They are function-limited version of the non-free Visual Studio and require mandatory registration.

It has a WYSIWYG interface, drag-and-drop user interface designer, enhanced HTML and code editors, a limited database explorer, support for CSS, JavaScript and XML, and integrated, design-time validation for standards including XHTML 1.0/1.1 and CSS 2.1.

Visual Web Developer 2005 Express lacks certain features, such as the Accessibility Checker, the ability to create standalone class library projects, third-party add-ins and macros.

[10] It also includes a new integrated HTML designer based on Microsoft Expression Web.

[11][12] It includes Windows SDK's compilers and core files, which developers can use to build Win32 applications.

Limitations of Visual C++ Express: Limitations in earlier versions: While Microsoft lists memory windows as unavailable in Visual Studio 2010 Express,[15] third parties have reported that they are available when Expert Settings are enabled.

[18] Visual C# Express is a free, lightweight, integrated development environment (IDE) designed for novice developers, students and hobbyists to create applications and (when combined with the XNA Game Studio) video games for Windows, Xbox 360 and Zune.

Microsoft has found that a substantial community of game players are taking up C# programming.

According to Microsoft, the reason the listed features are absent is "to simplify the C# Express user experience".

(This is unlike previous Express editions, each of which was geared around a single programming language.)