For most developers starting today, is the recommended path. Developed directly by Microchip Technology, it is fully integrated into their official IDE, MPLAB X.

The best download is not the one with the most features, but the one you understand and can trust. For learning, start with the official free XC8. For serious projects, budget for the Pro license or master SDCC. Avoid the cracked compilers; they are a false economy that compiles bugs into both your code and your career. In the end, a great engineer is not defined by the compiler they download, but by the clean, efficient code they write—regardless of the toolchain.