9 Best IDEs for Raspberry Pi of 2026

1. 1

   Thonny

   A beginner Python IDE that ships in the default desktop edition of Raspberry Pi OS.

   9.2overall

   A beginner Python IDE that ships in the default desktop edition of Raspberry Pi OS.

   Best forHobbyists and students writing their first Python programs on a Raspberry Pi, including MicroPython boards over USB.

   Adoption data

   PreinstalledRaspberry Pi's documentation lists the Thonny Python environment among the applications included in Raspberry Pi OS (desktop with basic software), the edition Raspberry Pi Imager recommends.

   Raspberry Pi, Raspberry Pi OS, Raspberry Pi Documentation (2026): “It provides a graphical desktop environment and includes applications such as Chromium and Firefox web browsers, VLC media player, and the Thonny Python environment.”

   Thonny is the IDE most Raspberry Pi owners meet first, because Raspberry Pi's own documentation lists it among the applications in the default desktop edition of Raspberry Pi OS. It was built for learning: the first screen hides anything that might distract a beginner, Ctrl+F5 runs a program step by step without setting breakpoints, small steps show how Python evaluates an expression piece by piece, and the Variables view shows what each line changes. It highlights unclosed quotes and parentheses and has a simple pip GUI for installing packages. Its wiki documents MicroPython support since version 3.2: choose a back end, pick the USB port, and the shell becomes the board's REPL, with open and save working directly on the device. The Raspberry Pi Foundation proposed and supported features in Thonny 3.0 and 3.3. The limits are scope and depth. Thonny handles Python only, and its project tools are basic, so larger multi-language work moves to VS Code or Geany.

   Strengths

   • +Already installed on the recommended Raspberry Pi OS desktop edition
   • +Interface stripped of features that distract beginners
   • +Opens and saves files directly on a connected MicroPython device

   Limitations

   • −Python only, so C, Java or web projects need another editor
   • −Light on project tools such as Git integration and refactoring
   • −Short plug-in list compared with VS Code

   SummaryThonny is the best IDE for most people coding on a Raspberry Pi because it is free, already installed, and designed around beginner debugging. Move to VS Code once projects need Git, extensions or other languages.

2. 2

   Visual Studio Code

   Microsoft's free code editor, distributed through the Raspberry Pi OS APT repository in 32-bit and 64-bit builds.

   9.0overall

   Microsoft's free code editor, distributed through the Raspberry Pi OS APT repository in 32-bit and 64-bit builds.

   Best forStudents and makers on a Raspberry Pi 4 or 5 who want one editor for Python, C, web code and Git.

   Adoption data

   70.9%In the 2026 Stack Overflow Developer Survey, 70.9% of the 13,193 respondents to the development environments question used VS Code regularly. The survey covers developers in general, not only Raspberry Pi users.

   Stack Overflow, Dev IDEs, Technology data 2026, Stack Overflow Developer Survey (2026): “Visual Studio Code 9,350 70.9%”

   Visual Studio Code is the strongest general-purpose editor you can install on a Raspberry Pi, and installing it is easy: Microsoft's setup guide says it is officially distributed through the Raspberry Pi OS APT repository in both 32-bit and 64-bit variants, so sudo apt install code is enough, and updates arrive with the rest of the system. After installation it appears in the Programming menu. From there the Extension Marketplace adds Python, C and C++, web languages and Git tooling, which makes it a good fit for a Raspberry Pi 4 or 5 used as a small desktop computer. It is also the most used editor in the 2026 Stack Overflow survey at 70.9%, so skills carry over to other computers. Two caveats keep it in second place for Pi users. Microsoft says plainly that VS Code is not officially supported on Raspberry Pi, and it asks more of the hardware than Thonny or Geany. Each language also needs extensions you pick and configure.

   Strengths

   • +Free for private or commercial use
   • +Most used editor among developers in the 2026 Stack Overflow survey
   • +Same editor students will meet on Windows, macOS and Linux PCs

   Limitations

   • −Microsoft states VS Code is not officially supported on Raspberry Pi
   • −Heavier than Thonny or Geany on boards with little memory
   • −Language support depends on choosing and installing extensions

   SummaryVS Code is the best choice when a Pi is used as a full coding desktop for several languages. Beginners and owners of older boards are better served by Thonny or Geany.

