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IntelliJ IDEA is ranked #4 in the Integrated Development Environments product directory based on the latest available data collected by SelectHub. Compare the leaders with our In-Depth Report.

IntelliJ IDEA Pricing

Based on our most recent analysis, IntelliJ IDEA pricing starts at $599 (Annually).

Price
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Starting From
$599
Pricing Model
Annually
Free Trial
Yes, Request for Free

Training Resources

IntelliJ IDEA is supported with the following types of training:

Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars

Support

The following support services are available for IntelliJ IDEA:

Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Help Desk
Knowledge Base
Tickets
Training
24/7 Live Support

IntelliJ IDEA Benefits and Insights

Why use IntelliJ IDEA?

Key differentiators & advantages of IntelliJ IDEA

  • Enhanced Productivity: IntelliJ IDEA offers intelligent code completion, on-the-fly code analysis, and reliable refactoring tools, allowing developers to write and maintain code more efficiently.
  • Seamless Integration: It integrates smoothly with popular version control systems like Git, Mercurial, and Subversion, streamlining the workflow for collaborative projects.
  • Robust Debugging: The built-in debugger provides powerful tools such as breakpoints, watches, and expression evaluation, enabling developers to troubleshoot and resolve issues effectively.
  • Cross-Platform Support: IntelliJ IDEA runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, ensuring that developers can work in their preferred environment without compatibility concerns.
  • Comprehensive Language Support: It supports a wide range of programming languages including Java, Kotlin, Groovy, Scala, and more, making it a versatile choice for multi-language projects.
  • Advanced Code Navigation: Features like smart search, quick navigation, and code structure views help developers quickly locate and understand code segments, improving code comprehension.
  • Customizable Interface: The IDE allows for extensive customization of themes, key bindings, and plugins, enabling developers to tailor their workspace to their personal preferences.
  • Efficient Code Collaboration: With tools like Code With Me, developers can collaborate in real-time, sharing their codebase and working together seamlessly from different locations.
  • Extensive Plugin Ecosystem: A rich library of plugins extends the functionality of IntelliJ IDEA, allowing developers to add tools and features specific to their project needs.
  • Integrated Build Tools: Support for build tools like Maven, Gradle, and Ant is built-in, simplifying the process of building, testing, and deploying applications.
  • Comprehensive Testing Support: IntelliJ IDEA integrates with testing frameworks such as JUnit and TestNG, providing a robust environment for writing and running tests.
  • Continuous Code Quality: The IDE offers static code analysis and suggestions for code improvements, helping maintain high code quality standards throughout the development process.
  • Effortless Database Management: Built-in database tools allow developers to connect to databases, run queries, and manage schemas directly from the IDE, streamlining database-related tasks.
  • Responsive Customer Support: JetBrains provides comprehensive documentation and responsive customer support, ensuring that developers can resolve issues and maximize their use of the IDE.
  • Community and Resources: A vibrant community and extensive resources, including tutorials and forums, offer support and knowledge sharing among IntelliJ IDEA users.

Industry Expertise

IntelliJ IDEA is known for its extensive language support, powerful refactoring tools, and seamless integration with various development workflows. It's best suited for developers working with a wide range of languages, particularly Java and JVM languages, who need a comprehensive and intelligent IDE for efficient code development, debugging, and project management.

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Based on an aggregate of IntelliJ IDEA reviews taken from the sources above, the following pros & cons have been curated by a SelectHub Market Analyst.

Pros

  • Intelligent Code Assistance: Offers intelligent code completion, going beyond simple suggestions to provide context-aware options. This speeds up development and reduces errors.
  • Robust Debugging: Includes a powerful debugger that allows you to step through code, set breakpoints, and inspect variables. This accelerates the debugging process and makes it easier to identify and fix issues.
  • Extensive Plugin Ecosystem: Provides a vast plugin library that extends its functionality. These plugins cover a wide range of needs, from support for specific frameworks and languages to integrations with external tools, allowing you to tailor the IDE to your specific workflow.
  • Streamlined Refactoring: Offers powerful refactoring tools that make it easy to restructure code without introducing errors. For instance, you can rename a file, and every reference to it in the project will be automatically updated.
  • Integrated Version Control: Has built-in support for popular version control systems like Git. This integration allows you to perform version control operations, such as committing changes and managing branches, directly from the IDE.

