PyCharm vs. Spyder

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
PyCharm
Score 9.2 out of 10
N/A
PyCharm is an extensive Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for Python developers. Its arsenal includes intelligent code completion, error detection, and rapid problem-solving features, all of which aim to bolster efficiency. The product supports programmers in composing orderly and maintainable code by offering PEP8 checks, testing assistance, intelligent refactorings, and inspections. Moreover, it caters to web development frameworks like Django and Flask by providing framework…
$99
per year per user
Spyder
Score 8.2 out of 10
N/A
Spyder is a free and open source scientific environment for Python. It combines advanced editing, analysis, debugging, and profiling, with data exploration, interactive execution, deep inspection, and visualization capabilities. Spyder is sponsored by open source supporters QuanSight, and NumFOCUS, as well as individual donors.N/A
Pricing
PyCharmSpyder
Editions & Modules
For Individuals
$99
per year per user
All Products Pack for Organizations
$249
per year per user
All Products Pack for Individuals
$289
per year per user
For Organizations
$779
per year per user
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
PyCharmSpyder
Free Trial
YesNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoYes
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
PyCharmSpyder
TrustRadius Insights
PyCharmSpyder
Highlights

TrustRadius
Research Team Insight
Published

PyCharm and Spyder are both Integrated Development Environments (IDE) designed to facilitate the programming process.  PyCharm specialized in the Python programming language and is popular with mid-sized and large enterprises, due to its robust feature set and premium pricing.  In contrast, Spyder supports multiple programming languages and is used by businesses of all sizes, perhaps because it is open source and available for free. 

Features

Both PyCharm and Spyder include essential IDE features including debugging tools and code editors, but they also have a few unique features that set them apart from each other.

PyCharm was built with the Python programming language in mind, though it also has support for some other languages, including JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.  Additionally, PyCharm users enjoy a library of code snippets and templates that can speed up the programming process.  Lastly, PyCharm allows for high levels of customization for how it handles things like syntax highlighting and code completion.

Spyder offers robust debugging tools that allow users to quickly edit variables and breakpoint conditions to speed up the debugging process.  Additionally, Spyder provides a global variable explorer that allows users to easily assess and edit the state of each variable in their code.  Spyder is also a lightweight program out of the box compared to other IDE options.

Limitations

PyCharm and Spyder both offer essential IDE features, but they also have a few limitations that are important to consider.

PyCharm is a heavy program due to the variety of plugins included with it, so businesses looking for the lightest, fastest IDE may want to consider other options.  Additionally, PyCharm has extensive support for Python, but does not offer the same level of support for other programming languages.  This can make it a poor choice for organizations that don’t work primarily with Python. 

Spyder is a lightweight program, but the lack of plugins and customizability can make it more difficult to use compared to PyCharm for new users.  Businesses looking for an IDE that is customizable from top to bottom may prefer PyCharm.  Additionally, Spyder doesn’t include a library of code snippets like PyCharm does, which can make coding slower compared to other options.

Pricing

PyCharm is available for $199.00 per month, though there is a free option available for student users.  In contrast, Spyder is open-source and available for free.

Best Alternatives
PyCharmSpyder
Small Businesses
IntelliJ IDEA
IntelliJ IDEA
Score 9.4 out of 10
PyCharm
PyCharm
Score 9.2 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
IntelliJ IDEA
IntelliJ IDEA
Score 9.4 out of 10
PyCharm
PyCharm
Score 9.2 out of 10
Enterprises
IntelliJ IDEA
IntelliJ IDEA
Score 9.4 out of 10
PyCharm
PyCharm
Score 9.2 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
PyCharmSpyder
Likelihood to Recommend
8.6
(0 ratings)
8.0
(0 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
10.0
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Usability
8.7
(0 ratings)
8.0
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
8.3
(0 ratings)
8.0
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
PyCharmSpyder
Likelihood to Recommend
It's easy to create virtual environments and install packages for different projects as we may need project-specific packages for doing our experiments, also it's easy to see what changes we have made and create pull requests faster. But sometimes we want some light python editor like Jupiter notebook as PyCharm is relatively heavier, also Jupiter notebooks are a good option when we need to run remote code on local machines.
Read full review
Spyder is well suited if you're limited on hardware. You have to work with single code file. You need to quickly write some code and test it. Apart from this if you want to have a look at your variables then you can make use of Spyder. If you're working with Anaconda navigator then this can be the best to start with as it can be installed with single click there.
Read full review
Pros
  • Git integration is really essential as it allows anyone to visually see the local and remote changes, compare revisions without the need for complex commands.
  • Complex debugging tools are basked into the IDE. Controls like break on exception are sometimes very helpful to identify errors quickly.
  • Multiple runtimes - Python, Flask, Django, Docker are native the to IDE. This makes development and debugging and even more seamless.
  • Integrates with Jupyter and Markdown files as well. Side by side rendering and editing makes it simple to develop such files.
Read full review
  • Debugging of your existing code
  • Generates figures very quickly as part of a figures tab which lets users understand results quickly
  • Different layouts are available for the software which will give the users freedom to decide what layout works best for them
Read full review
Cons
  • PyCharm text editor automatically inserts whitespace at the end of each line which can cause issues when doing text comparisons.
  • The package requirement checker and installer does not work well all the time and can be improved
  • Integration with GitLab pipelines can be made better.
Read full review
  • Colors in code format
  • Add a broadcast to share the project with friends
  • Contains more than one important language such as Python
Read full review
Likelihood to Renew
It's perfect for our needs, cuts development time, is really helpful for newbies to understand projects structure
Read full review
No answers on this topic
Usability
It's pretty easy to use, but if it's your first time using it, you need time to adapt. Nevertheless, it has a lot of options, and everything is pretty easy to find. The console has a lot of advantages and lets you accelerate your development from the first day.
Read full review
It is fairly straightforward to use. Pretty much good to go as soon as you install it. The IDE itself is very user friendly, and it is only limited by whatever limitations Python has as a language. Great for those who want to run their scripts quickly or do some Python programming without fussing.
Read full review
Support Rating
I rate 10/10 because I have never needed a direct customer support from the JetBrains so far. Whenever and for whatever kind of problems I came across, I have been able to resolve it within the internet community, simply by Googling because turns out most of the time, it was me who lacked the proper information to use the IDE or simply make the proper configuration. I have never came across a bug in PyCharm either so it deserves 10/10 for overall support
Read full review
Most of data scientists or data engineers are either using ec2 on the cloud or Atom or PyCharm locally. It is a bit hard to find people who are still using Spyder and have the sight of the IDE and can help you to answer your question.
Read full review
Alternatives Considered
It is more complete and can handle more projects at the same time. On the other hand, Visual Studio Code has better integration with LMS to help you code. PyCharm allows you to integrate with many external tools and external servers that Visual Studio Code has difficulties with.
Read full review
I have chosen Spyder because it's free and open-source that comes with properly documented comments in the code. I have been using Spyder for more than 2 years and it always feels good to work with Spyder every time start my work. In Spyder, we have three windows one for man code window, idle window, and the other is for running your code and analyze. So to test a particular code I use the idle window to see what is going to be the result when I use this set of codes. That the main reason, I use Spyder.
Read full review
Return on Investment
  • Improved efficiency with coding assistance (templates, code completion, documentation), which helps us avoid 'reinventing the wheel' with new projects.
  • Extensive support for other packages/integrations: Docker support to test code, Git repo creation (for version control), and integration with different database systems (Postgres, MySQL).
Read full review
  • Less time spent on employee training.
  • Limited integration with Git.
  • No tools for repository.
Read full review
ScreenShots