Microsoft slashed the price of Visual Studio Professional 2026 to $34.97 for a limited time, down from its $499.99 MSRP. The discount runs through May 17, giving developers a rare chance to grab the flagship IDE at a steep discount. Its 64-bit architecture handles larger codebases and complex enterprise projects far better than older 32-bit releases.

Developers can build cross-platform mobile and desktop apps via .NET MAUI, web interfaces with Blazor, and target Windows, Linux, or container-based systems. Integrated debugging and testing tools cover both .NET and C++ applications, streamlining work across multi-project solutions. AI-assisted IntelliCode offers context-aware code suggestions based on project patterns, cutting repetitive tasks and improving accuracy.

Live Share enables real-time code editing and debugging sessions without requiring teammates to replicate local dev environments. The IDE integrates directly with GitHub and Azure to support version control and deployment workflows. CodeLens surfaces code history, test status, and references directly in the editor, boosting visibility for teams working on large, sprawling projects.

Built-in refactoring tools help streamline code maintenance alongside the AI and collaboration features. For developers who need a full-featured IDE with modern tooling, this sale drops the usual $499.99 cost to a fraction of the price. The offer expires May 17, so interested buyers must act quickly to secure the discount.