Visual Assist

Filling gaps in Visual Studio for C/C++ and C# developers.

Published by Whole Tomato Software
Distributed by ComponentSource since 2022

Prices from: $ 273.42 Version: 2026.3 NEW Updated: Apr 3, 2026

Screenshot of Visual Assist

Visual Assist

Visual Assist fills the gaps in Microsoft Visual Studio. It helps developers write code faster and easier. Visual Assist is a key productivity tool relied on by C++ developers worldwide. It is very likely that software you use has been written with the assistance of Visual Assist. Whether it is better navigation than is inbuilt in Visual Studio, to refactorings, code generation, and more, Visual Assist is extraordinarily powerful, is lightweight and fast, is very flexible, and is written by developers for developers. That means it does what your developers need.

Visual Assist

Find any symbol (Shift+Alt+S)In a dialog that supports similar filtering, find any symbol in your solution.
Find any symbol (Shift+Alt+S)In a dialog that supports similar filtering, find any symbol in your solution.
Go to implementation (Alt+G)Despite comparable functionality in Visual Studio, many users rely on Visual Assist to find more definitions and declarations than built-in Intellisense.
Go to implementation (Alt+G)Despite comparable functionality in Visual Studio, many users rely on Visual Assist to find more definitions and declarations than built-in Intellisense.
Go to anything related (Shift+Alt+G)The big brother of Alt+G can take you just about anywhere related to the current symbol. Instead of chasing an implementation with successive presses of Alt+G, use Shift+Alt+G to jump into a hierarchy.
Go to anything related (Shift+Alt+G)The big brother of Alt+G can take you just about anywhere related to the current symbol. Instead of chasing an implementation with successive presses of Alt+G, use Shift+Alt+G to jump into a hierarchy.
Open corresponding file (Alt+O)Open the file that is most related to the active document. In C/C++, Alt+O typically opens a corresponding header or source file. Alt+O opens a menu when more than one destination is possible.
Open corresponding file (Alt+O)Open the file that is most related to the active document. In C/C++, Alt+O typically opens a corresponding header or source file. Alt+O opens a menu when more than one destination is possible.
Find references (Shift+Alt+F)Although built-in Find References has improved over the years, the version in Visual Assist is still faster, more powerful, and often more complete.
Find references (Shift+Alt+F)Although built-in Find References has improved over the years, the version in Visual Assist is still faster, more powerful, and often more complete.
Quick actions and refactoring menu (Shift+Alt+Q)Access the features of Visual Assist applicable to the current context with Shift+Alt+Q. The content of the menu varies greatly. Experiment from symbols of different types, expressions, lines, and whitespace.
Quick actions and refactoring menu (Shift+Alt+Q)Access the features of Visual Assist applicable to the current context with Shift+Alt+Q. The content of the menu varies greatly. Experiment from symbols of different types, expressions, lines, and whitespace.
List methods in file (Alt+M)Navigate the current file from a simple drop-down of classes and methods in it. Filter the list using substrings.
List methods in file (Alt+M)Navigate the current file from a simple drop-down of classes and methods in it. Filter the list using substrings.
Rename (Shift+Alt+R)Although built-in Rename is occasionally sufficient, the version in Visual Assist is faster, more powerful, and often more complete.
Rename (Shift+Alt+R)Although built-in Rename is occasionally sufficient, the version in Visual Assist is faster, more powerful, and often more complete.
Use VA HashtagsAdd hashtags to comments and navigate among them via tool window (Shift+Alt+H) or go-to command (Shift+Alt+G). VA Hashtags are effectively bookmarks and tasks that move with your code.
Use VA HashtagsAdd hashtags to comments and navigate among them via tool window (Shift+Alt+H) or go-to command (Shift+Alt+G). VA Hashtags are effectively bookmarks and tasks that move with your code.
Open any file (Shift+Alt+O)Find and open any file in your solution using a simple dialog and a few search tokens.
Open any file (Shift+Alt+O)Find and open any file in your solution using a simple dialog and a few search tokens.
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Find any symbol (Shift+Alt+S)In a dialog that supports similar filtering, find any symbol in your solution.
Go to implementation (Alt+G)Despite comparable functionality in Visual Studio, many users rely on Visual Assist to find more definitions and declarations than built-in Intellisense.
Go to anything related (Shift+Alt+G)The big brother of Alt+G can take you just about anywhere related to the current symbol. Instead of chasing an implementation with successive presses of Alt+G, use Shift+Alt+G to jump into a hierarchy.
Open corresponding file (Alt+O)Open the file that is most related to the active document. In C/C++, Alt+O typically opens a corresponding header or source file. Alt+O opens a menu when more than one destination is possible.
Find references (Shift+Alt+F)Although built-in Find References has improved over the years, the version in Visual Assist is still faster, more powerful, and often more complete.
Quick actions and refactoring menu (Shift+Alt+Q)Access the features of Visual Assist applicable to the current context with Shift+Alt+Q. The content of the menu varies greatly. Experiment from symbols of different types, expressions, lines, and whitespace.
List methods in file (Alt+M)Navigate the current file from a simple drop-down of classes and methods in it. Filter the list using substrings.
Rename (Shift+Alt+R)Although built-in Rename is occasionally sufficient, the version in Visual Assist is faster, more powerful, and often more complete.
Use VA HashtagsAdd hashtags to comments and navigate among them via tool window (Shift+Alt+H) or go-to command (Shift+Alt+G). VA Hashtags are effectively bookmarks and tasks that move with your code.
Open any file (Shift+Alt+O)Find and open any file in your solution using a simple dialog and a few search tokens.

