Alternatives
Best IntelliJ IDEA alternatives in 2026
IntelliJ IDEA is Java and Kotlin IDE with code analysis, refactoring and a debugger. These 9 alternatives come from the same rankings, ordered by editorial score. Connected products carry a small, disclosed lift.
Ranked alternatives
- 1
Visual Studio Code
Is open source; also runs on Web. Free, widely used and extensible, with an integrated terminal, Git tools and a large extension marketplace. Its source is MIT-licensed on GitHub, though the official build uses Microsoft's product license.
Best for Multi-language work in one free editor
WindowsmacOSLinuxWebFreeOpen source
- 2
Zed
Is open source. A fast editor with multiplayer editing included in every plan, and a free Personal plan. AI features need Pro or your own API keys, and the Business plan is priced per seat.
Best for Fast editing with built-in collaboration
macOSLinuxWindowsFree plan, paid upgradesOpen source
- 3
Visual Studio
The full IDE for .NET and C++ on Windows, free in its Community edition for individuals. It is much heavier than the editors above and does not run on macOS or Linux.
Best for Windows .NET and C++ development
WindowsFree plan, paid upgrades
- 4
Neovim
Is open source. A free, Apache 2.0 licensed terminal editor for keyboard-first work that runs over SSH. Its setup takes the most effort in this list, and it has no graphical menus.
Best for Terminal-based editing and keyboard-first work
WindowsmacOSLinuxCommand lineFree and open sourceOpen source
- 5
Cursor
AI code editor with agents, cloud runs and team controls, plus a free Hobby plan. It is a commercial editor you switch to, so teams that want to keep their current editor may prefer an extension.
Best for Developers who want an AI-first editor
macOSWindowsLinuxFree plan, paid upgrades
- 6
Helix
Is open source. MPL-2.0 editor written in Rust that runs in any terminal, including over SSH and inside tmux, with no Electron. It is the lightest option here for terminal users, but it has no graphical interface.
Best for Terminal editing over SSH and in tmux
Command lineFree and open sourceOpen source
- 7
Xcode
The official IDE for Apple platforms and the only option here for building iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS and visionOS apps. It runs only on macOS, and publishing needs an Apple Developer Program membership.
Best for Apple platform apps on macOS
macOSFree
- 8
GNU Emacs
Is open source. GNU Emacs is GPL-3.0 free software that runs on GNU/Linux, BSDs, Windows, macOS and Haiku, configured in Emacs Lisp. It is extensible in ways few editors match, but its learning curve is steeper than Zed or VS Code.
Best for Long-lived, highly customized editing in Lisp
LinuxmacOSWindowsFree and open sourceOpen source
- 9
Sublime Text
A fast, native editor with multiple selections and a light interface. Continued use needs a paid license after evaluation, and it has fewer built-in tools than VS Code or Zed.
Best for Fast native editing with a one-time license
WindowsmacOSLinuxPaid
Narrow the alternatives
Open-source alternatives to IntelliJ IDEA
Compare IntelliJ IDEA head to head
- IntelliJ IDEAversus
Visual Studio Code - IntelliJ IDEAversus
Zed - IntelliJ IDEAversus
Visual Studio - IntelliJ IDEAversus
Neovim - IntelliJ IDEAversus
Cursor - IntelliJ IDEAversus
Xcode
Or build your own comparison table with IntelliJ IDEA and up to three other products.
About IntelliJ IDEA alternatives
- What is the best alternative to IntelliJ IDEA?
- On listme.name the highest-scored alternative is Visual Studio Code, followed by Zed. The right choice depends on price, platform and whether you need open source.
- Is there a free alternative to IntelliJ IDEA?
- Yes. Free options include Visual Studio Code, Zed, Visual Studio.
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