May 08, 2025 23:00:00

JetBrains' C programming IDE 'CLion' can now be used for free, for non-commercial use only, to create reference books and programming videos

CLion , the IDE for C and C++ developed by JetBrains, is now available free of charge for non-commercial use.

CLion Is Now Free for Non-Commercial Use | The CLion Blog
https://blog.jetbrains.com/clion/2025/05/clion-is-now-free-for-non-commercial-use/

CLion is an IDE that supports C and C++, and in addition to basic IDE functions such as code completion and debugging, it also has on-chip debugging functions for embedded development. It also supports coding using AI , and can generate code and obtain documentation.

CLion is a paid subscription product, with

a monthly fee of 1,525 yen (tax included). However, from May 7, 2025, CLion will be available for free for non-commercial use only.

The non-commercial version of CLion has the exact same features as the paid version of CLion, but requires that anonymous usage data be sent. Usage data only includes information about which IDE features were used, and no other data is collected.

If you check

the Non-Commercial License FAQ , you will see that JetBrains defines 'developing a product and deriving commercial benefit from your activities' as commercial use. In contrast, 'study and self-education,' 'open source contributions without commercial benefit,' 'content creation of any form,' and 'hobbyist development' are considered non-commercial uses.

Even if you are developing a product that does not have any commercial benefits, if you are a 'company employee receiving a salary' and you use CLion for work, you will need to purchase a commercial license. On the other hand, 'creators of educational code that they intend to sell,' 'creators who earn advertising revenue by posting on platforms such as YouTube,' and 'podcasters and streamers who make money by selling advertising space' can use CLion for free.

In addition to CLion, JetBrains has also made WebStorm , Rider , and RustRover free for non-commercial use . The company is currently evaluating the impact of the changes and is considering whether to make other products free.