Top 10 React IDEs and Editors in 2025: A Simple Guide for Developers

The 10 Best React IDEs and Editors You Should Know in 2025

1. Visual Studio Code (VS Code)

If you haven’t used VS Code yet, there’s a good chance you’ve at least heard about it. It’s everywhere.

Why developers love it:
It’s fast, open-source, works across all platforms, and has thousands of extensions—many tailor-made for React devs.

Highlights:

• Free and regularly updated by Microsoft
• Rich extension ecosystem (React, TypeScript, ESLint, Prettier—you name it)
• Git integration, IntelliSense, and a built-in terminal
• A strong community and loads of tutorials

Downsides:
It can slow down if you overload it with too many extensions. And you’ll need to set up your React project structure yourself the first time.

Best for: Everyone—from beginners to pros.

2. WebStorm

WebStorm is VS Code’s more powerful (but paid) cousin. It’s made by JetBrains and built specifically for JavaScript and frontend work.

Why it stands out:
You get out-of-the-box React, TypeScript, Jest, and Node.js support—no hunting for plugins.

What’s great:

• Smart auto-complete and refactoring tools
• Built-in debugger and test runner
• Seamless Git and version control integration
• Clean UI that just works

Keep in mind:
It’s a paid IDE, and it can feel heavier than VS Code. But if you're working on a serious project, it's worth the investment.

Best for: Professionals and teams working on large React codebases.

3. Sublime Text

Sublime Text is all about speed and simplicity. If you like clean interfaces and lightning-fast performance, this one’s for you.

What you’ll like:

• Minimal UI with zero clutter
• Opens large files instantly
• Low memory usage
• React and JSX support via plugins

However, you’ll need to manually set up Git, terminal, and other tools. And while it's technically paid, you can use the free trial forever.

Best for: Devs who prefer speed and don’t need all the bells and whistles.

4. Atom

Atom used to be a fan favorite, and it’s still got a soft spot in many devs’ hearts. It’s super customizable and open source—but a bit outdated now.

What makes it unique:
It’s super hackable. If you love tweaking your setup, you’ll feel at home.

Pros:

• Built-in Git and GitHub integration
• Tons of community plugins
• Easy to customize

Cons:
Performance isn’t its strong point anymore. And updates are rare these days.

Best for: Tinkerers and devs who love customizing their tools.

5. CodeSandbox

If you’ve ever wanted to spin up a React app in seconds without touching your local machine, CodeSandbox is your best friend.

Why it's awesome:
Everything runs in the browser. Perfect for prototyping or sharing a quick demo.

What you’ll love:

• No installation needed
• Instant React preview
• GitHub integration
• Great for teaching, pair programming, or quick experiments

Limitations:
Not great for huge projects. And browser memory can be a bottleneck.

Best for: Prototyping, sharing, or learning React.

6. StackBlitz

StackBlitz is like CodeSandbox’s power-user sibling. It’s also web-based but feels more like a local dev environment.

Why devs like it:
It mimics VS Code and even simulates backends using serverless tech.

Perks:

• Lightning-fast startup
• Supports React, Angular, and more
• GitHub syncing
• Works well for full-stack apps (to a point)

Drawbacks:
Browser limits still apply, and advanced backend features require a paid tier.

Best for: Cloud-based development and rapid prototyping.

7. Reactide

Reactide is built only for React. It’s not widely updated anymore, but it's still interesting if you want something that visualizes React components.

What it offers:

• Real-time component rendering
• Built-in browser simulator
• Node.js server support

What’s missing:
It’s still in beta and lacks modern integrations and community support.

Best for: Hobby projects, exploring React visually.

8. Eclipse Theia

Theia is like a customizable VS Code built for the cloud. It’s modular and open source, so you can shape it into exactly what you need.

Why it's cool:
It supports VS Code extensions and is used to build custom IDEs.

Pros:

• Web and desktop support
• Ideal for enterprise or cloud workflows
• Developer-focused flexibility

Cons:
It’s not plug-and-play. Needs more setup and has a smaller community.

Best for: Cloud IDE lovers and enterprise teams.

9. Vim / Neovim

These legendary editors are for devs who live in the terminal. Once you master the shortcuts, everything else feels slow.

Why you’ll love it:
It's lightweight, fast, and fully keyboard-driven.

Strong points:

• Insanely fast
• Fully customizable
• Great for remote development
• Plugin support for React (via coc.nvim, LSP, etc.)

Hard truth:
There’s a learning curve. A steep one. But it pays off.

Best for: Advanced users and terminal purists.

10. Brackets

Brackets is simple, clean, and great for HTML/CSS with a bit of JavaScript. It’s not designed for React—but it still works if you’re keeping things basic.

Why it might work for you:

• Live preview support
• Beginner-friendly UI
• Great for design-to-code workflows

Why it might not:
It doesn’t have built-in React or TypeScript support and isn’t as actively maintained.

Best for: Designers learning to code or small projects.

Final Thoughts

If you're just getting into React or want the most well-rounded tool, Visual Studio Code is the clear winner. It’s free, fast, and fully customizable.

Need something stronger for large, complex projects? WebStorm has your back.

For quick experiments and collaboration, go with CodeSandbox or StackBlitz.

If you're an experienced developer looking for speed and control, Vim or Neovim is hard to beat.

And for learners or those looking for a focused experience, Brackets and Reactide are worth exploring.