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Head-to-head · Integrated Development Environments

IntelliJ IDEA vs PyCharm

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 6 checks side by side
Higher score IntelliJ IDEA #1 in Integrated Development Environments 9.4/10 Free plan · 30-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 5 of 5 features Visit IntelliJ IDEA
PyCharm #3 in Integrated Development Environments 9.2/10 Free plan · 30-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 4 of 5 features Visit PyCharm

IntelliJ IDEA leads on 0 checks, PyCharm on 0, and 6 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreIntelliJ IDEA · 9.4/10
  • Free planboth
  • Free trialboth
  • Most featuresIntelliJ IDEA · 5 of 5

IntelliJ IDEA scores higher on our rubric for integrated development environments: 9.4 against 9.2 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #3.

IntelliJ IDEA is the better fit for java and Kotlin teams. PyCharm is the better fit for python developers needing a full IDE.

  • IntelliJ IDEA fits best

    Java and Kotlin teams

  • PyCharm fits best

    Python developers needing a full IDE

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Side by side

Feature IntelliJ IDEA 9.4/10 Visit ↗ PyCharm 9.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 9.2
Ranking #1 in Integrated Development Environments #3 in Integrated Development Environments
Best for Java and Kotlin teams Python developers needing a full IDE
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free plan + paid
Starting price Free plan · 30-day trial —
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial 30 days 30 days
Free trial length 30 days 30 days
Deployment Desktop Desktop
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Windows, macOS, Linux
Support Docs Docs, Tickets
Integrations 11 integrations 16 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features IntelliJ IDEA 5/5 · PyCharm 4/5
Integrated debugger ✓ ✓
Integrated testing tools ✓ ✓
Build tools ✓ ✓
Project management ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Dev container support ✓ ✓
Specs
Supported operating systems Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Deep Java and Kotlin support with completion, refactoring, and inspections
  • Integrated debugging, testing, coverage, and JVM build-tool workflows
  • Docker, Kubernetes, Dev Containers, databases, and remote development tools
  • Deep Python completion, navigation, inspections, and refactoring
  • Integrated testing, debugging, Jupyter, databases, and SQL tools
  • Docker, Dev Containers, remote development, and broad integrations
Cons
  • Advanced Spring, web, database, profiling, and HTTP tooling requires Ultimate
  • The broad feature set may be more than smaller Java or Kotlin projects need
  • Desktop installation is required on Windows, macOS, or Linux
  • Advanced capabilities require a Pro subscription after the trial
  • The broad feature set may exceed the needs of lightweight coding workflows
  • Core free functionality does not include the full IDE feature set
Our verdict

IntelliJ IDEA is a desktop integrated development environment from JetBrains for Java and Kotlin software development. It suits professional teams that want code completion, navigation, inspections, refactoring, debugging, testing, build…

Read the review →

PyCharm is a cross-platform integrated development environment from JetBrains for Python developers building web applications, data projects, and AI/ML workloads. It combines code completion, navigation, inspections, refactoring,…

Read the review →
  1. IntelliJ IDEAIntegrated Development Environments 9.4Free plan · 30-day trial
  2. PyCharmIntegrated Development Environments 9.2Free plan · 30-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • IntelliJ IDEA — where it wins

    • Deep Java and Kotlin support with completion, refactoring, and inspections
    • Integrated debugging, testing, coverage, and JVM build-tool workflows
    • Docker, Kubernetes, Dev Containers, databases, and remote development tools

    Where it doesn't

    • Advanced Spring, web, database, profiling, and HTTP tooling requires Ultimate
    • The broad feature set may be more than smaller Java or Kotlin projects need
    • Desktop installation is required on Windows, macOS, or Linux

  • PyCharm — where it wins

    • Deep Python completion, navigation, inspections, and refactoring
    • Integrated testing, debugging, Jupyter, databases, and SQL tools
    • Docker, Dev Containers, remote development, and broad integrations

    Where it doesn't

    • Advanced capabilities require a Pro subscription after the trial
    • The broad feature set may exceed the needs of lightweight coding workflows
    • Core free functionality does not include the full IDE feature set

More comparisons

All integrated development environments comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update