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What’s the Best Cloud IDE in 2025? Here Are 8 of the Top Options

Traditionally, it was common for developers to create websites from scratch using everyday text editors. From the local machine to the server, terminal-based text editors like VIM and Emacs (as well as GUI-based text editors like SublimeText) are still the go-to options for many developers. However, the increasing popularity of cloud services leads to the rise of cloud IDEs.

For me personally, ever since I built my first WordPress plugin, the idea of using a cloud-based IDE has intrigued me. So I set out to do some research to test out the various options that are out there. My goal was to come up with a list that ranged in price, function, and complexity. The result of my findings is below. I’m sure you’ll be able to find at least one that will work for your development needs.

Let’s begin with a top level overview:

Cloud IDEFree VersionPro Starting From $Git IntegrationLanguages SupportedBest For
Replit
Learn more
$180 / yearYesOver 50 programming languages, including Python, JavaScript, Java, C++, and RubyTeam collaboration, with extensive language support and seamless Git integration.
Theia IDE
Learn more
YesSupports a wide range of programming languages through its integration with the Language Server Protocol (LSP)Customization, VS Code-compatibility, with support for multiple languages and frameworks.
GitHub Codespaces
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✅⚠️$0.18 / hourYesDevelop in almost any programming language, including JavaScript, Python, Java, C#, PHP, Ruby, and moreFast and simplified collaboration on Git repositories.
CodePen
Learn more
$96 / yearNoHTML, CSS, JavaScript, and various preprocessorsRapid prototyping, sharing, and discovering web design and front-end development ideas.
Eclipse Che
Learn more
❌⚠️$0.076 / hourYesSupports a wide range of programming languages, including Java, JavaScript, Python, C++, and GoKubernetes-native development environment with robust language support and version control.
AIJS
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YesJavaScript, CSS, and HTMLCreative coding with AI assistance for interactive and visual projects.
JSFiddle
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NoHTML, CSS, JavaScript, and various preprocessorsPrototyping and sharing code snippets quickly, with an emphasis on simplicity and front-end development.
Vue Play
Learn more
$9 / monthYes ⚠️Primarily JavaScript, with a focus on Vue.js development, along with HTML and CSSVue.js applications inside of a visual, low-code environment with drag-and-drop functionality and Tailwind CSS integration.

My lineup of the best cloud IDE options 💻

1. Replit

Replit homepage.

Supporting over 50 programming languages, Replit offers a collaborative platform where developers can work together in real-time, making it ideal for pair programming, teaching, and rapid prototyping.

Its user-friendly interface and instant setup eliminate the need for local installations, allowing users to start coding immediately. Additionally, Replit provides features like version control, package management, and deployment options. These features streamline the development workflow for both beginners and experienced programmers.

The Replit dashboard presents a clean, organized interface with quick access to key actions, such as creating a new “Repl” (project) or importing from GitHub, making it easy to start coding instantly.

The sidebar offers navigation to essential sections like Repls, Deployments, Teams, and various learning resources. The central section highlights Replit’s latest features, such as the Replit Agent, which provides AI-powered assistance for building projects, along with templates for popular tasks like stock analysis and website development.

The layout is designed to be beginner-friendly while still offering advanced options for customization and collaboration, making it accessible to both new and experienced developers.

Key features 👩🏾‍💻

  • Real-time collaboration allows multiple users to edit code simultaneously, facilitating teamwork and learning.
  • Supports a wide range of programming languages, enabling versatility in project development.
  • Integrated package manager simplifies the inclusion of libraries and dependencies.
  • Built-in version control helps track changes and manage code history effectively.
  • Deployment capabilities allow users to host applications directly from the platform, streamlining the process from development to production.

2. Theia IDE

Theia IDE homepage.

Theia IDE is an open-source IDE that offers a flexible and extensible platform for building cloud and desktop applications.

