JetBrains to discontinue Aqua IDE due to low adoption rate

JetBrains has announced it will discontinue JetBrains Aqua, its specialized IDE for test automation, due to lower-than-expected adoption rates. Aqua, designed for QA engineers and test automation specialists, supported languages and frameworks like Java, Python, Selenium, and Playwright.

Despite its features, including a built-in web inspector and an integrated HTTP client for API testing, Aqua did not achieve the desired user base. As a result, JetBrains will integrate Aqua's functionalities into the Test Automation plugin, now available for IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate, PyCharm, and WebStorm through the JetBrains IDE Marketplace.

The final version of Aqua will be 2024.3, with no new subscriptions or renewals available. Users with licenses purchased before April 22, 2025, can continue using the last version, but updates will be limited to critical security patches. Commercial license holders will be upgraded to an All Products Pack license for the remainder of their term, with auto-renewals disabled. Non-commercial users can choose between a free WebStorm license or a 40% discount on a one-year All Products Pack subscription. JetBrains will offer limited migration support and adhere to standard refund policies for recent purchases.