Best IntelliJ IDEA Alternatives in 2026
The top IntelliJ IDEA alternatives are Visual Studio, PyCharm and Rider: 15 integrated development environments our editors would look at instead of IntelliJ IDEA, in our ranking order.
IntelliJ IDEA: A full-featured, cross-platform IDE for Java and Kotlin teams. Where it falls short: advanced spring, web, database, profiling, and HTTP tooling requires ultimate.
Switching from IntelliJ IDEA? For most integrated development environments buyers the best IntelliJ IDEA alternative is Visual Studio, built for windows-focused .NET and C++ teams.
Why People Look for an IntelliJ IDEA Alternative
- 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
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallVisual Studio9.3
Windows-focused .NET and C++ teams
Visit Visual Studio - Best free optionVisual Studio9.3
Has a free plan
Visit Visual Studio
All 15 IntelliJ IDEA Alternatives, Ranked
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.
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Best forWindows-focused .NET and C++ teams
A full-featured Windows IDE for .NET and C++ teams with broad tooling.
- Integrated testing tools
- Integrated debugger
- Build tools
9.3/10★★★★★Visit Visual Studio -
Best forPython developers needing a full IDE
A full-featured Python IDE with strong testing, debugging, data, and remote workflows.
- Dev container support
- Integrated testing tools
- Integrated debugger
9.2/10★★★★★Visit PyCharm -
Best for.NET developers across platforms
A comprehensive .NET IDE for developers who need deep tooling across platforms.
- Dev container support
- Project management
- Integrated testing tools
9.1/10★★★★★Visit JetBrains -
Best forProfessional C and C++ development
A full-featured C/C++ IDE with broad build, debugging, testing, and remote workflows.
- Dev container support
- Integrated testing tools
- Integrated debugger
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit JetBrains -
Best forFree Java and C/C++ development
A broad, free desktop IDE for Java and C/C++ across Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- Integrated testing tools
- Integrated debugger
- Build tools
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit Eclipse IDE -
Best forQt and cross-device C++ teams
A broad C++ and QML IDE for Qt teams building across desktop, mobile, and devices.
- Dev container support
- Project management
- Integrated testing tools
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Qt Creator -
Best forJavaScript and TypeScript developers
A full-featured JavaScript and TypeScript IDE with free non-commercial access.
- Dev container support
- Integrated testing tools
- Integrated debugger
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit WebStorm -
Best forDelphi and Pascal application developers
A Windows-based Pascal IDE with visual design, native toolchains, debugging, testing, and database support.
- Integrated testing tools
- Integrated debugger
- Build tools
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit Delphi -
Best forFree Java, PHP, and web development
A capable cross-platform IDE for free Java, PHP, and web development.
- Integrated testing tools
- Integrated debugger
- Build tools
8.5/10★★★★☆Try Apache NetBeans -
Best forRuby and Rails developers
A full-featured Ruby and Rails IDE with strong testing, debugging, and container workflows.
- Dev container support
- Project management
- Integrated testing tools
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit RubyMine -
Best forProfessional PHP and framework development
A full-featured PHP IDE for teams that need debugging, testing, and framework tooling.
- Dev container support
- Integrated testing tools
- Integrated debugger
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit PhpStorm -
Best forGo development teams
Focused Go tooling with debugging, testing, containers, and team integrations.
- Dev container support
- Project management
- Integrated testing tools
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit GoLand -
Best forEngineering and hardware-connected development
A specialized graphical IDE for engineering, hardware connectivity, testing, and data analysis.
- Dev container support
- Project management
- Integrated testing tools
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit LabVIEW -
Best forR users needing publishing and data tools
A capable R-focused IDE with publishing tools, broad platform support, and a costly Pro tier.
- Project management
- Integrated testing tools
- Integrated debugger
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit RStudio -
Best forRust developers using Cargo
A full-featured Rust IDE with deep Cargo support and broad development tooling.
- Dev container support
- Project management
- Integrated testing tools
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit RustRover
IntelliJ IDEA Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to IntelliJ IDEA?
Visual Studio: #2 in our Integrated Development Environments ranking, with an editor score of 9.3 out of 10. A full-featured Windows IDE for .NET and C++ teams with broad tooling.
Is there a free alternative to IntelliJ IDEA?
Yes. Visual Studio, PyCharm, Rider, CLion and Eclipse IDE have a free plan or a free tier (13 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
Why do people look for IntelliJ IDEA alternatives?
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.
How do I switch from IntelliJ IDEA?
Export your data from IntelliJ IDEA (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel IntelliJ IDEA.
How to Switch from IntelliJ IDEA
- Export your data from IntelliJ IDEA (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel IntelliJ IDEA.
IntelliJ IDEA vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Integrated debugger | Integrated testing tools | Build tools | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IntelliJ IDEA | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.4 | |
| 1 | Visual Studio | Yes | $499.92/user/yr | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.3 |
| 2 | PyCharm | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.2 | |
| 3 | Rider | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.1 | |
| 4 | CLion | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.0 | |
| 5 | Eclipse IDE | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.9 |
| 6 | Qt Creator | Yes | €546/user/yr | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.8 |
| 7 | WebStorm | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.7 | |
| 8 | Delphi | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.6 | |
| 9 | Apache NetBeans | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.5 |
| 10 | RubyMine | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.4 | |
| 11 | PhpStorm | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.3 | |
| 12 | GoLand | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.2 | |
| 13 | LabVIEW | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.1 | |
| 14 | RStudio | Yes | $1,204/yr | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.0 |
| 15 | RustRover | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.9 |
Head-to-Head
- IntelliJ IDEA vs Visual Studio
- IntelliJ IDEA vs PyCharm
- IntelliJ IDEA vs Rider
- IntelliJ IDEA vs CLion
- IntelliJ IDEA vs Eclipse IDE
- IntelliJ IDEA vs Qt Creator
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update