDE.

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