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Head-to-head · Developer Tools

Visual Studio Code vs IntelliJ IDEA

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 1 check side by side
Higher score Visual Studio Code #1 in Developer Tools 9.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 6 features Visit site
IntelliJ IDEA #2 in Developer Tools 9.3/10 Free plan · 30-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 0 of 6 features Visit JetBrains

Visual Studio Code leads on 0 checks, IntelliJ IDEA on 0, and 1 is even. Who comes out ahead on the 1 yes/no, price and count check where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreVisual Studio Code · 9.4/10
  • Free planboth
  • Free trialonly IntelliJ IDEA

Visual Studio Code scores higher on our rubric for developer tools: 9.4 against 9.3 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #2.

Visual Studio Code is the better fit for developers wanting a free, extensible general-purpose editor. IntelliJ IDEA is the better fit for java and Kotlin developers needing a full-featured IDE.

  • Visual Studio Code fits best

    Developers wanting a free, extensible general-purpose editor

  • IntelliJ IDEA fits best

    Java and Kotlin developers needing a full-featured IDE

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Visual Studio Code 9.4/10 Visit ↗ IntelliJ IDEA 9.3/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 9.3
Ranking #1 in Developer Tools #2 in Developer Tools
Best for Developers wanting a free, extensible general-purpose editor Java and Kotlin developers needing a full-featured IDE
Pricing model Free Free plan + paid
Starting price Free plan Free plan · 30-day trial
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — 30 days
Deployment Cloud, Desktop Desktop
Platforms Web, Windows, macOS, Linux Windows, macOS, Linux
Support Docs Docs
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Visual Studio Code 0/6 · IntelliJ IDEA 0/6
AI coding assistance Not checked yet Not checked yet
Version control support Not checked yet Not checked yet
Debugging tools Not checked yet Not checked yet
Test automation Not checked yet Not checked yet
CI/CD automation Not checked yet Not checked yet
API access Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Deployment model Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • IntelliSense, debugging, and testing tools are built in.
  • Git support and an integrated terminal keep common tools in the editor.
  • Extensions add languages, debuggers, linters, themes, and tools.
  • Strong completion, navigation, inspections, refactoring, and JVM debugging
  • Integrated testing and build support across JUnit, Spock, TestNG, Maven, and Gradle
  • Docker, Kubernetes, Dev Containers, remote development, databases, and HTTP tools
Cons
  • Workflow capabilities beyond the core editor depend on extensions.
  • Documentation is the listed support channel.
  • The broad feature set may be more than developers need for simple edits.
  • Advanced Spring, web, database, and profiling tools require Ultimate
  • Desktop deployment may not suit teams seeking browser-based IDEs
  • Support is provided through documentation rather than live assistance
Our verdict

Visual Studio Code is a free, open-source code editor for developers working on individual files or complete projects. It runs as a desktop application on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and is also available in a web version. The combination…

Read the review →

IntelliJ IDEA is a desktop integrated development environment for Java and Kotlin development, aimed at solo developers through enterprise teams. Its core workflow combines code completion, navigation, inspections, refactoring, JVM…

Read the review →
  1. Visual Studio CodeDeveloper Tools 9.4Free plan
  2. IntelliJ IDEADeveloper Tools 9.3Free plan · 30-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Visual Studio Code — where it wins

    • IntelliSense, debugging, and testing tools are built in.
    • Git support and an integrated terminal keep common tools in the editor.
    • Extensions add languages, debuggers, linters, themes, and tools.

    Where it doesn't

    • Workflow capabilities beyond the core editor depend on extensions.
    • Documentation is the listed support channel.
    • The broad feature set may be more than developers need for simple edits.

  • IntelliJ IDEA — where it wins

    • Strong completion, navigation, inspections, refactoring, and JVM debugging
    • Integrated testing and build support across JUnit, Spock, TestNG, Maven, and Gradle
    • Docker, Kubernetes, Dev Containers, remote development, databases, and HTTP tools

    Where it doesn't

    • Advanced Spring, web, database, and profiling tools require Ultimate
    • Desktop deployment may not suit teams seeking browser-based IDEs
    • Support is provided through documentation rather than live assistance
  • Visual Studio Code9.4/10 · Free plan

    A free general-purpose editor with coding, debugging, testing, Git, and terminal tools.

    Visit siteFull verdict →
  • IntelliJ IDEA9.3/10 · Free plan · 30-day trial

    A broad Java/Kotlin IDE with deep JVM tooling, testing, builds, containers, and databases.

    Visit JetBrainsFull verdict →

More comparisons

All developer tools comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update