Tool profile
Eclipse Che: cost, fit and limits
Eclipse Che is an open-source cloud IDE and workspace platform from the Eclipse Foundation AISBL that runs development environments in Kubernetes pods, with a VS Code-based editor and JetBrains IDEs, for organizations that operate their own clusters.
What to know first
Eclipse Che is free under the Eclipse Public License, and the pages opened show no hosted plan or published price. A developer creates a workspace from a Git repository or a sample and codes in the browser, while Che runs the editor in Kubernetes pods. The cost is the cluster you run or rent. The pages name no AI capability, so any assistant would come from the editor you configure.
Eclipse Che at a glance
| Maker | Eclipse Foundation AISBL, Belgium |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes |
| Entry price | Free (Eclipse Public License) |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI Cloud IDE Software in 2026, rank 8 of 12 |
| Website | eclipse.dev/che/ |
Who Eclipse Che is best for
Organizations already running Kubernetes
Che runs in Kubernetes pods, so a platform team that already operates clusters can offer workspaces without buying a separate hosted product.
Teams that need a free license
The software is available under the Eclipse Public License at no charge, which removes seat pricing from the comparison. Only the cluster, storage and staff time remain as costs.
JetBrains users who want browser access
JetBrains IDEs run through JetBrains Projector on Kubernetes, so developers who prefer that family are not limited to the VS Code-based editor.
Eclipse Che plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Open source | Free | Self-hosted cloud IDE on Kubernetes under the Eclipse Public License; the user supplies and pays for the cluster. |
| Hosted service | Not published | No hosted Che plan was found on the pages opened, so anyone wanting a managed version must look at other vendors. |
| Commercial support | Custom quote | Not verified on the pages opened; a buyer would ask the Eclipse Foundation or a distributor directly. |
Checked November 2026.
What Eclipse Che does
- Workspace from a repository
- A developer creates a workspace from a Git repository or a sample and starts coding in the browser. The environment is created on demand rather than prepared in advance.
- Kubernetes pods
- The editor runs in Kubernetes pods, and the project is described as configured to run there. Capacity therefore follows the cluster's node and quota settings.
- Two editor families
- The page names a VS Code-based editor and says JetBrains IDEs run through JetBrains Projector on Kubernetes. Developers are not tied to a single editor.
- Automated git setup
- Git configuration happens automatically when the workspace starts, so a new workspace is ready to commit without manual credential steps. The page presents this as part of how a workspace is created.
How Eclipse Che handles your data
Eclipse Che is self-hosted open-source software, so the question of training on customer data does not arise from the vendor; data stays in the cluster the user operates and the hosting region depends on where that cluster runs. The pages opened state no certifications and no retention figures for Che itself. The Eclipse Foundation privacy policy, which names the Foundation's address in Brussels, covers its websites, not workspaces you run. Because you operate the cluster, access control, backups and patching are your responsibility. AI features, if added, would carry the data terms of whichever extension or service you connect.
Where Eclipse Che falls short in practice
- . The Che pages opened name no AI feature. Anyone who wants an assistant or agents in the workspace has to add them through the editor, which is unverified here.
- . Che runs in Kubernetes pods, so a team must run or rent a cluster. For a small team without platform staff, that is more work than opening a hosted editor.
- . The pages opened show no hosted service and no published support price. Commercial backing would need a conversation with the Foundation or a distributor. Budgeting for support has to start from a conversation.
Works with
Alternatives to Eclipse Che
Eclipse Che: common questions
Is Eclipse Che free?
Yes. Eclipse Che is open-source software under the Eclipse Public License, so there is no license fee. You pay for the Kubernetes cluster that runs it. The pages opened show no hosted plan and no published price for commercial support.
What does Eclipse Che need to run?
It needs Kubernetes. The project describes itself as configured to run in Kubernetes pods, and workspaces start there. That means a cluster you run or rent, plus the people to keep it patched and sized correctly. The pages do not list minimum versions or sizing.
Which editors does Eclipse Che support?
The Che page names a VS Code-based editor and says JetBrains IDEs run through JetBrains Projector on Kubernetes. Other editors were not named on the pages opened. Check the project documentation if you need a specific one. Che creates the workspace from a repository or sample.
Does Eclipse Che have AI features?
The Che pages opened name no AI capability. Because it is self-hosted software, assistants would come from extensions or services you install yourself. For a product with agents named on the vendor site, look at Coder or Ona instead. Those would be your own choice and your own data terms.
Who is behind Eclipse Che?
The Eclipse Foundation AISBL, whose privacy policy gives an address at Rond Point Schuman in Brussels, Belgium. The Foundation hosts the open-source project. The pages opened do not say whether a company sells hosted Che commercially. Verify the commercial arrangements directly before a purchase.