Developed under the Eclipse Foundation, Theia supports a wide range of programming languages. It integrates seamlessly with Visual Studio Code (VS Code) extensions, providing developers with a versatile and customizable coding experience. In addition, its modular architecture allows for extensive customization, enabling users to tailor the IDE to their specific project needs.

Theia IDE user interface.

Theia’s user interface provides a clean, familiar layout that mirrors popular desktop IDEs like VS Code, which can ease the learning curve for new users.

The left sidebar features an organized file explorer, which makes navigating between project files quick and intuitive. Tabs at the top allow for multiple files to be open simultaneously, supporting efficient multitasking within the workspace. The bottom status bar displays real-time notifications and task statuses, making it easy to monitor project activities at a glance.

Key features 👨🏻‍💻

  • Can be deployed both as a native desktop application and as a web-based IDE, offering flexibility in development environments.
  • Supports a wide array of extensions, including those compatible with VS Code, allowing developers to enhance functionality as needed.
  • Utilizes the Language Server Protocol (LSP) and Debug Adapter Protocol (DAP) to provide robust support for multiple programming languages.
  • Hosted by the Eclipse Foundation, ensuring an open-source, community-driven development model without vendor lock-in.

3. GitHub Codespaces

GitHub Codespaces homepage.

GitHub Codespaces is a cloud-based development environment that enables developers to code directly within their browser or through Visual Studio Code, eliminating the need for local setup.

By providing pre-configured environments tailored to specific projects, Codespaces streamlines the development process, allowing for immediate productivity. Its seamless integration with GitHub repositories ensures that code, dependencies, and extensions are readily available, facilitating efficient collaboration and reducing setup time.

Due to its tight integration with Visual Studio Code, GitHub Codespaces is able to leverage the VS Code interface and functionality to create a familiar cloud-based development environment. When you launch a Codespace, you’re essentially accessing a remote version of VS Code in your browser, with all the core features and extensions you’d expect from the desktop version.

Key features 👩🏻‍💻

  • Provides cloud-hosted development environments with customizable dev container files, making it easy to standardize setups across teams.
  • Offers flexible compute options, ranging from two to 32 cores, to meet the needs of different projects and users.
  • Allows developers to spin up environments from templates, repositories, open pull requests, or specific commits, making it versatile for feature development and debugging.
  • Supports access from both web browsers and desktop IDEs like Visual Studio Code, IntelliJ, and JupyterLab (in beta), allowing developers to work with familiar tools.
  • Includes free monthly usage quotas for individuals, students, and open-source maintainers, with pay-as-you-go options for additional hours or organizational needs.

4. CodePen

Codepen homepage.

CodePen is an online platform that enables developers to write, test, and showcase front-end code snippets, known as “Pens,” using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It serves as both a code editor and a community hub, allowing users to experiment with code in real-time and share their creations with others.

CodePen supports various preprocessors and external libraries, facilitating rapid prototyping and learning. Its collaborative features and extensive collection of user-generated content make it a valuable resource for developers seeking inspiration and feedback.

The interface provides a simple and intuitive layout, with separate panels for HTML, JavaScript, and CSS.

The output display panel is prominent, making it easy to immediately view any changes made to the code. The top bar includes quick-access options for saving, sharing, and configuring settings, which streamline the workflow for creating and sharing code snippets. Additionally, a console and asset management panel at the bottom offer essential tools for debugging and resource handling, enhancing the development experience within the browser.

Key features 👨🏾‍💻

  • Real-time code editing with immediate visual feedback, enhancing the development and debugging process.
  • Support for HTML, CSS, and JavaScript preprocessors, allowing developers to write code in languages like Sass, Less, and CoffeeScript.
  • Integration with external libraries and frameworks, enabling the inclusion of tools like jQuery, React, and Bootstrap directly into projects.
  • Collaboration modes that allow multiple users to edit a Pen simultaneously, facilitating pair programming and team projects.
  • A vibrant community where developers can explore Pens created by others, participate in challenges, and gain inspiration from a diverse range of projects.

5. Eclipse Che

Eclipse Che homepage.