3. 3

   Neovim

   A Vim-based terminal editor with a built-in LSP client and Tree-sitter, configured in Lua.

   8.5overall

   A Vim-based terminal editor with a built-in LSP client and Tree-sitter, configured in Lua.

   Best forUsers of headless Pis and Raspberry Pi OS Lite who code over SSH in a terminal.

   Adoption data

   14.7%In the 2026 Stack Overflow Developer Survey, 14.7% of the 13,193 respondents to the development environments question used Neovim regularly.

   Stack Overflow, Dev IDEs, Technology data 2026, Stack Overflow Developer Survey (2026): “Neovim 1,939 14.7%”

   Neovim is the pick for a Raspberry Pi that has no monitor attached. Raspberry Pi documents a Lite edition of its OS without a graphical desktop for headless servers and older boards, and a terminal editor is the natural fit there: you connect over SSH and edit in place. Neovim describes itself as a hyperextensible Vim-based editor, and it includes the parts that turn a terminal into an IDE, with a built-in LSP client for semantic inspection and refactoring, Tree-sitter parsing for accurate highlighting, Lua plugins configured in init.lua, and a built-in terminal. It stays compatible with Vim's editing model and Vim 8.x plugins. Usage is high for a terminal tool: 14.7% of respondents in the 2026 Stack Overflow survey use it regularly. The tradeoff is effort. Nothing is set up for you, so completion, debugging and file navigation all mean choosing and configuring plugins, and modal editing is hard for first-time coders.

   Strengths

   • +Free and open source
   • +No graphical desktop needed, which suits Raspberry Pi OS Lite
   • +Compatible with Vim's editing model and Vim 8.x plugins

   Limitations

   • −You assemble the IDE features yourself from plugins
   • −Modal editing takes time to learn
   • −Not a good first editor for young beginners

   SummaryNeovim is the best editor for headless Raspberry Pi projects run over SSH. It rewards experienced users and frustrates beginners.

4. 4

   Scratch

   A block-based coding environment for children, included in Raspberry Pi OS Full.

   8.4overall

   A block-based coding environment for children, included in Raspberry Pi OS Full.

   Best forChildren and first-time coders on a Raspberry Pi who are not ready to type code.

   Adoption data

   200 millionThe Scratch Foundation says 200 million kids create on Scratch for free.

   Scratch Foundation, About Scratch (2026): “200 million kids create on Scratch for free, because of support from families like yours.”

   Scratch is on this list because many Raspberry Pi owners are children, and for them typed code is the wrong starting point. Raspberry Pi's documentation says the Full edition of Raspberry Pi OS includes a Scratch programming environment alongside LibreOffice and KiCad, and owners of other editions can add it from Preferences, Recommended Software. Programs are built from blocks that drag and snap together, so there is no syntax to get wrong, and learners start from a library of characters, backdrops and sounds or draw their own. Scratch was developed at the MIT Media Lab in 2007 and moved to the independent Scratch Foundation in 2019. The foundation says it is free for everyone and that 200 million kids create on it, which makes it the most used learning tool here. It is not a text IDE, though. There is no Python or C, and learners who outgrow blocks should move to Thonny on the same Pi.

   Strengths

   • +Free for everyone
   • +Removes syntax errors from a child's first programs
   • +Huge community of shared projects to remix and learn from

   Limitations

   • −Block coding, not a text-based IDE
   • −Not part of the default Raspberry Pi OS desktop edition
   • −Learners eventually need Thonny or another text editor

   SummaryScratch is the best first coding tool for children on a Raspberry Pi. Pair it with Thonny for the move to text-based Python.

5. 5

   Geany

   A small, fast GTK IDE with built-in support for more than 50 programming languages.

   7.9overall

   A small, fast GTK IDE with built-in support for more than 50 programming languages.

