13 Best IDEs for Python developers in 2025 (Updated)

Python remains one of the most loved programming languages in 2025, used everywhere from web development to machine learning and AI. But to get the most out of Python, you need the right IDE (Integrated Development Environment).

The IDE you choose can make a big difference in productivity, debugging efficiency, and code quality. Some developers prefer classic IDEs like PyCharm or VS Code, while others are exploring AI-first IDEs like Cursor, Windsurf, and Firebase Studio that bring automation and intelligent coding assistance.

In this article, we’ll cover the best Python IDEs of 2025, compare their strengths, and help you decide which one is right for your workflow.

Top 13 IDEs for Python Developers

1. PyCharm

Best for: Professional development and large-scale projects.

Developed by JetBrains, PyCharm is one of the most popular Python IDE, offering a feature-rich experience with an emphasis on productivity. It is designed with professional developers in mind, with features that make it ideal for working on larger projects.

Key Features:

• PyCharm provides an advanced code editor with code completion, real-time error checking, and linting.

• It has powerful refactoring and debugging tools.

• It has scientific library support, ideal for data science and machine learning.

• Contains integrated tools for version control (Git, SVN).

Pros:

• PyCharm supports smart code navigation and quick fixes.

• Easy integration with Python packages and virtual environments.

• Professional version supports web development frameworks like Django and Flask.

Cons:

• PyCharm can be heavy on system resources, especially for older machines.

• The Professional edition of PyCharm is paid.

2. Visual Studio Code

Best for: Developers looking for a flexible, cross-language environment.

Microsoft’s VSCode is one of the most popular go-to option for every developers for its extensive customization and support options. Though not an IDE by default, it offers excellent support for Python with the addition of extensions.

Key Features:

• VS Code supports Python through the Python extension, which includes IntelliSense, debugging, and more.

• It has extensive library of extensions for different programming languages, including support for Git, Docker, and Jupyter Notebooks.

• Also, it has built-in terminal and Git integration.

Pros:

• VS Code is lightweight and open-source, with regular updates.

• It’s highly customizable with a wide range of themes and settings.

• It’s suitable for multiple languages, making it a great all-rounder.

Cons:

• VS Code requires extensions to achieve full functionality, which may be overwhelming for beginners.

3. Spyder

Best for: Data science and scientific computing.

Spyder is specifically designed for data science and comes pre-packaged with tools that make it easy to work with data analysis and machine learning libraries. Often enough, it is bundled with Anaconda, a popular Python distribution for data science.

Pros:

• It is free and open-source.

• It’s ideal for data scientists, with built-in support for libraries and tools they frequently use.

Cons:

• Spyder is not suitable for web development or general-purpose programming.

• It provides limited features for large-scale software engineering projects.

4. Jupyter Notebook

Best for: Interactive data analysis, machine learning, and research.

Jupyter Notebook has become a staple in the data science community due to its interactive nature. The best thing about Jupyter is, it allows developers to write code, run it, and view the output in the same environment, ideal for experimenting and sharing insights. It is one the best Python IDE used by many developers.

Key Features:

• Code cells allow running small chunks of code independently, which is great for prototyping.

• Markdown cells enable easy documentation alongside code.

• It has excellent support for data science libraries and data visualization.

Pros:

• Jupyter is perfect for exploratory data analysis and visualization.

• It’s easy to share and document work, making it suitable for collaborative projects.

Cons:

• It is not designed for full-scale application development.

• Using Jupyter, managing larger projects and multiple files can be challenging.

5. Thonny

Best for: Beginners learning Python.

Thonny is the best Python IDE tailored for those just starting with Python. IT is simple, beginner-friendly, and also, it comes with an easy-to-use interface and includes debugging tools that make it ideal for students and those who are new to coding.

Key Features:

• Thonny provides easy debugging with visual step-through for each line of code.

• It is a simple editor that eliminates distractions for beginners.

