Developer Tools
Xojo
Commercial cross-platform language and IDE for desktop, web, mobile, console and Raspberry Pi apps.
What it is
Xojo is a proprietary programming language, framework and visual IDE for building desktop, web, mobile, console and Raspberry Pi applications. The IDE can be used free for learning and development, but a single-developer license is required to build distributable applications and to save projects in text or XML formats. Platform targets, store accounts, server deployment and optional Xojo Cloud introduce additional requirements and costs.
Key features
Visual IDE and language
Combines UI design, code and the Xojo framework within one proprietary toolchain.
Cross-platform targets
License-dependent builds cover desktop, web, mobile, console and Raspberry Pi applications.
Database access
Paid products document SQLite plus connections to MySQL, PostgreSQL and other systems through supported interfaces.
Xojo Cloud option
Offers separate managed hosting for Xojo web applications with one-click deployment.
Strengths and trade-offs
What works well
- Broad target set: Paid editions can build across desktop, web, mobile, console and Raspberry Pi targets depending on license tier.
- Shared development environment: A visual IDE and Xojo language cover multiple application categories.
- Free evaluation path: The license permits free learning and development before purchasing build rights.
- Deployment choice: Web apps can run standalone on supported servers or use the separately purchased Xojo Cloud service.
Where it falls short
- License required for builds: Free IDE use does not grant application build or text/XML project-saving rights.
- Per-developer licensing: Official licenses are single-developer and target coverage varies by product tier.
- Platform prerequisites: iOS needs a Mac, current Xcode and Apple developer access; Android needs a supported Android Studio setup.
- Self-hosted web operations: Xojo does not support configuring standalone web servers, and shared hosting is discouraged.
Who it is for
Solo developers and teams willing to adopt Xojo's proprietary language and per-developer licenses for cross-platform application delivery.
Our verdict
Use the free IDE to prototype, but choose Xojo only after confirming the paid target licenses, native API coverage, project-format needs and deployment model; build and ship a representative pilot on every required platform before committing.
Closest alternatives we track
Same category, ordered by verified starting price.
What we checked
- Public APIOffers a documented API you can build against.No
- Mobile appHas a native app for iOS or Android, not just a mobile website.No
- Open source / self-hostableSource is open and the tool can be run on your own infrastructure.No
- SSO (SAML)Supports SAML single sign-on on at least one plan.No
“Not checked” means exactly that — we have not verified it, and we do not guess.
Evidence and freshness
Status: Official sources reviewedReviewed: 2026-08-24
- Xojo — Products ↗
Checked 2026-08-24 · Supports: desktop mobile web and Raspberry Pi targets, cross-platform positioning, Xojo Cloud option
- Xojo Store — Licenses ↗
Checked 2026-08-24 · Supports: current public prices, single-developer licenses, target-specific tiers, release-access period, activations, database support, technical support
- Xojo — License summary ↗
Checked 2026-08-24 · Supports: free learning and development, license required to build, license required for text or XML project formats, activation counts, single-user restriction
- Xojo Docs — System requirements ↗
Checked 2026-08-24 · Supports: IDE operating systems, application target requirements, Android Studio requirement, iOS Xcode and developer account requirements, web server requirements, Linux libraries, Wayland caveat
- Xojo Docs — Web deployment overview ↗
Checked 2026-08-24 · Supports: standalone and Xojo Cloud deployment, shared-hosting warning, server configuration support boundary, CGI removal, supported server platforms
- Xojo Store — Xojo Cloud ↗
Checked 2026-08-24 · Supports: separate cloud charge, required Xojo license, starting monthly price, automatic backups, database options, bandwidth charges
Limit: Official Xojo product, licensing, system-requirement, deployment and store pages were reviewed; ToolCompare did not install the IDE, compile or distribute an application, test native API coverage, inspect generated binaries, evaluate plugins, validate app-store submission, benchmark performance, deploy a web app or audit Xojo Cloud. Prices and supported platforms can change after the review date.