Before November 2014, if you were an independent developer or a student, you were likely stuck with the "Express" versions of Visual Studio. These were free but notoriously stripped-down; for instance, they didn't allow you to use third-party extensions.
Before installing, ensure your machine meets the minimum hardware specifications to avoid performance issues: Download Visual Studio 2013 Community Edition
You must sign into the IDE within 30 days. If you don't, the "Trial" expires. Signing in unlocks the permanent free license. Before November 2014, if you were an independent