IntelliJ IDEA
IntelliJ IDEA is an IDE for professional Java and Kotlin development, available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
What IntelliJ IDEA is
IntelliJ IDEA is an IDE for professional Java and Kotlin development, available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It provides context-aware code completion, static analysis, and automated refactoring. Its JVM debugger supports breakpoints, variable inspection, expression evaluation, and step-by-step execution. Gradle and Maven integrations support building, packaging, testing, and deployment, while version-control integrations include Git, Mercurial, Perforce, and Subversion. Users can process GitHub pull requests in the IDE, and plugins from JetBrains Marketplace can extend language, framework, and technology support. Core Java and Kotlin functionality remains free after the included 30-day Ultimate trial. The Ultimate subscription adds advanced tools and integrations and costs $100.00 for the first year, $199.00 for the second year, and $159.00 per year from the third year onward. Listed minimum hardware requirements are a 4-core x86_64 or arm64 CPU, 8 GB RAM, and 10 GB disk space.
Good
- Core Java and Kotlin functionality remains free.
- Includes a JVM debugger.
- Integrates with Gradle and Maven.
- Supports GitHub pull requests in the IDE.
Watch out
- Ultimate trial lasts 30 days.
- Ultimate subscription costs $100.00 the first year.
- Minimum listed RAM is 8 GB.
Who it suits
IntelliJ IDEA suits developers working in Java or Kotlin who want an IDE with debugging, build-tool, and version-control integrations. Its free core is an option for those who do not need Ultimate's advanced tools and integrations.
Verdict
IntelliJ IDEA provides Java and Kotlin coding, debugging, build, and version-control tools across Windows, macOS, and Linux. Core functionality remains free; Ultimate is a paid subscription with a 30-day trial.
Plans and prices
From IntelliJ IDEA's own pricing page, checked 15 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free feature set | Free | Core Java and Kotlin development features · advanced functionality excluded |
| IntelliJ IDEA core | Free | Core functionality for Java and Kotlin · Free |
| IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate individual | $19.90 a month | Advanced tools and integrations · individual use · per user / per month |
| IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate subscription | $100 a year | Advanced tools and integrations · 30-day trial · $100.00 first year; $199.00 second year; $159.00 third year onwards |
| IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate annual | $199 a year | Ultimate features · reviewer-reported annual price · annual subscription |
The facts
Each one read from IntelliJ IDEA's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- AI features
- The 2026.1 release adds prompt-driven actions for explaining code, generating documentation and making code changes inside the editor.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Build tools
- It integrates with Gradle and Maven for building, packaging, testing, and deployment tasks.checked 29 Sep 2026
- Closed components
- IntelliJ IDEA includes closed-source plugins on top of the open-source IntelliJ Platform, so the complete product is not wholly open source.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Code intelligence
- The IDE provides context-aware navigation, inspections, refactorings and debugging across a project.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Coding assistance
- The IDE provides context-aware code completion, static code analysis, and automated refactorings.checked 29 Sep 2026
- Debugger
- It includes a JVM debugger with breakpoints, variable inspection, expression evaluation, and step-by-step execution.checked 29 Sep 2026
- Docker integration
- Docker support covers image creation, container execution, Docker Compose, and public or private registries from inside the IDE.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation depth
- JetBrains publishes installation, security, update, Docker, Kubernetes and extensive plugin-SDK documentation, with source documentation hosted on GitHub.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Extensibility
- Plugins can add support for other languages, frameworks, and technologies through JetBrains Marketplace.checked 29 Sep 2026
- Framework support
- G2 lists dedicated support for Spring, Spring Boot, Jakarta EE, JPA, Reactor and other popular frameworks.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Integrations catalog
- G2 lists integrations including GitHub, GitLab, Git, Docker, Kubernetes, Maven, Gradle, Jenkins, Jira, databases, Copilot, Claude and Gemini Code Assist.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- JetBrains describes IntelliJ IDEA as the leading IDE for professional Java and Kotlin development.checked 29 Sep 2026
- Java and Kotlin support
- IntelliJ IDEA provides professional Java and Kotlin tooling and first-class Spring integration.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Kubernetes integration
- The Kubernetes plugin lets users inspect cluster resources, jump to definitions and view pod logs, supporting Kubernetes 1.26 through 1.34.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: AI complaints
- Trustpilot reviewers complain that AI credits can be consumed rapidly, AI output can be unreliable and AI pricing feels excessive.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: bugs and updates
- TrustRadius reviewers report recurring Maven failures after updates that sometimes require IDE repair or reindexing.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: complexity
- Reviewers say the large feature set can overwhelm beginners and has a learning curve.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: pricing
- G2 and TrustRadius reviewers frequently call the Ultimate subscription expensive for individuals, students and smaller businesses.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: resource usage
- Reviewers report high RAM consumption and slower performance on large projects or Windows laptops.checked 15 Oct 2026
The company
- Founded
- 2000checked 23 Sep 2026
- Headquarters
- Amsterdam, Netherlandschecked 23 Sep 2026
- Maker founded and headquarters
- LinkedIn lists JetBrains as founded in 2000 with headquarters in Amsterdam.checked 15 Oct 2026
Money
- Free functionality
- Core IntelliJ IDEA functionality remains free, and users can continue using it after the 30-day Ultimate trial without subscribing.checked 29 Sep 2026
Where it runs
- Linux limitation
- JetBrains warns that snap installations may suffer performance degradation, Chromium JavaScript-debugging problems, SBT-import failures and slow file operations.checked 15 Oct 2026
The full review of IntelliJ IDEA
Overview
IntelliJ IDEA is a professional IDE centered on Java and Kotlin development. It is best suited to developers who want coding assistance, debugging, builds, tests, and version control together; the free core makes it a practical starting point, while Ultimate is for those who need its advanced tools and integrations.
