Free IntelliJ IDEA AlternativesTop IDEs & Code Editors like IntelliJ IDEA

The best free alternative to IntelliJ IDEA is Visual Studio Code. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to IntelliJ IDEA and many of them is free so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting free alternatives to IntelliJ IDEA are VSCodium, Eclipse, Microsoft Visual Studio and Apache NetBeans.

IntelliJ IDEA alternatives are mainly IDEs but may also be Code Editors or Text Editors. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of IntelliJ IDEA.

IntelliJ IDEA

411

Freemium • Open Source
IDE

IntelliJ IDEA is the leading integrated development environment that makes Java and Kotlin development a more productive...

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Visual Studio Code
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Proprietary
Code Editor
Text Editor
IDE
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
Chrome OS
193 Visual Studio Code alternatives
Visual Studio Code is a free and extensible code editor for building web, desktop, and mobile applications, using any programming language and framework.
- - 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.
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Visual Studio Code Features
1. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsVisual Studio Code can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
2. AutocompletionVisual Studio Code can predict and complete the rest of a word or phrase you're typing.
3. Syntax HighlightingVisual Studio Code supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
4. Git SupportVisual Studio Code supports Git, a free and open source distributed version control system.
5. Support for ThemesYou can use themes and templates to change the look and feel of Visual Studio Code.
6. Dark ModeVisual Studio Code supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
7. Support for MarkDownVisual Studio Code supports MarkDown for document formatting.
8. WYSIWYG HTML EditorVisual Studio Code allows you to make and preview changes to an application or website in real time, without needing to know code.
9. WYSIWYG SupportVisual Studio Code integrates a WYSIWYG editor to edit the look and content of a document, page, or file.
Customizable
Built-in terminal emulation
Code Completion
Multiple languages
GitHub integration
Supports Python
C++
Source code debugging
Graphical User Interface
Auto Update
Comments about Visual Studio Code as a Alternative to IntelliJ IDEA
Some users think Visual Studio Code is a great IntelliJ IDEA alternative, some don't.
all • positive • negative relevance • date
Ranogard
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 positive comment •
1

mohsenr7596
Visual Studio Code is a text editor and is not an IDE
Top negative comment •
25

hundvd7
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.
Negative comment •
0

Guest
it isn't a ide like idea, it's a text editor!
Negative comment •
3

Guest
It is not an IDE and does not have as good java support
Negative comment •
6

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5 of 8 comments
VSCodium
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Code Editor
Text Editor
IDE
Mac
Windows
Linux
Electron / Atom Shell
184 VSCodium alternatives
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.
- - VSCodium is the most popular Open Source alternative to IntelliJ IDEA.
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VSCodium Features
1. No TrackingVSCodium will not track you or use your personal data.
2. Privacy focusedVSCodium is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
3. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsVSCodium can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
4. Works OfflineVSCodium can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
5. AutocompletionVSCodium can predict and complete the rest of a word or phrase you're typing.
6. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in VSCodium without registration.
7. LightweightVSCodium consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
8. Syntax HighlightingVSCodium supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
9. Support for MarkDownVSCodium supports MarkDown for document formatting.
Prevent telemetry
Customizable
Git integration
MIT License
Minimap
Clean design
Support for Themes
Code Formatting
Support for 64 bit
C++
Eclipse
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
IDE
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
156 Eclipse alternatives
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...
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Eclipse Features
1. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsEclipse can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
2. AutocompletionEclipse can predict and complete the rest of a word or phrase you're typing.
3. PortableEclipse can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
4. Syntax HighlightingEclipse supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
5. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in Eclipse without registration.
6. Works OfflineEclipse can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
7. Spell CheckingEclipse can detect and correct all types of grammar and spelling mistakes.
8. Code FormattingEclipse supports code formatting for multiple languages and code styles.
9. Batch EditingEclipse allows you to select multiple items (tasks, files, images etc) and edit their properties all at once.
Java IDE
C++
Refactoring
Debugging
Ruby
Ad-free
Dark Mode
SCM Integration
Java based
Support for Themes
Comments about Eclipse as a Alternative to IntelliJ IDEA
Most users think Eclipse is a great IntelliJ IDEA alternative.
Guest
Free, open sourced. And more manageable
Positive comment •
0

Guest
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.
Positive comment •
0

Guest
Free, more flexible, more intuitive, better project management system.
Positive comment •
-2
Microsoft Visual Studio
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free Personal • Proprietary
IDE
Code Editor
Mac
Windows
Online
.NET Framework
105 Microsoft Visual Studio alternatives
Microsoft Visual Studio is an integrated development environment (IDE) from Microsoft. It is used to develop computer programs for Microsoft Windows, as well as web sites, web applications and web services.
Suggest and vote on features
Microsoft Visual Studio Features
1. Syntax HighlightingMicrosoft Visual Studio supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
2. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsMicrosoft Visual Studio can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
3. Ad-freeMicrosoft Visual Studio doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
4. Works OfflineMicrosoft Visual Studio can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
5. AutocompletionMicrosoft Visual Studio can predict and complete the rest of a word or phrase you're typing.
6. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in Microsoft Visual Studio without registration.
Code Completion
Embedded debugger
NET Support
Nuget
C-sharp
NET Framework
C support
VB.NET support
Exe Compiler
Color coding
Comments about Microsoft Visual Studio as a Alternative to IntelliJ IDEA
This alternative is disputed. Microsoft Visual Studio is still a legitimate IntelliJ IDEA alternative, but it might have issues that some users think are important.
Guest
It doesn't support Java at all
Negative comment •
2

