Top 7 IDEs for Android Development: The Ultimate List

Introduction

Wondering how many people use Android worldwide? Well, you will be surprised to know there are 3.3 billion Android users around the world as of 2025. So the Android market is truly dominant and competitive.

Developing high-quality Android apps demands the right environment. So, before you step into the world of Android development, it is essential to have the right set of tools to bring your vision to life. An Integrated Development Environment (IDE) remains one of the crucial components of a developer toolkit. It offers several features like code editors, debugging tools, emulators, and plugins, all in one place.

In this blog, we will explore the leading IDEs for Android development with their key features, strengths, and use cases to help you choose the best fit for your next project. Let’s first understand what an IDE is.

What is an IDE and Why Does it matter?

IDE stands for Integrated Development Environment, which is a software solution that consolidates prominent tools for coding, debugging, and testing into a single platform. IDE provides a lot of features, including code completion, emulator support, integration with version control systems, and simplifying complex tasks, and improving productivity.

Why does it matter?

• Using an IDE eliminates context-switching by hosting all tools in a single environment.
• A consistent project structure promotes sticking to the best practices.
• Integrated debuggers allow you to inspect the state without manual logging.
• It provides standardized project templates and configuration.

List of top 7 IDEs for Android Development to Consider

An IDE brings together editing, testing, debugging, and profiling to help you write code better and faster. Let’s check on some popular picks of IDEs in Android development. It helps to speed up the development process without any compromise on quality.

1. 1. Android Studio

Android Studio is developed in collaboration with JetBrains and remains the official IDE for Android development. It offers a robust set of features to build sophisticated native apps.

Key Features

• A prominent feature is an intelligent code editor that allows error detection in real-time.
• It includes a set of libraries that adhere to best practices and decrease boilerplate code.
• It offers profiler tools for CPU, memory, and network analysis.
• The IDE also facilitates smooth integration with Firebase and Google Cloud Platform.
• The drag-and-drop layout editor simplifies designing components.

Pros

• It is the first to receive Android SDK updates and is backed by the official.

• It facilitates deep integration with Kotlin.

• Users will get a built-in Android emulator that supports testing on multiple devices.

• As a part of its features, it offers GitHub integration and pre-built templates.

Cons

• It is resource-intensive, demanding a powerful machine.

• It proposes a steep learning curve for beginners.

• Compared to other IDEs, it has limited support for cross-platform development.

Best for: Professional teams, Kotlin-first projects, and large-scale projects.

2. 2. IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate

Designed by JetBrains, IntelliJ IDEA remains a top IDE available with strong support for Android. Programmers consider IntelliJ IDE for developing multi-platform projects.

Key Features

• It has an intelligent code assistant that offers inspections and quick fixes for Kotlin, Java, and Scala.

• It has a wide ecosystem for plugins, including for Android SDK, Gradle, and version control.

• The robust code refactoring tools help to maintain clean and efficient code.

• It provides multi-language support to help you work with JavaScript, Python, and Android projects.

Pros

• With IntelliJ IDEA, users can gain robust productivity through its innovative features.

• It has superior code refactoring capabilities that help to maintain code.

• It is generally considered to be user-friendly and well-designed.

• IntelliJ IDEA offers broad language support, allowing you to maintain multiple projects.

Cons

• Compared to Android Studio, users will find fewer Android-specific features.

• Many advanced features are available in the paid version, which can be costly.

• It has a slower startup compared to other lightweight editors.

Best For: Full-stack Java/Kotlin development projects and enterprise-level projects.

3. 3. Visual Studio Code (VS Code)

From Microsoft, Visual Studio Code is a lightweight and open-source code editor for Android. It excels in the area of Android development via plugins and is also helpful to work with cross-platform frameworks like Flutter.

Key Features

• Offers smart suggestions while coding in Java, Kotlin, or Dart.

• The vast ecosystem includes plugins to work with Android SDK, Flutter, or Git.

• Allows teams to collaborate on code in real time.

• The integrated terminal lets you run commands or build scripts in the IDE.

Pros

• It is fast to use, lightweight, and can be customized.

• It is free to use, open-source, and has tons of extensions available.

• It has strong support from Microsoft and a helpful community.

• It works well for tasks like Flutter and React Native development.

Cons

• Setting up Android-specific tools needs to be done.

• It offers fewer built-in Android features than Android Studio.

• Adding many extensions might slow down performance.

Best For: Ideal for programmers looking to build multi-platform or hybrid apps with Flutter and React native.

