JetBrains Rider

JetBrains Rider is a cross-platform IDE for .NET developers working on C#, F#, ASP.NET, Unity or Unreal projects. It combines code completion, inspections, navigation and refactoring with debugging, testing, version control and database tools. It is useful for individual developers and teams managing solutions with several projects.

Coding and project tools

Navigate symbols and decompiled library code, apply refactorings, run unit tests and debug applications from the IDE. Rider includes web-development tools and integrations for game-engine workflows. Its AI features can explain code and assist with tasks, but generated edits and agent actions still need review. The available runtime, language and game-engine integrations depend on the project and installed SDKs or plugins.

Installation and requirements

Install through JetBrains Toolbox or mount the official Mac DMG and drag Rider into Applications; brew install --cask rider is another installation option. This catalog's 2026.2.3.1 download is the Apple Silicon ARM64 DMG, exactly 2,213,803,101 bytes. Choose the separate Intel package for an Intel Mac. Current 2026.2 documentation lists macOS 15 or 26, a four-core x86_64/arm64 CPU, 8 GB total RAM with 3 GB available to IDE processes, 10 GB disk space and a 1280×720 display. Large solutions, caches and builds need additional resources. Windows 10/11 and the documented Linux distributions are supported separately. JetBrains Runtime 21 is bundled, so Java need not be installed separately to run Rider. The .NET SDK, platform workloads, game engines and other project toolchains remain separate dependencies.

License, account and connectivity

Rider is proprietary commercial software with subscription licensing. Eligible non-commercial use is available free under JetBrains' non-commercial terms; commercial work requires a suitable paid license. Educational and open-source programs have their own eligibility rules. A JetBrains account or the supported license-activation method is used for activation. AI services and subscriptions have separate usage terms, and the included allowance may depend on the plan. Check current pricing rather than treating a free non-commercial license as commercial permission. Local editing can work without constantly sending code to a cloud service; activation, updates, package feeds, source control remotes and hosted AI require appropriate connectivity.

Permissions and practical cautions

The IDE reads project files and can run builds, tests, terminals, plugins and debug targets with your user's privileges. Inspect untrusted repositories before executing their tasks, and keep secrets out of logs, source control and AI prompts. Grant protected-folder or debugger-related access when required by your workflow, rather than assuming every project needs Full Disk Access. Remote development uses a separate backend and SSH/network requirements. Profiling features and platform-specific services may have additional setup. Back up important work before IDE or project migrations, and validate refactorings with builds and meaningful tests.

The official Mac screenshot illustrates the editor, solution tree and AI Assistant; it is not identified as the exact 2026.2.3.1 build. Notes below use JetBrains' version-specific release metadata and distinguish the Windows-only widget fix from general changes.

Sources: Rider features, Installation and system requirements, Licensing, Official release metadata.