We use Microsoft Visual Studio for various builds such as building our .NET applications, and in some cases, we use it for design, and for building specifications.
Enterprise Architect - Integrations at BCA
Comprehensive and has features that work for different plans; powerful and efficient
Pros and Cons
- "What we like about Microsoft Visual Studio is that it's a comprehensive tool. It has features that work for different plans and it has a wide variety of use cases. It's also a powerful tool and it's quite efficient."
- "The UI could be better, and development could be easier on Microsoft Visual Studio if there were more features like drag and drop and more frameworks, etc."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
What we like about Microsoft Visual Studio is that it's a comprehensive tool. It has features that work for different plans and it has a wide variety of use cases. It's also a powerful tool and it's quite efficient.
What needs improvement?
There's always room for improvement in any product, and in Microsoft Visual Studio, it can be spread into other areas of development and design. It's pretty much Microsoft-oriented at the moment. It can be spread into other open source or open source-based developments. That's why I gave it a rating of eight. There's always room for improvement, for example, the UI could be better, and development could be easier on Microsoft Visual Studio if there were more features like drag and drop and more frameworks, etc.
For how long have I used the solution?
We've been using Microsoft Visual Studio for the past three years.
Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Visual Studio
May 2025

Learn what your peers think about Microsoft Visual Studio. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: May 2025.
857,028 professionals have used our research since 2012.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Microsoft Visual Studio is a stable tool. It has improved in terms of stability.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
In terms of scalability, I don't know if scalability applies to Microsoft Visual Studio, to be honest.
How are customer service and support?
We never required technical support from Microsoft Visual Studio because it's a straightforward tool. Online help is great, for example, the community support and forums are all good and widely used.
How was the initial setup?
Microsoft Visual Studio has improved a lot over the years, and setting it up is quite straightforward now.
How fast the tool is deployed depends on project to project, but usually deployment is quite efficient and fast. We usually take on average fifteen days to build a feature and deploy it in DevOps.
What about the implementation team?
We both have an in-house team and partners that take care of the implementation of Microsoft Visual Studio.
What was our ROI?
I've seen ROI from Microsoft Visual Studio.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The development license for Microsoft Visual Studio is free. I don't know if there's a licensing cost to it.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We evaluated Eclipse and also used other tools, but Microsoft Visual Studio is good.
What other advice do I have?
My company has been using Microsoft Visual Studio for development purposes, particularly Microsoft Visual Studio for .NET development.
I would highly recommend Microsoft Visual Studio to others looking into implementing it. I would also advise that it has some learning curve to use, in particular, people need the technical skill to use the tool properly.
My rating for Microsoft Visual Studio is eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.

Architect at a computer software company with 501-1,000 employees
Robust development solution that improves productivity
Pros and Cons
- "The valuable feature is that it provides a basic template for everything and built-in debugging tools. They definitely save me time."
- "The hot reload feature is good, but sometimes it doesn't work. It could be improved."
What is our primary use case?
We use it for project development, including tasks such as web API, hosted services, mini-tests, and more.
What is most valuable?
The valuable feature is that it provides a basic template for everything and built-in debugging tools. They definitely save me time.
Compared to 2019, the 2022 version runs much smoother. The older version used to freeze if I had too many consoles open. The 2022 version is lighter and performs significantly better. Also, the ID itself is quite lightweight.
The UI is fine; they've kept it consistent for a while now, so it's familiar.
What needs improvement?
The hot reload feature is good, but sometimes it doesn't work. It could be improved.
Also, the solution is heavy. If it could become lighter, it would attract a larger user base.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have used the solution since 2008, so for the past 15 years. I’m currently using the latest version from 2022.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is highly stable. I rate it a nine out of ten, with ten being the highest.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
If you have multiple windows open, up to three is fine. However, when you exceed three windows, especially on individual laptops, it tends to slow down the system. It is heavy; it is not a light solution.
We have around ten users for the solution.
How was the initial setup?
The setup process is straightforward, the only thing is the downloadable file is a bit large in size. The deployment process is quite simple.
You just need to download the file, double-check it, have an administrator, and you're good to go. It takes approximately 20 minutes to complete the setup.
What about the implementation team?
