Sold here as a single-user license for one device, this is the professional edition, not a stripped-down coding tool. It’s built as a 64-bit IDE and is designed for developers working on larger projects, heavier workloads, and across multiple languages or platforms. The feature list leans in a few directions at once: coding, debugging, testing, collaboration, and Microsoft’s growing stack of AI-assisted tools.
On the development side, it supports work across .NET, C++, Blazor, .NET MAUI, Windows, Linux, and containers. It also ties into Azure, GitHub, and DevOps workflows, so it fits most naturally into teams or solo setups already living in that ecosystem.
The collaboration tools are part of the package, too. Live Share is here, along with CodeLens, which pulls information like authorship, references, recent changes, and test status into the editor itself. Microsoft is also pushing harder on AI features in this release, including IntelliCode suggestions, context-aware completions, and refactoring help.
It also sets its boundaries pretty clearly. It installs on supported versions of Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows Server 2019, and Windows Server 2022. What it doesn’t do is run as a native IDE on Chromebooks, iPhones, iPads, or Android devices, and it doesn’t support 32-bit Windows or ARM32 systems.
The hardware requirements are not outrageous, but they are worth checking. Microsoft lists 4GB RAM minimum, 8GB or more recommended, and storage needs that can vary widely depending on what gets installed.
For someone who wants Visual Studio and not something adjacent to it, this is a pretty simple buy.
Buying this deal? You’ll also get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2021 for free when you add it to your cart and apply the code at checkout through 4/19: GWP4MAC (for Mac) or GWP4WIND (for Windows).
Gift with $100+ purchase promo ends April 19, 2026. Exclusions apply. Only one promo code applicable per order.