IntelliJ IDEA AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Text Editors

The best Text Editor alternative to IntelliJ IDEA is Visual Studio Code, which is free. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to IntelliJ IDEA and 15 are Text Editors so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Text Editor alternatives to IntelliJ IDEA are VSCodium, Eclipse, Zed Editor and Lapce.

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IntelliJ IDEA alternatives are mainly Text Editors, but if you're looking for Code Editors or IDEs you can filter on that. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to IntelliJ IDEA.
IntelliJ IDEA iconIntelliJ IDEA
  427
  • IDE
  • Freemium • Open Source
  • ...

IntelliJ IDEA is the JetBrains IDE for pro development in Java and Kotlin. Built for your comfort, it unlocks productivity, ensures quality code, supports cutting-edge tech, and protects your privacy.

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IntelliJ IDEA alternatives page was last updated Feb 21, 2025
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Alternatives
  1. Visual Studio Code icon

    Visual Studio Code

     1315 likes
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    Free and extensible code editor with built-in Git support, smart IntelliSense, integrated debugger, 30,000+ extensions, works offline, supports markdown and syntax highlighting for numerous languages.

    205 Visual Studio Code alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Chrome OS
    Visual Studio Code screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Customizable
    2.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    2.  Autocompletion
    3.  Built-in terminal emulation
    4.  Syntax Highlighting
    5.  Code Completion
    6.  Multiple languages
    7. Git icon  Git Support
    8. GitHub icon  GitHub Integration
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  Supports Python
    11.  Multiple Cursors
    12.  C++

    Visual Studio Code VS IntelliJ IDEA

     
    Comments about Visual Studio Code as an Alternative to IntelliJ IDEA
    Top Positive Comment
    Ranogard
    Jul 26, 2020
    1

    Claiming that vscode is "just a text editor" is outrageous. For example "mousepad" does not feature debuggers, pylint support or git support. If this is a text editor, then the line between text editor and IDE is a very thin one.

    Top Negative Comment
    mohsenr7596
    Jan 22, 2017
    26

    Visual Studio Code is a text editor and is not an IDE

    Most Recent Comment
    hundvd7
    Negative •Sep 7, 2021
    1

    Merely a (very smart) text editor. If you have less than 10 files in a project, it's perfect. Otherwise, an IDE will be the clearly superior choice.

    Show more comments
    3 of 8 comments
    IntelliJ IDEA Icon
    Visual Studio Code icon

    • Some users think Visual Studio Code is a great IntelliJ IDEA alternative, some don't.

    • Visual Studio Code is the most popular Web-based, Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to IntelliJ IDEA.

    • Visual Studio Code is the most popular free alternative to IntelliJ IDEA.

    • Visual Studio Code is Free and ProprietaryIntelliJ IDEA is Freemium and Open Source
    • Visual Studio Code is CustomizableIntelliJ IDEA is not according to our users
  2. VSCodium icon

    VSCodium

     346 likes
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    This repository contains a build file to generate FLOSS release binaries of Microsoft's Visual Studio Code - Open Source ("Code - OSS") project, the open source core of the proprietary Visual Studio Code.

    194 VSCodium alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Electron
    VSCodium screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Customizable
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Support for Themes
    4.  Lightweight
    5.  Clean design

    Features

    1.  No Tracking
    2.  Prevent telemetry
    3.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    4.  Works Offline
    5.  No registration required
    6.  Autocompletion
    7.  MIT License
    8.  Dark Mode
    9. Git icon  Git integration
    10.  Syntax Highlighting
    11.  Ad-free
    12.  Minimap

    VSCodium VS IntelliJ IDEA

     

    • Most users think VSCodium is a great IntelliJ IDEA alternative.

    • VSCodium is the most popular Open Source alternative to IntelliJ IDEA.

    • VSCodium is Free and Open SourceIntelliJ IDEA is Freemium and Open Source
    • VSCodium is Customizable and Privacy focusedIntelliJ IDEA is not according to our users
  4. Eclipse icon

    Eclipse

     1143 likes
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    Eclipse is an extensible development platform with runtimes and application frameworks for building, deploying and managing software across the entire software lifecycle. Many people know Eclipse as a Java IDE, but it is much more than that- Eclipse actually consists of over 60...

    154 Eclipse alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    eclipse on windows 10

    Top Eclipse Features

    1.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    2.  Java IDE
    3.  C++
    4.  Refactoring
    5.  Autocompletion
    6.  Syntax Highlighting
    7.  Portable
    8.  No registration required
    9.  Code Formatting
    10.  Batch Editing
    11.  Works Offline
    12.  Spell Checking

    Eclipse VS IntelliJ IDEA

     
    Comments about Eclipse as an Alternative to IntelliJ IDEA
    Most Recent Comment
    Guest
    Positive •Feb 29, 2016
    0

    If you use free version of Idea - you cannot use normal editor for JS, HTML, CSS, JSP\SSP. For those scenarios - Eclipse is the best solution.

    Guest
    Positive •Sep 7, 2019
    0

    Free, open sourced. And more manageable

    Guest
    Positive •May 25, 2018
    -3

    Free, more flexible, more intuitive, better project management system.