Key features
Coding and debugging
Context-aware completion, static analysis, and automated refactorings help developers work with code in context and catch issues as they edit. The JVM debugger adds breakpoints, variable inspection, expression evaluation, and step-by-step execution, making it useful for tracing behavior rather than relying only on compiler feedback.
Builds, tests, and version control
Gradle and Maven integrations cover building, packaging, testing, and deployment tasks, with integrated testing tools also included. Git, Mercurial, Perforce, and Subversion support plus in-IDE GitHub pull request processing keep common source-control work close to the code. That breadth is valuable for teams with established workflows, though the core focus remains Java and Kotlin.
Extensibility, privacy, and requirements
Plugins from JetBrains Marketplace can extend support to other languages, frameworks, and technologies. Users can choose in IDE settings whether to share anonymous usage data; JetBrains' Trust Center covers security and data protection practices, including SOC 2 Type II and GDPR compliance. The minimum hardware includes a 4-core x86_64 or arm64 CPU, 8 GB total RAM, and 10 GB of disk space, so it is not a lightweight choice for older machines.
Pricing
IntelliJ IDEA core costs nothing and provides core Java and Kotlin functionality. It suits learners and professionals who can work within that core feature set, and remains usable after the Ultimate trial ends without a subscription.
The IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate subscription costs $100 a year, billed $100.00 first year, $199.00 second year, and $159.00 third year onwards. It adds advanced tools and integrations, and includes a 30-day trial when installing IntelliJ IDEA. The renewal step-up after year one matters: compare the later annual charges against whether those additional capabilities are needed before continuing.
Platforms
IntelliJ IDEA supports Windows, macOS, and Linux. Its minimum requirements call for a 4-core x86_64 or arm64 processor, 8 GB RAM, and 10 GB disk space.
Who it's for
Java and Kotlin developers who value integrated code analysis, refactoring, debugging, build tooling, testing, and source control will find a focused all-in-one environment. It is less compelling for someone seeking a general-purpose IDE without a Java or Kotlin center, or for a device that falls below its stated hardware minimum.
Pros and cons
- Pro: The free core continues beyond the 30-day Ultimate trial, so trying the paid tier does not force a subscription to keep using core Java and Kotlin tools.
- Pro: Debugging, Gradle and Maven workflows, integrated testing, and four version-control systems reduce the need to leave the IDE for routine development tasks.
- Pro: Marketplace plugins can extend the IDE beyond its primary languages.
- Con: Ultimate's annual charge rises from $100.00 in the first year to $199.00 in the second, then $159.00 per year, which makes renewal cost a meaningful consideration.
- Con: The stated 8 GB RAM and 10 GB disk minimums may rule it out on lower-spec machines.
Alternatives
For a free Java IDE without a trial period, Eclipse IDE is available on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Apache NetBeans is another free, cross-platform option, including for commercial and non-commercial use under Apache License 2.0. Choose Spring Tools for Eclipse if an open-source Eclipse extension is a better fit.
BlueJ is a free Java environment designed for beginners, making it the more suitable choice for an introductory setting. Java-Editor is a free option for personal, commercial, and government use. CS++ Java IDE offers a free plan across iOS, macOS, web, and Windows. Oracle JDeveloper is a free Java-based application-development option available in Studio and Java distributions. SnapCode is another free option, with support for Linux, macOS, web, and Windows.
Browse more Java IDEs, Integrated Development Environments, or IDE Software. Readers focused on a specific workflow can also compare Minecraft Mod Development Tools, Go IDEs, and Web Development IDEs.
Verdict
IntelliJ IDEA is a strong choice for Java and Kotlin developers who want a capable integrated workflow and can start with the free core. Its main reason to look elsewhere is the cost trajectory of Ultimate if advanced tools and integrations are essential; its main reason to choose it is the combination of code intelligence, JVM debugging, build and test support, and broad version control in one IDE.
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