IntelliJ IDEA review
A full-featured, cross-platform IDE for Java and Kotlin teams.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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 tools, version control, databases, containers, and remote development in one workspace. The product runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, includes AI features, and has been available since 2000. Its core audience is Java and Kotlin developers working across application code, automated tests, JVM builds, and connected development environments.
The unified distribution uses a freemium model: a free core feature set is available, and the published offering includes a 30-day Ultimate trial. Ultimate adds tooling for Spring, broader JVM and web technologies, databases, profiling, HTTP clients, and other advanced capabilities. The plan structure makes the product accessible for core Java and Kotlin work while giving teams a paid path for wider application-development needs. Buyers should compare the free core against their required frameworks and workflows before choosing Ultimate.
Its strongest distinction is breadth around the JVM workflow. IntelliJ IDEA connects with Git, Maven, Gradle, Ant, Gant, Docker, Kubernetes, Spring, JUnit, Spock, and TestNG. It also supports Dev Container editing, building, and running, remote development through machines and containers, database tools, an HTTP client, and an integrated JVM debugger. That makes it a fit for teams that need more than an editor and want development, testing, builds, infrastructure tooling, and data work together. Teams focused on a smaller coding surface may prefer a narrower tool, while Java and Kotlin teams needing this wider environment should consider IntelliJ IDEA.
IntelliJ IDEA pros and cons
- 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
IntelliJ IDEA fact sheet, pricing and score →
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