Best Python IDE for Beginners: Part 1

We evaluate 13 different Python IDEs to find the best options for beginners specifically suited for scientific and engineering applications. Our focus is on free, beginner-friendly solutions that work right out of the box, comparing features from JupyterLab to VS Code.

Key Selection Criteria

Our main focus is on beginner-friendliness, which means:

– Easy setup process
– Works out of the box
– Free to use
– Sufficient functionality for basic needs
– Final recommendations based on practical testing

Eliminated IDEs

1. PyCharm and Wing IDE
– Jupyter notebook features only available in paid pro versions
– Not suitable for our free-focused comparison

Note: PyCharm has since made Jupyter notebook support free in their Community Edition. See our 2025 comparison for updated recommendations.

2. Zed IDE
– Currently only available for macOS
– Limited features compared to alternatives
– Not recommended until Windows/Linux support is added

3. Online Interpreters (Google Colab, Project IDX)
– Privacy concerns with code usage
– Limited functionality compared to local installations
– Connectivity requirements and potential disconnection issues

Everyone who comes to my Python courses, whether from universities or companies, would rather spend hours fixing local installation problems than work online. The reason is data policy – universities and companies can’t upload their data to online platforms that use it to train AI models.

4. VS Code.dev and GitHub Codespaces
– Limited functionality in web versions
– Environment setup complications
– Connection stability issues

5. Spyder IDE
– Requires additional setup for notebook features
– Better suited for larger projects
– Less intuitive for beginners compared to JupyterLab

6. Jupyter Notebook
– Discontinued development
– Buggy features
– Replaced by more modern alternatives

Final Contenders

After our thorough evaluation, we narrowed down our list to three remaining options:

1. JupyterLab Desktop
2. JupyterLab Classic
3. Anaconda Cloud

What’s Next?

In Part 2, we take a detailed look at these three final contenders to determine which one is the best choice for beginners in Python programming.

For 2025 recommendations: JupyterLab Desktop is no longer maintained. Check out our updated IDE comparison where we recommend PyCharm Community Edition for beginners.

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This article is based on a comprehensive video tutorial. For more detailed insights and live demonstrations, check out Training Scientists on YouTube.