• It includes Python installation, so users don’t need to worry about setting up Python separately.

Pros:

• It’s user-friendly and free to use.

• The step-through debugging that it provides helps beginners learn the basics of Python.

Cons:

• It has very limited functionality for advanced projects.

• The extensions and customization options are limited.

6. IDLE

Best for: Absolute beginners

IDLE is Python’s built-in Integrated Development Environment, ideal for absolute beginners. It comes pre-installed with Python and provides a simple, no-fuss interface for writing and running Python code.

Key Features:

• Lightweight and easy to launch

• Simple editor with syntax highlighting

• Integrated Python shell for interactive coding

Pros:

• No installation or setup required

• Perfect for learning Python basics

• Minimal interface avoids distractions

Cons:

• Lacks advanced features like debugging and version control

• Not suitable for large-scale projects or professional development

7. Cursor

Best for: AI-assisted coding

Cursor is an AI-assisted Python IDE designed for modern developers. It leverages AI to provide recursive code completions and "vibe coding," integrating deeply with Pieces LTM for context-aware programming.

Key Features:

• AI-powered code suggestions and completions

• Supports recursive workflows and intelligent coding patterns

• Integration with Pieces LTM for project context awareness

Pros:

• Boosts productivity with AI-assisted coding

• Ideal for developers experimenting with next-gen workflows

• Reduces repetitive coding tasks

Cons:

• Paid versions required for advanced features

• AI suggestions may require careful review for critical projects

8. Windsurf

Best for: Rapid AI-powered prototyping

Windsurf is a lightweight, agentic IDE that brings AI-driven code suggestions directly into your workflow. It’s great for rapid prototyping and experimenting with Python projects.

Key Features:

• Inline AI suggestions for coding efficiency

• Rapid prototyping support

• Lightweight and fast, ideal for small-to-medium projects

Pros:

• Accelerates development with AI assistance

• Lightweight, doesn’t slow down your system

• Easy to pick up for developers familiar with Python

Cons:

• Limited features compared to full IDEs like PyCharm

• AI suggestions may occasionally produce errors

9. Neovim

Best for: Power users and terminal developers

Neovim is a terminal-based, highly customizable editor loved by power users. It is perfect for developers who prefer a fast, keyboard-driven workflow.

Key Features:

• Minimalistic and lightweight

• Highly customizable with plugins

• Optimized for speed and terminal-based development

Pros:

• Extremely fast and efficient for coding

• Works well for power users who love customization

• Ideal for remote or terminal-based development

Cons:

• Steep learning curve for beginners

• Requires manual setup for Python environment and plugins

10. Visual Studio (Community & Pro)

Best for: Windows developers

Visual Studio is a feature-rich IDE primarily used for C# and Windows development, but it also supports Python with advanced tooling like IntelliSense, REPL, and integrated unit testing.

Key Features:

• IntelliSense and auto-completion for Python

• Interactive REPL and debugging

• Virtual environment management and unit testing

Pros:

• Great for developers working on Windows

• Supports multiple languages including Python

• Advanced debugging and testing tools

Cons:

• Heavier than most Python IDEs

• Best suited for Windows environments

11. Sublime Text

Best for: Fast, lightweight coding

Sublime Text is a fast and lightweight code editor with plugin support for Python (via Anaconda). It provides a distraction-free environment with a minimalist interface.

Key Features:

• Extremely fast and lightweight

• Customizable through plugins

• Syntax highlighting and multi-line editing

Pros:

• Minimalist interface keeps focus on coding

• Fast startup and smooth performance

• Highly extensible with plugins

Cons:

• Paid license required for continuous use

• Lacks built-in debugging and advanced Python tools

12. JetBrains Fleet

Best for: Multi-language and remote development

Fleet is a lightweight polyglot IDE from JetBrains that supports Python smart setup and remote development. It combines simplicity with JetBrains’ productivity tools.