Cons

  • Resource Demands: IntelliJ IDEA can be a resource-intensive application, potentially leading to performance issues on systems with limited RAM, especially when handling large projects.
  • Cost Barrier: While a free Community Edition is available, unlocking the full potential of IntelliJ IDEA requires the Ultimate Edition, which comes at a price that might be prohibitive for some users, particularly individual developers or smaller companies.
  • Learning Curve: The feature-rich environment, while lauded for its intuitiveness, can present a steep learning curve for new users who may need time to acclimate to its full capabilities.

Researcher's Summary:

Is IntelliJ IDEA a bright idea for your development needs? Users consistently praise IntelliJ IDEA for its powerful features that streamline the coding process. Its intelligent code completion, as one user points out, "makes the coding journey very easy," while its robust refactoring tools allow for efficient code management. The seamless integration with popular build tools like Maven and Gradle is a significant advantage for many, simplifying project configuration and dependency management. Users particularly appreciate the intuitive design and user-friendly interface, making it a favorite among both experienced and novice programmers.

However, IntelliJ IDEA is not without its drawbacks. The software's resource-intensive nature is a recurring concern, with users reporting performance issues on less powerful machines. One user shared, "Since I was working on my office computer which has low specification it was laggy." Another significant drawback is the cost, particularly for the Ultimate edition, which can be prohibitive for some individual developers and smaller teams. Despite these downsides, IntelliJ IDEA remains a highly regarded IDE, particularly for Java development. Its comprehensive features, intuitive design, and extensive plugin ecosystem make it a top choice for developers seeking a powerful and versatile tool to enhance their workflow.

Key Features

Notable IntelliJ IDEA features include:

  • Smart Code Completion: Offers context-aware suggestions to complete code efficiently, understanding the expected types and data flow.
  • Advanced Refactoring: Provides a comprehensive set of refactoring tools, such as renaming, extracting methods, and changing method signatures, to improve code structure without altering functionality.
  • Built-in Developer Tools: Includes version control integration, terminal, and database tools, allowing seamless workflow without leaving the IDE.
  • Intelligent Code Analysis: Continuously analyzes code for errors and potential improvements, offering real-time feedback and quick fixes.
  • Framework Support: Offers extensive support for popular frameworks like Spring, Java EE, and Hibernate, with dedicated tools and configurations.
  • Test Runner and Coverage: Integrates with testing frameworks such as JUnit and TestNG, providing a visual representation of test coverage and results.
  • Debugger: Features a powerful debugger with capabilities like conditional breakpoints, expression evaluation, and variable inspection.
  • Plugin Ecosystem: Supports a wide range of plugins to extend functionality, from language support to UI enhancements, catering to diverse development needs.
  • Code Navigation: Facilitates easy navigation through code with features like 'Go to Definition', 'Find Usages', and 'Navigate to Class/File/Symbol'.
  • Version Control Integration: Seamlessly integrates with Git, Mercurial, and other VCS, offering tools for commit, merge, and branch management.
  • Live Templates: Allows the creation of custom code snippets for repetitive code patterns, enhancing productivity and consistency.
  • UI Designer: Provides a visual editor for designing user interfaces, supporting both Swing and JavaFX applications.
  • Database Tools: Includes a SQL editor and database management tools, enabling direct interaction with databases from within the IDE.
  • Cross-language Refactoring: Supports refactoring across multiple languages, ensuring consistency in projects with mixed codebases.
  • Code Coverage Analysis: Offers detailed insights into code coverage, helping identify untested parts of the codebase.
  • Project and Workspace Management: Manages multiple projects and workspaces efficiently, with features like project templates and configurations.
  • Integrated Build Tools: Supports build tools like Maven, Gradle, and Ant, streamlining the build process with integrated configurations.
  • Customizable User Interface: Allows extensive customization of the UI, including themes, keymaps, and tool window layouts, to suit personal preferences.
  • Language Injection: Enables embedding of languages within strings, providing syntax highlighting and error checking for embedded code.
  • Code Style and Formatting: Enforces code style guidelines and formatting rules, ensuring consistency across the codebase.