   Best forPi users who write C, Python or shell scripts and want a light IDE with a build and run button.

   Geany is the light, multi-language option for a Raspberry Pi. Its makers call it the flyweight IDE and say it was built to be small and fast with few dependencies; it needs only the GTK3 runtime libraries and runs on Linux, which matters on boards with limited memory. Despite its size it covers what most Pi projects need: syntax highlighting, code folding, symbol auto-completion, call tips, symbol lists and a build system that compiles and runs your code from the editor. Built-in support spans more than 50 programming languages, so C programs for GPIO work, Python scripts and shell files all open in the same window, and plugins add Git, spell checking and a project organizer. It is free software under the GPL v2, and version 2.1 shipped in July 2025. Geany does not appear in the Stack Overflow survey, so its adoption score is conservative, and its project management and code intelligence are simpler than VS Code's.

   Strengths

   • +Free software under the GPL v2
   • +Small dependency footprint suits older Pi models
   • +Handles compiled languages such as C, which Thonny does not

   Limitations

   • −No published usage share in major developer surveys
   • −Simple project management
   • −Lighter language intelligence than VS Code with extensions

   SummaryGeany is the best lightweight IDE for Pi users who work in C or several languages. Pick VS Code if you need language servers and a large extension library.

6. 6

   BlueJ

   A free Java environment for beginners, supported by Oracle, with an ARM64 build for Raspberry Pi.

   7.8overall

   A free Java environment for beginners, supported by Oracle, with an ARM64 build for Raspberry Pi.

   Best forStudents learning Java and object-oriented programming on a Raspberry Pi.

   Adoption data

   millionsBlueJ's developers describe it as a free Java environment for beginners used by millions of people worldwide.

   BlueJ, BlueJ (2026): “A free Java Development Environment designed for beginners, used by millions worldwide.”

   BlueJ is the Java choice for students on a Raspberry Pi. Its download page lists a version for ARM64 processors and names the Raspberry Pi as the example, alongside the Windows, macOS and Debian or Ubuntu builds, and version 6.0.1 arrived on 4 September 2026. BlueJ is designed for beginners: it lets learners create objects and call their methods interactively, so classes and objects become something to see rather than only read about. The developers co-wrote the textbook Objects First with Java, which they say has sold hundreds of thousands of copies, and run the free Blueroom site for teachers. The project is supported by Oracle and is free under the GPL v2 with the Classpath Exception, and the site says millions of people use it. The limits are clear. BlueJ needs a 64-bit operating system, so older 32-bit Raspberry Pi OS installs must use BlueJ 4.1.4, and it is built for learning, not large applications.

   Strengths

   • +Free, with a dedicated ARM64 build for Raspberry Pi
   • +Built specifically for teaching Java
   • +Teacher resources and a matching textbook

   Limitations

   • −Requires a 64-bit operating system
   • −Java only, aimed at learning rather than large projects
   • −Needs Java and JavaFX 21 support

   SummaryBlueJ is the best way to learn Java on a 64-bit Raspberry Pi. Students who want game-style projects can use Greenfoot from the same team.

7. 7

   IDLE

   Python's own Integrated Development and Learning Environment, part of the standard Python distribution.

   7.3overall

   Python's own Integrated Development and Learning Environment, part of the standard Python distribution.

   Best forLearners who want the plain editor and shell that come from the Python project itself.

   Adoption data

   6%In the 2024 Python Developers Survey by JetBrains and the Python Software Foundation, 6% of respondents used IDLE in addition to their main editor.

   JetBrains and the Python Software Foundation, Python Developers Survey 2024 Results (2024): “6% Neovim 6% IDLE”

   IDLE is the editor that comes from the Python project, and Raspberry Pi OS ships with Python 3 preinstalled, which makes IDLE a simple fallback that needs nothing beyond Python. Python's documentation lists its features: a shell window that colorizes input, output and errors, a multi-window editor with undo, smart indent, call tips and auto completion, search across multiple files, and a debugger with persistent breakpoints, stepping and namespace views. It is implemented in the idlelib package and works mostly the same on Windows, Unix and macOS, so what a student learns at school transfers to the Pi. The Python Software Foundation's site states that Python is freely usable even for commercial use. In the 2024 Python Developers Survey, 6% of respondents used IDLE as an additional editor. On a Pi, though, Thonny does the same job with more help for beginners, including expression stepping and MicroPython support, so IDLE ranks lower here.