It can be implemented in-house. We have to keep the updates running; that is it. There is no other maintenance required.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I would rate the solution a seven on a scale from one to ten, with one being the most affordable and ten being the most expensive.
What other advice do I have?
I recommend the solution to all. It enhances productivity. Overall, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Visual Studio
May 2025

Learn what your peers think about Microsoft Visual Studio. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: May 2025.
857,028 professionals have used our research since 2012.
General manager at ESOFT
Comes with Azure DevOps integration which helps to check code quality but needs to improve documentation
Pros and Cons
- "My company works with outsourced programmers. The solution helps us to test, integrate and foresee the code quality. We can trace the development stages."
- "Visual Studio Team System needs to improve documentation."
What is our primary use case?
I use the Visual Studio Team System for programming.
How has it helped my organization?
My company works with outsourced programmers. The solution helps us to test, integrate and foresee the code quality. We can trace the development stages.
What is most valuable?
I like Azure DevOps integration and the nativeness of the C#.
What needs improvement?
Visual Studio Team System needs to improve documentation.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the solution for ten years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate the solution's stability a nine out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I rate the product's scalability a nine out of ten.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Visual Studio Team System is expensive, but it is worth the money.
What other advice do I have?
You can start using the community edition first. I rate the tool an eight out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Senior Software Developer at a computer software company with 10,001+ employees
With a very easy installation, the solution also offers good technical support to its users
Pros and Cons
- "The installation of the solution is easy."
- "The time that it takes to load the application can be reduced"
What is our primary use case?
I am using Microsoft Visual Studio for development and C-sharp coding.
What is most valuable?
In our organization, we use it for debugging while installing and using whatever package we require. Hence, it is an independent platform, which adds to some of its useful features.
What needs improvement?
The time that it takes to load the application can be reduced. The aforementioned details can be considered for improvement.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Microsoft Visual Studio for nearly three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is a stable solution. Stability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is a scalable solution, and it is very easy to scale. Scalability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.
There are so many people using it owing to the fact that it is similar to a credit card system.
The solution is suitable for medium enterprises.
How are customer service and support?
The technical support is good. I rate the technical support a ten out of ten since I don't have any issues with the support.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Previously, I was using HTML Editor for JavaScript coding. I got into development, and that's why I switched to Microsoft Visual Studio.
How was the initial setup?
The installation of the solution is easy.
I don't have any cloud, but there is some setup file available for installation, and I use that.
We use Microsoft VSTS to deploy CI/CD pipelines, so it automatically builds the application and publishes it. Therefore, we don't face any problems.
There are two engineers taking care of the deployment.
The solution doesn't require any maintenance.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I had evaluated some other options. I chose to go with Microsoft since my organization's technology is based on Microsoft, which is why it is easier to work with Microsoft Visual Studio.
What other advice do I have?
Microsoft Visual Studio is a vast application. We need to explore more and make use of it. I would definitely recommend the solution to those planning to use it.
I rate the overall solution a nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
System administrator and network manager at MEO
A scalable solution that can integrate with various other solutions
Pros and Cons
- "It is a stable solution."
- "There could be more coding languages in the solution."
What is our primary use case?
We use the solution to develop in-house products.
What is most valuable?
The solution's most valuable feature is its integration with various platforms.
What needs improvement?
There could be more coding languages in the solution.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with the solution for two years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is a stable solution. I rate its stability nine out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is a scalable solution. Presently, five people use it in our organization.
How was the initial setup?
The solution's initial setup is easy. We require a team of 15 executives, one director, five to six managers, engineers, and technical staff for its maintenance.
What about the implementation team?
The system administrators help us implement the solution.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We are using the solution's free version.
What other advice do I have?
I rate the solution a nine out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
DC Project Delivery Senior Analyst at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
Reliable, easy to implement, and utilizes drag and drop functionality
Pros and Cons
- "It is pretty simple to set up."
- "For Visual Studio, the only challenge I've faced is referencing any package or new concept I'm trying to debug or run."
What is our primary use case?
I have used Visual Studio in my school to develop small applications for college assignments. It's basically for software development.
