IntelliJ IDEA vs Qt Creator

IntelliJ IDEA9.4Visit Qt Creator8.8Visit

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

vs

Qt Creator #7 in Integrated Development Environments 8.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 5 features Visit Qt Creator

• IntelliJ IDEA fits best

  Java and Kotlin teams

• Qt Creator fits best

  Qt and cross-device C++ teams

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Side by side

Feature	IntelliJ IDEA 9.4/10 Visit ↗	Qt Creator 8.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.4	8.8
Ranking	#1 in Integrated Development Environments	#7 in Integrated Development Environments
Best for	Java and Kotlin teams	Qt and cross-device C++ teams
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	Free plan · 30-day trial	€546/user/yr
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	30 days	—
Deployment	Desktop	Desktop
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows, macOS, Linux
Support	Docs	Docs
Integrations	11 integrations	15 integrations
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features IntelliJ IDEA 5/5 · Qt Creator 5/5
Integrated debugger	✓	✓
Integrated testing tools	✓	✓
Build tools	✓	✓
Project management	✓	✓
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	Supports C++, QML, project management, builds, debugging, and testing Works across Windows, macOS, and Linux Covers desktop, mobile, embedded, and remote-device deployment
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	Paid application development starts at €546 per user per year Paid prices cover Qt licenses that include Qt Creator Its broadest value is tied to Qt-centered development workflows
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 →	Qt Creator is a cross-platform integrated development environment for building desktop, embedded, and mobile applications with Qt. It supports C++, QML, and Python workflows, with project creation and management, code editing, build… Read the review →

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

• Qt Creator — where it wins

  • Supports C++, QML, project management, builds, debugging, and testing
  • Works across Windows, macOS, and Linux
  • Covers desktop, mobile, embedded, and remote-device deployment

  Where it doesn't

  • Paid application development starts at €546 per user per year
  • Paid prices cover Qt licenses that include Qt Creator
  • Its broadest value is tied to Qt-centered development workflows

• IntelliJ IDEA9.4/10 · Free plan · 30-day trial

  A full-featured, cross-platform IDE for Java and Kotlin teams.

  Visit IntelliJ IDEAFull verdict →
• Qt Creator8.8/10 · Free plan

  A broad C++ and QML IDE for Qt teams building across desktop, mobile, and devices.

  Visit Qt CreatorFull verdict →