CLion
Amsterdam, Netherlands
What it is
CLion is a cross-platform IDE for C and C++ development, available for Linux, macOS, and Windows. Its editor provides context-aware completion, code analysis, navigation, and automated refactoring. Projects can use CMake, Makefile, Bazel, Meson, or compilation databases. Debugging supports GDB and LLDB, with variable inspection, memory and disassembly views, and core dump debugging. Remote workflows include a thin IDE client, full remote mode, Docker containers, WSL toolchains, and remote debugging. Embedded development features include GCC ARM, IAR and custom toolchains, on-chip debugging, PlatformIO, STM32CubeMX, Zephyr, and FreeRTOS support. A built-in test runner supports Google Test, Boost.Test, Doctest, and Catch. Version control support covers Subversion, Git, GitHub, Mercurial, CVS, and Perforce. CLion also supports CMake, Python, JavaScript, XML, HTML, Markdown, and plugin-provided languages. The free non-commercial plan covers learning, self-education, qualifying open-source contributions, content creation, and hobby development. Commercial development requires a subscription; CLion Commercial — Individual costs $10.90 a month and includes a free 30-day trial.
For and against
For
- Available for Linux, macOS, and Windows.
- Supports multiple build systems and debuggers.
- Includes embedded and remote development workflows.
- Built-in test runner supports four named frameworks.
- Free plan covers non-commercial use.
Against
- Commercial development requires a subscription.
- Individual commercial plan costs $10.90 a month.
- Free-plan support is through public forums and a bug tracker.
The verdict
CLion combines C and C++ editing with build, debugging, testing, remote, and embedded development tools. Its free offer is limited to non-commercial use, with commercial development requiring a subscription.
Who it suits
CLion suits C and C++ developers who need build, debugging, testing, remote, or embedded workflows. The free plan is for non-commercial use; commercial development requires a subscription.
Plans and prices
CLion Non-Commercial
individual non-commercial use · learning and self-education · open-source contributions without commercial benefit · hobby development
Read 15 Oct 2026 · jetbrains.com
CLion Commercial
commercial development · individual or organization · 30-day free trial · AI Free included
Read 15 Oct 2026 · jetbrains.com
All Products Pack
10 IDEs · Air · 3 extensions · 2 profilers
Read 15 Oct 2026 · jetbrains.com
CLion Commercial — Individual
Commercial development · free 30-day trial · support via private tickets, public forums, and a bug tracker
Read 29 Sep 2026 · jetbrains.com
On the record
- Additional languages
- In addition to C and C++, CLion provides support for CMake, Python, JavaScript, XML, HTML, Markdown, and languages available through plugins.jetbrains.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- AI and extensibility
- The IDE includes MCP support, Agent Client Protocol integrations, bundled AI skills, unlimited free AI completion and bring-your-own-key options.jetbrains.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- API limitation
- CLion has no separately guaranteed stable public API; plugins use the IntelliJ Platform Open API, which can change between releases.jetbrains.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Build systems
- Supported project formats include CMake, Makefile, Meson and compilation databases.jetbrains.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Clang-tidy
- CLion runs clang-tidy in the editor and supports project configuration files, custom binaries and per-check settings.jetbrains.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Code analysis
- The editor performs on-the-fly error and warning inspections and offers one-click quick fixes.jetbrains.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Code coverage
- Coverage runs use llvm-cov or gcov and work with CMake applications plus Boost.Test, Google Test and Catch configurations.jetbrains.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Coding assistance
- Its editor provides context-aware completion, code analysis, navigation, and automated refactorings.jetbrains.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Company founding and ownership
- JetBrains was founded in 2000 and is privately held; Crunchbase lists Eugene Belyaev, Sergey Dmitriev and Valentin Kipiatkov as founders.crunchbase.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Company headquarters
- JetBrains lists its headquarters at Terrace Tower, Gelrestraat 16, Amsterdam, Netherlands.jetbrains.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Company legal name
- Crunchbase identifies the legal entity as JetBrains s.r.o., a private for-profit company.crunchbase.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Company size
- LinkedIn places JetBrains in the 1,001–5,000 employee range and lists Amsterdam as headquarters.linkedin.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Debugger
- CLion integrates GDB on all platforms, LLDB on macOS and Linux, and supports debugger-agnostic DAP connections.jetbrains.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Debugging
- CLion supports GDB and LLDB and includes memory and disassembly views, variable inspection, and core dump debugging.jetbrains.com · read 29 Sep 2026
- Documentation
- The help center covers installation, toolchains, project formats, debugging, testing, version control, profiling, remote development and plugin development.jetbrains.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Embedded development
- CLion supports STM32 and Zephyr workflows, PlatformIO, GCC or IAR toolchains, OpenOCD, SEGGER J-Link and RTOS-aware debugging.jetbrains.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Funding
- JetBrains' corporate overview describes the company as privately funded and grown without external funding.resources.jetbrains.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Integrations reported by GetApp
- GetApp users identify Git and GitHub as key integrations, each with a 5.0 integration rating on the displayed reviews.getapp.com · read 15 Oct 2026