   Strengths

   • +Maintained as part of Python itself
   • +Very simple interface with an interactive shell
   • +Free for any use

   Limitations

   • −Fewer beginner aids than Thonny's step-through debugger
   • −No MicroPython board support
   • −Basic tools for multi-file projects

   SummaryIDLE is a dependable, minimal Python editor for learners who want the official tool. Most Pi beginners will get more from Thonny.

8. 8

   Sublime Text

   A fast commercial text editor with official Linux ARM64 packages.

   7.1overall

   A fast commercial text editor with official Linux ARM64 packages.

   Best forExperienced users who want a quick graphical editor on a 64-bit Pi and will pay for a license.

   Adoption data

   9.8%In the 2026 Stack Overflow Developer Survey, 9.8% of the 13,193 respondents to the development environments question used Sublime Text regularly.

   Stack Overflow, Dev IDEs, Technology data 2026, Stack Overflow Developer Survey (2026): “Sublime Text 1,290 9.8%”

   Sublime Text is the only paid editor on this list, and it earns a place because it publishes official Linux ARM64 packages, in .deb and .tar.xz form, that run on a 64-bit Raspberry Pi OS install. Its changelog notes ARM64 support for Linux, Wayland support and touch screen handling, which helps on Pi touch displays. It is quick and light compared with VS Code, and its plugin API was extended to better support packages such as LSP. Sublime HQ says the editor may be downloaded and evaluated for free, but a license must be bought for continued use: the personal license is $99 once and includes 3 years of updates, and one key covers all your computers. Usage is respectable at 9.8% in the 2026 Stack Overflow survey. For most Pi owners the price is the issue, since every other tool here is free, and Sublime has no built-in debugger, so Python learners get more from Thonny and multi-language users from VS Code.

   Strengths

   • +Official ARM64 Linux builds
   • +Fast, light graphical editor
   • +One personal license for every computer you own

   Limitations

   • −A license must be purchased for continued use
   • −No built-in debugger
   • −IDE features depend on community packages

   SummarySublime Text suits experienced users who already own a license and want a fast editor on a 64-bit Pi. Beginners should stay with the free tools ranked above it.

9. 9

   Greenfoot

   A free Java environment for building 2D games and simulations, with a dedicated Raspberry Pi package.

   7.0overall

   A free Java environment for building 2D games and simulations, with a dedicated Raspberry Pi package.

   Best forTeenagers learning Java by making games on a Raspberry Pi.

   Greenfoot is produced at the University of Kent with La Trobe University, sponsored by Oracle and Google, and led by Michael Kölling, who also holds the BlueJ copyright, and it teaches Java through 2D games and simulations instead of plain console programs. Its download page offers a Raspberry Pi .deb package next to the Windows, macOS and Ubuntu builds, so installing it on a Pi takes no workarounds. Learners build scenarios with actors that move and react on screen, and the greenfoot.org site works as a public gallery where users publish projects, many with source code, for others to study. Its site says Greenfoot is aimed at children and young adults, and the site rules require posted content to be safe for minors. It is free under the GPL v2 with the Classpath Exception. The downsides are pace and scope: the current release, 3.9.0, dates from October 2024, the tool is built around one style of project, and there is no independent usage figure, so its adoption score is conservative.

   Strengths

   • +Free, with an official Raspberry Pi package
   • +Game projects keep younger learners motivated
   • +Community gallery of scenarios to study

   Limitations

   • −Latest release, 3.9.0, dates from October 2024
   • −Narrow focus on 2D scenarios
   • −No independent usage figures

   SummaryGreenfoot is a good free option for teenagers who want to learn Java by building games on a Pi. Move to BlueJ for more general Java work.

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