I use all healthcare tools. I work with digital care, so I work on integration engines, which are basic. I handle the interface engines. Integration engines are what I'm mostly working on. For example, I'm working a lot with Rhapsody and Mirth.
Visual Studio is used by software developers who develop applications. I am just a consultant. I was just trying to manage my skills and have just used it recently.
What is most valuable?
The design feature is really helpful. It's just a drag-and-drop process, which speeds up the design state of the project. I think designing any application is quite precise, and it's easier to do than any other application.
It is pretty simple to set up.
The stability is good.
What needs improvement?
For Visual Studio, the only challenge I've faced is referencing any package or new concept I'm trying to debug or run. For example, with Visual Studio, you must import a package if you're doing any specific development. You need to import that package if you're developing a specific programming language. Maybe they could have a framework that includes everything. Sometimes you have to go out of your way and search for a specific package so that you have the code that you need.
It's too soon for me to provide feedback for Visual Studio since I've not been an active user of that software for very long. Maybe they could have documentation that includes everything so the information you need is easy to find.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've used it maybe for a year, a little more than a year.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is quite stable. There are no bugs or glitches, and it doesn't crash or freeze.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It's just me who's using it right now for my personal use. Of course, it is used widely. I'm pretty sure there are millions of people using Visual Studio.
How was the initial setup?
It's easy to implement. I just did download it from the net. It was quite easy. You just downloaded and install it. It takes maybe an hour.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
There is no cost involved. You simply download the solution.
What other advice do I have?
It is a desktop application. It is not on the cloud.
I'd recommend the solution to others. It's easy to use.
I would rate the solution eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Handles tasks well, helps simplify tasks, and can scale
Pros and Cons
- "It's pretty prevalent."
- "We'd like the solution to be more secure."
What is our primary use case?
It's up to the client or the software we are using. I use VB .NET or C# sometimes.
What is most valuable?
You can get two tables, child and parents tables, and you can handle tasks such as invoicing, receipts, et cetera. I like to have the results on hand fast. It's making my life easy.
Many firms can use it. It's pretty prevalent.
I like the copy-paste all capabilities.
The stability is okay.
You can expand usage if you would like to.
What needs improvement?
I had to use VB .NET in place of using C# immediately with the child and parent table.
Generally, the solution works well and I haven't really had issues with it.
We'd like the solution to be more secure.
The installation can take a long time.
We'd like the solution to be more stable.
Technical support does not respond quickly.
The ability to scale can be difficult.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using the solution for 15 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is mostly stable. It's rate it six or seven out of ten. It could be better.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution can scale, however, it's not straightforward. Sometimes it's very confusing in terms of what you need to do to make it happen.
We have three users on the solution right now.
We do plan to increase usage in the future.
How are customer service and support?
We are in Lebanon and we had to wait for Microsoft to reply to us. We used it two years ago, however, and they were responding fairly well.
They could be faster.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I started with VB Access and Visual FoxPro.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is pretty hard to set up.
It took too long to install it. We also needed the new hard discs. It's very big. It's not a light application. It's about 25GBs.
The deployment took about two hours.
What about the implementation team?
We handled the installation ourselves without ht need of integrators or consultants.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I can't speak to the exact cost of the solution. It's not an aspect that I deal with.
What other advice do I have?
I'd recommend the solution to others.
I'd rate the solution eight out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Technical Lead at Cellulant Kenya
Can be used to develop applications but needs improvement in integrations
Pros and Cons
- "We use the solution to develop applications."
- "Microsoft Visual Studio needs to improve integration."
What is our primary use case?
We use the solution to develop applications.
What needs improvement?
Microsoft Visual Studio needs to improve integration.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the product for five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate Microsoft Visual Studio's stability a nine out of ten.
How was the initial setup?
The tool's deployment is straightforward. It takes less than an hour to complete.
What about the implementation team?
I can install the solution by myself.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Microsoft Visual Studio is a free product.
What other advice do I have?
I rate Microsoft Visual Studio a nine out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.

Buyer's Guide
Download our free Microsoft Visual Studio Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros
sharing their opinions.
Updated: May 2025
Product Categories
.NET Development ServicesPopular Comparisons
Microsoft Silverlight
SharePoint Designer
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Microsoft Visual Studio Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros
sharing their opinions.