C++ is one of the most popular programming languages used by developers around the world. But is this versatile and powerful language actually free to use? The short answer is yes – the core C++ language, compilers, tools, and learning resources are free and open source. However, some additional libraries, features, support, and training will cost money. Let‘s take a deeper look at what‘s free with C++ and what paid options are available.
Free and Open Source C++ Language
The C++ programming language itself is free to use. C++ was created by Bjarne Stroustrup starting in 1979 at Bell Labs and was officially standardized in 1998. The language specification and standards documents for C++ are developed by an international standards committee and published for free. So you can read up on the intricacies and features of C++ at no cost.
Now, free use does not mean uncontrolled use. The C++ standards committee oversees the direction of the language. But major tech companies like Microsoft, Apple, Google, and more contribute to C++ and use it extensively across their products, so they help drive new C++ versions. This shared governance model helps balance corporate interests with the needs of the broader C++ community.
The end result is that C++ remains free and open for all developers. You can download the standards and start coding in C++ without needing to pay license fees or usage costs. The shared open source model is a key strength of C++ compared to proprietary languages.
Open Source C++ Compilers
In addition to the language itself, you need a C++ compiler to turn your code into executable programs. The good news is some of the most widely-used C++ compilers are free and open source.
The GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) is a very popular compiler option. According to the Stack Overflow Developer Survey, over half of developers use GCC. This open source compiler works on Linux, macOS, and Windows. Major companies and projects like Amazon, Chrome, Oracle, and Android all use GCC.
Another great free option is Clang. Developed by Apple and the LLVM project, Clang aims to provide fast compile times and clear error messages. It is the default compiler for macOS and FreeBSD. Clang is also used by Google, Chrome, Android, and MATLAB.
For Windows, the Visual C++ compiler is free in the Visual Studio IDE. There are also free compilers like MinGW to bring GCC to the Windows environment.
In summary, free, battle-tested C++ compiler options are readily available on all major platforms. Here‘s a breakdown of the market share of top C++ compilers according to a JetBrains survey:
| Compiler | Market Share |
| GCC | 44% |
| Clang | 24% |
| Visual C++ | 21% |
| Intel C++ | 5% |
As you can see, open source compilers dominate the field.
Free C++ Development Tools
For coding in C++, an integrated development environment (IDE) provides important productivity benefits like code editing, debugging, and project management features.
Thankfully, you have excellent free options here too:
Visual Studio Community – Microsoft offers their full-featured Visual Studio IDE free for individual developers and small organizations. It works great for C++ on Windows.
Code::Blocks – This open source IDE has a small footprint but packs a punch with C++ support across platforms.
Eclipse CDT – The popular Eclipse IDE has a C/C++ plugin (CDT) to turn it into a free C++ IDE.
NetBeans – Backed by Apache, NetBeans provides another free, cross-platform IDE option for C++.
For a lighter editor, Notepad++, Vim, Emacs, and platforms like CodePen allow coding C++ for free as well. So whether you want a full IDE or a simpler editor, high-quality C++ tools are available at no cost.
C++ Standard Library and Frameworks
The C++ Standard Library contains foundational code and utilities like data structures, algorithms, I/O operations, numeric parsing, and more. This standard library is free and automatically included with C++ compilers.
According to Stack Overflow‘s survey, the top three most commonly used C++ libraries and frameworks are:
| Library/Framework | Usage Rate |
| C++ Standard Library | 67.4% |
| Boost | 49.6% |
| Qt | 22.5% |
Boost provides peer-reviewed, free C++ libraries with high-quality documentation. It extends what‘s available in the standard library for C++.
Qt is a popular GUI framework used by companies like Google, Amazon, Volkswagen, and more. The open source version can be used for free.
Between the standard library and abundant third-party projects, foundational C++ libraries and frameworks are freely accessible.
Online Learning Resources for C++
For learning C++, there are tons of free resources available online:
Documentation Sites – cplusplus.com, cppreference.com, learncpp.com all provide excellent C++ documentation and tutorials. This is a great starting point as a beginner.
Online Courses – MOOC platforms like edX, Coursera, and Udemy offer free and paid C++ courses. I‘d recommend the Introduction to C++ course from Udacity.
Open Books – Older C++ books are often available legally for free online. "A Tour of C++" by the language creator Bjarne Stroustrup is a good intro.
Videos and Blogs – YouTube, dev.to, and Stack Overflow have an abundance of free educational C++ content.
Forums – Sites like Reddit and Quora have active C++ forums to get help as you learn.
According to Codecademy‘s report on the fastest growing programming languages, C++ had a 534% increase in learners in 2020. With programming careers booming, free online C++ education has never been more accessible.
When Will You Need to Pay for C++?
While the core language, tools, and learning resources are free, here are some cases where paid C++ products and services can be useful:
Advanced IDEs – Platforms like CLion and Visual Studio add useful features for large projects like code intelligence, profiling, and team collaboration.
Commercial Libraries – Paid libraries like MKL (math) and OpenCV (computer vision) provide optimized, robust C++ algorithms.
Books and Courses – More advanced books and video training, like from C++ experts Kate Gregory and Scott Meyers, are behind a paywall.
Support and Maintenance – Official maintenance, support, training, and consultation services related to C++ development.
Hardware – C++ developers often utilize high-end computers, multi-monitors, special keyboards, etc. to maximize productivity.
So while the starting point with C++ is fully free, those working on large projects or advancing their expertise may benefit from paid products and services. But prudent use of the free, open source C++ ecosystem can take you very far.
Summary – How Free is C++?
To summarize, here are the key points on whether C++ is free:
C++ is an open standard controlled by a non-profit standards committee.
The specifications and standards documents for C++ are freely available online.
Leading open source C++ compilers like GCC, Clang, and Visual C++ are free to use.
Full-featured IDEs and code editors for C++ development are freely downloadable.
The C++ Standard Library provides core utilities as a free foundation.
Third-party C++ libraries like Boost and Qt have open source options.
There is an abundance of free documentation, books, courses, videos, and forums to learn C++.
Paid products and services provide additional capabilities on top of the core free offerings.
So in summary, the core C++ language, compilers, tools, and learning resources are completely free and open source. C++ gives you free access to one of the most widely-used programming languages. While paid products and services exist, they are optional purchases, not requirements. By leveraging the free, open source C++ ecosystem, you can become an effective C++ developer at little to no cost.