4. 4. Eclipse

A veteran open-source IDE, Eclipse remains a top pick for Java-based Android projects.

Key Features

• Works with Android Development Tools (ADT) and other similar plugins.

• Allows users to utilize drag and drop to create XML layouts.

• The code assistance helps with error detection for Java and C++.

• It offers robust debugging tools and has a large community.

Pros

• It is free to use and can be customized in many ways.

• Uses fewer system resources than Android Studio.

• There is strong support from the community for older projects.

• Compatible with multiple programming languages like Java, C++, and Python.

Cons

• Not suitable for current Android development needs.

• Does not offer built-in support for Kotlin or Jetpack Compose.

• Can slow down when handling big projects.

Best For: Maintaining legacy Android projects, Java-centered development, and enterprise-level Java projects.

5. 5. AIDE

AIDE stands for Android development environment; it is a robust and unique mobile-first IDE that allows coding directly on Android devices.

Key Features

• With mobile coding, you can create, test, and fix apps straight from an Android device.

• Use Java, C++, HTML5, and PhoneGap to build hybrid applications.

• It includes built-in guides to help you learn app development.

• With Git integration, users can manage version control right from their devices.

Pros

• Lets you code on the go without needing a computer.

• Easy to use for new learners, with a tutorial-based design.

• Free to use, with upgrades available to unlock extra features.

• Includes instant error-checking tools to catch issues while coding.

Cons

• Not well-suited to handle large or more complex projects.

• Device limitations can slow things down or cause performance issues.

• It has a smaller user base compared to more traditional desktop coding environments.

Best For: Beginners to learn Android development and developers to prototype apps directly on a mobile device.

6. 6. Rider

Again, a great pick IDE from JetBrains,Rideris a great cross-platform .NET IDE designed for crafting Android games working with Unity and C#.

Key Features

• Provides special features for creating games and works with Unity.

• Helps developers write clean and error-free C#.

• With multi-language support, programmers can easily handle C#, Java, and Kotlin projects.

• The debugging environment includes breakpoints and variables.

Pros

• Works well to create Android games using Unity.

• Offers an easy-to-use design with strong .NET support.

• It comes with smooth Git and SVN version control.

• Fits well with large-scale projects.

Cons

• Costs $349 per year, which might deter casual users.

• Doesn't focus on Android and misses some native tools.

• It has a smaller user base for Android-specific work.

Best For: Developers can build mobile games with Unity or work on cross-platform .NET projects.

7. 7. MIT App Inventor

MIT App Inventor is a web-based and visual programming environment suitable for beginners to build simple and basic Android apps by utilizing a drag-and-drop interface.

Key Features

• It utilizes block-based logic to design apps without writing code.

• The quick prototyping allows for creating functional app prototypes quickly.

• It lets you work on your projects from any web browser.

• Provides tutorials and pre-made templates to learn how to build apps.

Pros

• Free to use and easy for beginners.

• You can build apps without knowing how to code.

• Perfect to build prototypes fast and to teach app design.

• Allows deployment of apps on Android devices.

Cons

• It works for simple apps, but it's not ideal for handling complicated projects.

• Does not include advanced coding or debugging features.

• Not designed for workflows to develop professional-level apps.

Best For: Students, educators, and beginners building basic Android apps or learning the fundamentals of mobile development.

How to Choose the Right IDE for Your Android Project?

Selecting the right IDE depends on what your project needs.

1. Native Android Development: Android Studio works great with Google tools and supports Kotlin well.
2. Cross-Platform Apps: Flutter, React Native, and Unity projects run on VS Code or Rider.
3. Legacy or Small Projects: AIDE and Eclipse provide affordable and lightweight options.
4. Beginner Friendly: AIDE and MIT App Inventor make learning easy with their simplified tools.
5. Budget: Free tools like Android Studio, Eclipse, VS Code, and MIT App Inventor are ideal for startups. Enterprises can go for paid tools like IntelliJ IDEA or Rider.
6. Trends in 2025: Expect IDEs to include AI-powered features like Android Studio’s Gemini. Many will use cloud workflows and offer tools to develop with Kotlin Multiplatform or for AR and VR.

Explore IDEs based on project needs and developer experience.

Conclusion

In this blog, we discovered the 7 best code editors for Android that will help you run, test, and build an Android app. Working with the right IDE is essential as it impacts overall productivity and code quality in Android development. Android Studio remains an ideal choice; however, some alternatives like IntelliJ IDEA and Visual Studio can also be utilized for your specific needs. Choose the IDE that aligns best with your language references, team requirements, and project goals to make your development journey efficient.

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