Key Features:

• Supports multiple programming languages

• Remote development capabilities

• Intelligent code suggestions for Python

Pros:

• Lightweight and fast

• Ideal for developers working across multiple languages

• Smooth remote development experience

Cons:

• Newer IDE with fewer plugins than PyCharm

• May lack some advanced Python-specific features

13. Firebase Studio

Best for: Web developers and cloud-first workflows

Firebase Studio is a browser-based Python IDE from Google. It offers AI-assisted prototyping and cloud-based deployment for web and Python projects.

Key Features:

• Cloud-hosted, accessible from anywhere

• AI-driven app prototyping

• VS Code-like interface with deployment options

Pros:

• Perfect for cloud-first workflows and web apps

• Eliminates local setup and configuration

• AI assistance speeds up development

Cons:

• Limited offline functionality

• Paid tiers required for multiple workspaces

Comparison Table of Best Python IDEs in 2025

Top 3 Must-Have Python IDE Extensions to use in 2025

Although choosing the right IDE is important, but choosing the right IDE extensions can also significantly enhance your productivity and streamline your workflow. Let’s check some of the popular extensions that you should must use:

1. Keploy

Keploy is a powerful IDE extension that can automatically generate test cases by recording real-time API calls during the development phase. By providing a zero-code way to capture test data, it ensures that your application is covered with functional tests without writing additional code. Also the replay feature of Keploy enables you to run these tests and ensure no unintended behavior creeps into your codebase after updates.

Key Benefits:

• Zero-code functional test generation

• Automated API regression testing

• Seamless integration into CI/CD pipelines

2. Docker

The Docker extension brings the power of containerized development directly into your IDE. These containers ensure that your application runs consistently across different environments, eliminating the classic "works on my machine" problem. With the Docker extension, it becomes simpler for us to manage containers, images, and networks right from our editor, making development and testing environments incredibly flexible and easy.

Key Benefits:

• Streamlined container management

• Easy setup for development environments

• Compatibility with multiple languages and frameworks

3. GitLens

GitLens enhances Git integration in your IDE, allowing developers to visualize code history and better understand the evolution of the project. Features like blame annotations, line-by-line commit history, and a powerful interface for exploring diffs and merges; eases the developer experience significantly. With GitLens, managing complex Git workflows becomes more intuitive, and collaboration within teams becomes smoother.

Key Benefits:

• Deep insights into code history

• Visualize contributors and commit messages inline

• Simplified merge conflict resolution

Conclusion

There isn’t any single best IDE, but based on your requirements and circumstances, you have to make the choice of which IDE to use or not. There are many more IDEs on the market other than these five, which I’ve mentioned here; but these are the most popular ones and loved by many developers and programmers, and provides the best possible experience for its target audience.

FAQs:

1. What is the best Python IDE for beginners in 2025?

Thonny, IDLE, and VS Code (with Python extension) are excellent beginner-friendly options.

2. Are AI-powered IDEs worth it?

Tools like Cursor and Windsurf can significantly speed up development with AI-assisted coding and prototyping, but traditional IDEs like PyCharm remain better for large-scale projects.

3. Which IDE is best for data science and machine learning?

Jupyter Notebook/Lab and Spyder remain the top choices in 2025, though VS Code with Jupyter extension is gaining popularity.

4. What is the lightest Python IDE?

Neovim, Sublime Text, and Thonny are lightweight IDEs that run smoothly even on older systems.

5. Can I use a browser-based IDE for Python?

Yes, Firebase Studio offers a cloud-based, AI-powered IDE experience, ideal for web developers and rapid app prototyping.

6. Is PyCharm free to use?

PyCharm offers a free Community Edition suitable for most Python applications, though the Professional Edition, which includes advanced features and web development tools, requires a paid license.

7.Can I use multiple IDEs depending on my project?

Absolutely. Many developers use different IDEs for different projects. For instance, a developer might use PyCharm for web applications, Jupyter Notebook for data analysis, and VS Code for scripting and multi-language projects.