Eclipse Che is an open-source, cloud-based IDE that provides developers with containerized workspaces accessible directly from a web browser. Designed to run on Kubernetes, Che offers a consistent and reproducible development environment, eliminating the “it works on my machine” problem.

It supports multiple programming languages and integrates with various tools and frameworks, facilitating seamless collaboration among development teams. By leveraging containerization, Eclipse Che ensures that all dependencies and configurations are encapsulated within the workspace, promoting efficiency and scalability in the development process.

To use Eclipse Che you need to register for a Developer Sandbox through Red Hat OpenShift. After you complete the process, you’ll have a free account good for 30 days. Following that, if you wish to continue using it, you’ll need to sign up for a paid plan.

The Eclipse Che interface features a clean layout.

The left sidebar provides structured navigation through project files and settings, while the main panel includes a welcome screen with quick-start options and walkthroughs, which are particularly useful for onboarding new users. The status bar at the bottom displays resource usage, such as memory and CPU, giving you insight into your workspace’s performance – a critical feature for managing cloud-based, containerized environments.

Key features 👩🏼‍💻

  • Provides a browser-based VS Code experience, eliminating the need for local setup.
  • Supports integration with Kubernetes and OpenShift, allowing for seamless scaling and deployment.
  • Offers pre-configured stacks and custom workspace configurations tailored to different languages and frameworks.
  • Enables real-time collaboration with shared workspaces, facilitating teamwork in a cloud environment.
  • Ensures consistent and secure development environments using containerized workspaces, enhancing efficiency and reducing setup issues.

6. AIJS

AIJS homepage.

AIJS is a browser-based IDE designed for creative coding. It offers a versatile platform for developers to write, run, and share code directly from their web browser. While providing support for multiple programming languages, including JavaScript, CSS, HTML, and Python, it also integrates with popular libraries such as p5.js, three.js, and p5play.

AIJS provides real-time code previews, a robust file system, and collaborative tools within a user-friendly interface. Altogether, it offers a great coding experience for both beginners and experienced developers. Additionally, AIJS incorporates AI integrations, assisting you in code generation and problem-solving.

The AIJS interface combines a code editor, live preview, and AI-powered assistance within a single, cohesive layout.

The left sidebar provides easy navigation between project files, enabling quick access to HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files. The main coding panel supports syntax highlighting and real-time collaboration. To the right, a dedicated AI tab offers coding assistance from models like GPT-3.5, with suggested prompts for creative coding queries, such as generating animations or applying physics. This integration of AI directly within the IDE helps users get immediate feedback, suggestions, and solutions, making it particularly useful for experimentation and creative projects.

Key features 👨🏼‍💻

  • Each of your projects has its own URL for the code editor and you can run the project as its own site.
  • A dedicated AI panel provides assistance from your choice of Claude, GPT, or Gemini.
  • You can preview code changes instantly in the live preview area, encouraging rapid experimentation and interactive development.
  • Easily import your projects from GitHub to AIJS and work on your existing repositories with no delays.
  • The interface includes a range of tools designed for creative coders such as inline color pickers, gallery tool for batch rendering, graphing tools, and more.

7. JSFiddle

JSFiddle user interface.

JSFiddle is an early IDE that originated as a code playground, influencing many other competitors today. It allows you to create front-end elements and render them live in the browser. You are able to fork the work of others and build on it. Plus you can embed your work in external sites. JSFiddle is a simplified version of CodePen for those who wish to work with a simpler code editor but still have compilation abilities.

It supports different boilerplates for popular libraries and frameworks like React, jQuery, and Bootstrap, which can be selected with a single click, making it easy to set up new projects or prototypes. Overall, while it’s probably not a full-fledged IDE by modern standards, it does get the job done.

JSFiddle configuration options.

The JSFiddle interface offers a streamlined layout for quickly testing and sharing code snippets in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. The editor is divided into sections, with dedicated panels for each language. A live “Result” preview panel updates as you code. This real-time feedback is useful for front-end experimentation, allowing developers to see changes immediately.