Recently, I was developing at home where I do not have Visual Assist. Progress was so slow. It was like programming with stone knives and bearskins.

Mark Graham, BitTorrent

Visual Assist solves problems in Visual C++ and C#. From better navigation to refactoring, this lightweight performant plugin is widely relied on in the industry. Visual Assist has a wealth of features to enhance developer productivity and will improve virtually every Microsoft IDE you have with the multitude of features that comprise Visual Assist.

Visual Assist Features:

  • Navigation
    Move about your code with newfound ease—to any file, method, symbol, or reference in your projects and solutions...
Learn more about Visual Assist

Latest News

Speed Up Code Comprehension with Live AI Output
Speed Up Code Comprehension with Live AI Output
January 30, 2026Product Update
Visual Assist 2026.1 streams AI explanations as they’re generated, making complex responses feel faster and easier to follow from the start.
Improve Code Quality in Visual Studio 2026
Improve Code Quality in Visual Studio 2026
November 19, 2025Product Update
Visual Assist 2025.5 works seamlessly with Visual Studio 2026, preserving code productivity features as teams move to the newest IDE version.
Boost C++ Productivity with Smarter Module Support
Boost C++ Productivity with Smarter Module Support
April 28, 2025Product Update
Visual Assist 2025.1 enhances support for C++ modules when importing, enabling core navigation to work with module declarations.
Improve Code Readability and Reduce Visual Clutter
Improve Code Readability and Reduce Visual Clutter
October 8, 2024Product Update
Visual Assist 2024.7 adds the option to disable highlighting references when not needed, keeping the developer workspace clean.
Boost Visual Studio Productivity on ARM Devices
Boost Visual Studio Productivity on ARM Devices
June 27, 2024Product Update
Visual Assist 2024.4 is now fully compatible with Windows or Mac devices with an ARM processor, including VMs on Apple Silicon or Snapdragon.
Quickly Find all Symbol Instances in Your Project
Quickly Find all Symbol Instances in Your Project
May 15, 2024Product Update
Visual Assist 2024.3 delivers a substantial performance boost to its Find References feature, accelerating your workflow and saving you time.
More News

Prices from: $ 273.42

One software license is required per developer. Each license includes 1 Year Maintenance Subscription which can be renewed each year. The software is licensed perpetually however if you do not renew...
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