VS Code is still the free default almost everyone starts with. Cursor is VS Code with AI agents that edit your project — worth paying if that is how you work. Visual Studio Community is the real IDE for .NET and C++ on Windows.
Visual Studio Code
Why it won →“Free, endless extensions, and every tutorial assumes it. The safest excellent editor at $0.”
Alternatives
Runner-up
Cursor
VS Code with AI agents that edit your whole project.
VS Code with AI that edits the whole repo. Pro at $20/month when agent coding is your main loop.
Also good
Visual Studio
The full Windows IDE for .NET and C++.
The Windows IDE for .NET and C++. Community is free for individuals and small teams.