Guest
Intellij Idea is for java, visual studio is for microsoft stuff
Negative comment •
1
Apache NetBeans
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
IDE
Code Editor
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
105 Apache NetBeans alternatives
A free, open-source Integrated Development Environment for software developers. You get all the tools you need to create professional desktop, enterprise, web, and mobile applications with the Java language, C/C++, and even dynamic languages such as PHP, JavaScript, Groovy, and...
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Apache NetBeans Features
1. Code FormattingApache NetBeans supports code formatting for multiple languages and code styles.
2. Git SupportApache NetBeans supports Git, a free and open source distributed version control system.
3. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsApache NetBeans can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
4. Syntax HighlightingApache NetBeans supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
Java IDE
Refactoring
Embedded debugger
Built-in terminal emulation
Simple installation
Code Completion
PHP IDE
Multiple languages
Compiled Language
Support for FTP
Comments about Apache NetBeans as a Alternative to IntelliJ IDEA
Almost everyone thinks Apache NetBeans is a great IntelliJ IDEA alternative.
Guest
is more robust. 100% write in JAVA.
Positive comment •
-1
Android Studio
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Android Development Tool
IDE
Mac
Windows
Linux
Chrome OS
76 Android Studio alternatives
Android Studio is a new Android development environment based on IntelliJ IDEA. Similar to Eclipse with Android Development Tools for Eclipse, Android Studio provides...
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Android Studio Features
1. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in Android Studio without registration.
Visual Programming
Java IDE
Integrated Android Emulator
Code Completion
Xterm emulation
Java based
Comments about Android Studio as a Alternative to IntelliJ IDEA
Some users think Android Studio is a great IntelliJ IDEA alternative, some don't.
Guest
Android Studio is specifically for Android projects.
Negative comment •
6

Peter Giters
Good IDE for Android Dev, but over time as in Intellij, its process grows in RAM. After day of using, it may eat up to 8gb, so you need to reopen it every day
Positive comment •
0

tijmen
Android Studio and IntelliJ are essentially the same, the only difference is the logo.
Negative comment •
-16
Aptana Studio
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
IDE
Mac
Windows
Linux
122 Aptana Studio alternatives
Aptana Studio is a complete web development environment that combines powerful authoring tools with a collection of online hosting and collaboration services that help you and your team do more. Includes support for PHP, CSS, FTP, and more...
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Aptana Studio Features
1. Real time collaborationMultiple users can work together in Aptana Studio simultaneously.
Support for FTP
Discontinued
The last update is from Feb 2021 and the last release is from Jul 2018.
Lapce
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Code Editor
Text Editor
IDE
Mac
Windows
Linux
181 Lapce alternatives
Lightning-fast and Powerful Code Editor written in Rust.
Suggest and vote on features
Lapce Features
1. LightweightLapce consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsLapce can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
3. Syntax HighlightingLapce supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
4. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in Lapce without registration.
5. Git SupportLapce supports Git, a free and open source distributed version control system.
6. Support for ThemesYou can use themes and templates to change the look and feel of Lapce.
7. Works OfflineLapce can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
8. Full-Text SearchLapce lets you search for specific words or phrases from inside a document or database.
Rust
Built-in terminal emulation
Modal editor
Xcode
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Proprietary
IDE
Code Editor
Mac
61 Xcode alternatives
Xcode 14 includes everything you need to develop, test, and distribute apps across all Apple platforms. Leverage the simplicity and power of Swift and SwiftUI with a new multiplatform app experience, code faster with enhanced editor features, and start testing and deploying from...
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Xcode Features
1. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in Xcode without registration.
2. PortableXcode can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
3. Dark ModeXcode supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
Storyboard
Code Completion
Color coding
Objective-c
Exe Compiler
Comments about Xcode as a Alternative to IntelliJ IDEA
pros, cons and recent comments
Peter Giters
That IDE is only for apple dev
Negative comment •
0
JetBrains Fleet
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Proprietary
Code Editor
Text Editor
IDE
Mac
Windows
Linux
181 JetBrains Fleet alternatives
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.
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JetBrains Fleet Features
1. Syntax HighlightingJetBrains Fleet supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
2. LightweightJetBrains Fleet consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
3. Dark ModeJetBrains Fleet supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
4. Support for MarkDownJetBrains Fleet supports MarkDown for document formatting.
5. AutocompletionJetBrains Fleet can predict and complete the rest of a word or phrase you're typing.
6. Code FormattingJetBrains Fleet supports code formatting for multiple languages and code styles.
7. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsJetBrains Fleet can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.