Visual Studio Professional Review 2026
Microsoft's enterprise beast — if you're deep in .NET, C#, Azure, or Windows dev, this is the full-featured IDE that owns the stack.
Key Features
- Top-tier C#/.NET tooling with advanced refactoring and debugging.
- Integrated Azure deployment, App Insights, and DevOps tools.
- Live Share for real-time collaboration.
- IntelliCode AI-powered suggestions and Copilot integration.
- Profiler, performance tools, and unit testing frameworks.
- Cross-platform with .NET MAUI, Blazor, and Unity support.
Pros
- Unmatched depth for Microsoft ecosystem — Azure deployment is seamless.
- Live Share collaboration is polished and reliable.
- Profiler and diagnostics tools are enterprise-grade.
- Copilot and IntelliCode make you code faster.
Cons
- Windows-only for full experience (Mac version limited).
- Heavy resource usage — needs serious hardware.
- Subscription pricing for Professional/Enterprise.
Top Visual Studio Extension Recommendations 2026
Visual Studio Marketplace is massive — these extensions (free unless noted) supercharge .NET/Azure workflows.
Productivity & Code Quality
- ReSharperPaid — ultimate refactoring, navigation, and code analysis for C#.
- Productivity Power ToolsSolution explorer enhancements, quick launch, and more.
- Editor GuidelinesVertical lines for code alignment.
- CodeMaidCode cleanup and organization on save.
Azure & DevOps
- Azure App Service ToolsDeploy and manage web apps directly.
- Azure Functions ToolsServerless development workflow.
- GitHub Extension for Visual StudioPRs and issues inside IDE.
AI & Debugging
- GitHub CopilotPaid — AI pair programmer for .NET.
- Visual Studio IntelliCodeContext-aware completions (built-in but enhanced).
- OzCodePaid — magical debugging with timelines.
UI & Themes
- Color Theme DesignerCustom themes beyond defaults.
- Fine Code CoverageVisual test coverage in editor.
Install via Extensions → Manage Extensions → Online. ReSharper is the big one if you're all-in on C#.
Pricing
Visual Studio Professional
Subscription ~$45/month or $1,199/year (Enterprise higher)
Buy Visual Studio Pro