JetBrains Rider, a cross-platform integrated development environment (IDE), now offers a new free licensing plan. For those unfamiliar, Rider is part of a family of programming IDEs from JetBrains, initially designed for .NET development with a focus on languages such as C#, F#, and VB.NET. Like many JetBrains IDEs, it is well-regarded and designed to enhance the experience of developers working with these languages.
Over time, Rider has expanded its support for additional tools and frameworks, evolving into a go-to IDE for game development. It began by supporting game development with the Unity engine, which uses C# for scripting. Now, Rider also supports Godot and Unreal engine.
For Godot, it offers scripting support in both GDScript, the engine's main language, and C#. For Unreal Engine development, Rider provides C++ support and integrates with Unreal's Blueprint visual scripting system.
The new plan provides every developer access to the IDE's comprehensive functionality, but it comes with one important limitation: it cannot be used for commercial projects.
This plan was introduced to support common non-commercial activities, such as learning, contributing to open-source projects, and hobby development. It also offers developers a great opportunity to try out the IDE and see if it fits their preferences or project needs, all without time constraints.
JetBrains has recognized the growing community of hobbyist and self-taught developers, particularly in game development, who often lack the resources for enterprise-level tools. Many start their careers by creating games in their free time using free game engines. This insight from JetBrains inspired the decision to make Rider available for free in non-commercial settings.
The new non-commercial license provides the same functionality as the paid versions, with a few differences. The free version includes "Code With Me Community" for online team collaboration, which has some limitations compared to the Premium offering in paid plans. Another difference is that IDE telemetry (the collection of anonymous usage data) isn't opt-out, like when using a commercial subscription.
For those interested in the benefits of a paid tier, Rider offers two subscription options: Rider Commercial and dotUltimate. Pricing varies based on whether the subscription is for individual or organizational use, with both monthly and yearly billing options available.
The dotUltimate plan is described as the complete developer toolkit designed to cover all needs for .NET and game development. Besides Rider, it includes five additional tools: ReSharper, ReSharper C++, dotTrace, dotCover, and dotMemory.
It's important to note that these subscriptions work similarly to a "rent-to-own" model. After paying for 12 consecutive months, subscribers receive a perpetual fallback license. When an annual subscription is purchased, a perpetual fallback license is also granted immediately. This license applies to the specific version of the software available at the time of purchase.
Rider wasn't the only IDE to receive a free pricing tier; WebStorm, the IDE designed for web development, is now also available under the same model. If you develop for the web, be sure to check it out.
For additional information on JetBrains offerings, be sure to visit the official JetBrains website.