The editor settings provide various customization options. These include enabling auto-run for code, toggling line numbers, and adjusting your indentation style. You can also activate features like live code validation and auto-closing HTML tags. This enhances the coding experience for users looking to create polished demos.

Key features 👩🏿‍💻

  • Separate panels for HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, with a live preview panel for real-time feedback.
  • Customizable editor settings, including options for auto-run, live validation, and auto-closing tags.
  • Built-in boilerplates for popular libraries and frameworks like React, jQuery, and Bootstrap, enabling quick setup.
  • Console integration within the editor for easy debugging and testing of JavaScript code.
  • Simple sharing options with unique URLs for each “fiddle,” making it easy to share and collaborate on code snippets.

8. Vue Play

Vue Play homepage.

Vue Play is a cloud-based integrated development environment designed for building Vue.js applications through a visual, drag-and-drop interface.

It enables developers to create components, websites, and web applications without manual coding, streamlining the development process. With features like a built-in code editor, Tailwind CSS integration, and seamless GitHub deployment, Vue Play offers a comprehensive platform for both novice and experienced developers to efficiently design and launch Vue.js projects.

Vue Play user interface.

The Vue Play interface provides a visual and intuitive layout.

The left sidebar contains drag-and-drop elements, components, and icons, allowing you to quickly build out page structures without manual coding. The center panel displays a real-time preview of your application. This enables you to instantly see how changes affect the layout and design. On the right, a file explorer offers access to project files and directories, supporting easy navigation between assets, views, and configurations. The top bar includes responsive design tools. These let you preview your projects across different screen sizes directly within the editor.

Key features 👩🏻‍💻

  • Visual drag-and-drop designer simplifies the creation of Vue.js components and layouts.
  • Built-in code editor provides flexibility for custom coding within the platform.
  • Integration with Tailwind CSS allows for extensive styling options.
  • Seamless deployment to GitHub Pages facilitates quick project launches.
  • Cloud storage ensures access to projects from anywhere, promoting collaboration and convenience.

Final recap 📊

Choosing a proper cloud development tool is ultimately going to come down to the usual key factors: budget and your needs. If you’re still undecided, below is the comparison table from earlier. Hopefully it will help you narrow things down:

Cloud IDEFree VersionPro Starting From $Git IntegrationLanguages SupportedBest For
Replit$180 / yearYesOver 50 programming languages, including Python, JavaScript, Java, C++, and RubyTeam collaboration, with extensive language support and seamless Git integration.
Theia IDEYesSupports a wide range of programming languages through its integration with the Language Server Protocol (LSP)Customization, VS Code-compatibility, with support for multiple languages and frameworks.
GitHub Codespaces✅⚠️$0.18 / hourYesDevelop in almost any programming language, including JavaScript, Python, Java, C#, PHP, Ruby, and moreFast and simplified collaboration on Git repositories.
CodePen$96 / yearNoHTML, CSS, JavaScript, and various preprocessorsRapid prototyping, sharing, and discovering web design and front-end development ideas.
Eclipse Che❌⚠️$0.076 / hourYesSupports a wide range of programming languages, including Java, JavaScript, Python, C++, and GoKubernetes-native development environment with robust language support and version control.
AIJSYesJavaScript, CSS, and HTMLCreative coding with AI assistance for interactive and visual projects.
JSFiddleNoHTML, CSS, JavaScript, and various preprocessorsPrototyping and sharing code snippets quickly, with an emphasis on simplicity and front-end development.
Vue Play$9 / monthYes ⚠️Primarily JavaScript, with a focus on Vue.js development, along with HTML and CSSVue.js applications inside of a visual, low-code environment with drag-and-drop functionality and Tailwind CSS integration.

If you found this post helpful, you might also enjoy our roundup of the best local WordPress development tools.

What are your favorite cloud IDEs? Let me know in the comments below.

Don’t forget to join our crash course on speeding up your WordPress site. Learn more below:

Layout and presentation by Karol K.

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