    IntelliJ IDEA Icon
    Eclipse icon

    • Most users think Eclipse is a great IntelliJ IDEA alternative.

    • Eclipse is Free and Open SourceIntelliJ IDEA is Freemium and Open Source
  5. Zed Editor icon

    Zed Editor

     63 likes
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    Zed is a blazing fast, multi-user, productivity-focused text editor. From the creators of Atom, Electron and Tree-sitter, the editor features built-in Vim mode with tooltips for key-bindings, language-aware...

    77 Zed Editor alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    Zed Editor screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Optimal performance
    3.  Support for Themes
    4.  Distraction-free

    Features

    1.  Syntax Highlighting
    2.  Autocompletion
    3.  Dark Mode
    4.  Built-in terminal emulation
    5.  Rust
    6.  Team Collaboration
    7.  Real time collaboration
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  No registration required
    10.  Works Offline
    11.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    12.  Multiple Cursors

    Zed Editor VS IntelliJ IDEA

     
  6. Lapce icon

    Lapce

     26 likes
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    Lightning-fast and Powerful Code Editor written in Rust.

    193 Lapce alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Lapce screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Rust
    2.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    3.  Built-in terminal emulation
    4.  Syntax Highlighting
    5. Git icon  Git Support
    6.  No registration required
    7.  Full-Text Search
    8.  Portable
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  Works Offline
    11.  Dark Mode
    12.  Modal editor

    Lapce VS IntelliJ IDEA

     
  7. JetBrains Fleet icon

    JetBrains Fleet

     12 likes
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    Built from scratch, based on 20 years of experience developing IDEs. Fleet uses the IntelliJ code-processing engine, with a distributed IDE architecture and a reimagined UI.

    194 JetBrains Fleet alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • CZ flagCzechia
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    JetBrains Fleet screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Syntax Highlighting
    2.  Dark Mode
    3.  Code Formatting
    4.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    5.  Autocompletion
    6.  Support for MarkDown

    JetBrains Fleet VS IntelliJ IDEA

     
  9. Squircle IDE icon

    Squircle IDE

     11 likes
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    Squircle IDE currently supports coding in the following programming languages: ActionScript, C, C++, C#, Groovy, HTML, Java, JavaScript, Json, Julia, Kotlin, Lisp, Lua, Markdown, PHP, Python, Ruby, Shell, Smali, SQL, Toml, TypeScript, Visual Basic, XML and YAML.

    66 Squircle IDE alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • F-Droid
    Squircle IDE screenshot 1
    Squircle IDE screenshot 2
    Squircle IDE screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Dark Mode
    2.  Works Offline
    3.  Support for MarkDown
    4.  Syntax Highlighting
    5.  Code Completion

    Squircle IDE VS IntelliJ IDEA

     

    • Squircle IDE is the most popular Android & Android Tablet alternative to IntelliJ IDEA.

    • Squircle IDE is Free and Open SourceIntelliJ IDEA is Freemium and Open Source
    • Squircle IDE is LightweightIntelliJ IDEA is not according to our users
  10. Phoenix Code icon

    Phoenix Code

     7 likes
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    Phoenix Code is a text editor designed to make coding as intuitive and fun as playing a video game - specially crafted for web developers, designers, and students.

    29 Phoenix Code alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
    Phoenix Code screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Distraction-free
    4.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Live Preview
    2.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    3.  Works Offline
    4.  Syntax Highlighting
    5.  Support for MarkDown
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  No registration required
    8.  No Tracking
    9.  No Coding Required
    10.  Dark Mode

    Phoenix Code VS IntelliJ IDEA

     

    • Phoenix Code is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to IntelliJ IDEA.

    • Phoenix Code is Free and Open SourceIntelliJ IDEA is Freemium and Open Source
    • Phoenix Code is Lightweight and Privacy focusedIntelliJ IDEA is not according to our users
  11. Zed Code Editor icon

    Zed Code Editor

     19 likes
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    Zed is a fully offline-capable text and code editor you can use to edit files locally, on Dropbox, or remotely on any server. It has all the code editor features you'd expect and more:

    104 Zed Code Editor alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Chrome OS
    • Google Chrome
    Zed Code Editor screenshot 1
    Discontinued

    No code committed in eight years. Linked website has no mention of any code editor.

    Zed Code Editor Features

    1.  Syntax Highlighting
    2.  Works Offline
    3. Dropbox icon  Dropbox integration
    4.  Code Completion

    Zed Code Editor VS IntelliJ IDEA

     
  12. Caret icon

    Caret

     31 likes
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    Caret is a lightweight-but-powerful programmer's editor running as a Chrome Packaged App. Inspired by Sublime and built on top of the Ace editing component, it offers:

    101 Caret alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Chrome OS
    • Google Chrome
    Caret screenshot 1
    Discontinued

    Github repository has been archived by the owner on Mar 17, 2022

    Properties

    1.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Autocompletion
    2.  Works Offline
    3.  Syntax Highlighting
    4.  Code Completion

    Caret VS IntelliJ IDEA

     
10 of 15 IntelliJ IDEA alternatives