Software · head to head
Eclipse vs JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Eclipse high memory consumption and CPU usage, especially with multiple plugins installed; JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA high memory consumption and slower startup time compared to lightweight editors like Visual Studio Code
- They diverge on capability: Eclipse covers Java development environment, JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA covers Smart code completion.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Eclipse and JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA actually diverge.
| Attribute | Eclipse | JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Founded | 2001 | 2000 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Eclipse
- Java development environment
- Extensible plugin architecture
- Integrated debugger
- Code refactoring
- Version control integration
- Build automation
- Multi-language support
- Rich client platform
Only in JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA
- Smart code completion
- Framework support
- Refactoring tools
- Debugging & profiling
- Version control
- Database tools
- Build tools
- Testing frameworks
Both cover
- Git
- Maven
- Gradle
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Eclipse
- Java application developmentnot JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA
- Enterprise software developmentnot JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA
- Web application developmentnot JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA
- Plugin developmentnot JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA
- Educational programmingnot JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA
JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA
- Enterprise Java developmentnot Eclipse
- Spring applicationsnot Eclipse
- Android appsnot Eclipse
- Web applicationsnot Eclipse
- Microservicesnot Eclipse
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Eclipse
- High memory consumption and CPU usage, especially with multiple plugins installed
- Slow startup times and performance degradation with large projects or many open editors
- Requires configuration of eclipse.ini file to optimize heap sizes for adequate performance
- User interface considered outdated compared to modern IDE alternatives
- User base fell from 39% of Java developers in 2024 to 28% in 2025, indicating market decline
JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA
- High memory consumption and slower startup time compared to lightweight editors like Visual Studio Code
- Refactoring can sometimes increase code line count and doesn't effectively support all modern programming languages
- Occasionally misses dependencies between files requiring full rebuilds for consistency
- Expensive subscription costs for Ultimate edition compared to open-source alternatives like Eclipse
- Not all class name references are updated reliably when using search and replace functionality
Pricing, plan by plan
Eclipse
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Eclipse review.
JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA
Free- Community EditionFree
- Java, Kotlin, Scala development
- Python, Go, Rust, PHP, Ruby support
- Spring Boot integration
- Ultimate (Individual)$19.9/month
- All Community Edition features
- Advanced web development tools
- JavaScript, TypeScript, React support
- All Products Pack (Individual)$29.9/month
- IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate
- PyCharm Professional
- WebStorm
Which should you pick?
Choose Eclipse if
- You need java development environment.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
- You also want extensible plugin architecture.
Choose JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA if
- You need smart code completion.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on macOS, Windows, Linux.
- You also want framework support.
Questions people ask
- Is Eclipse or JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA better?
- Neither clearly leads. Eclipse starts at Free and JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Eclipse or JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA?
- Eclipse starts at Free and JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA at Free.
- Does Eclipse or JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA run on more platforms?
- Eclipse runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA runs on macOS, Windows, Linux.
- Can I use Eclipse for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Eclipse best used for?
- Eclipse is most often used for java application development, enterprise software development, web application development, plugin development. Of those, java application development and enterprise software development are not what JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA is typically brought in for.
- What can Eclipse do that JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA cannot?
- Eclipse covers Java development environment, Extensible plugin architecture, Integrated debugger, Code refactoring. JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA covers Smart code completion, Framework support, Refactoring tools, Debugging & profiling. Both handle Git, Maven, Gradle.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Eclipse: How much does Eclipse IDE cost?
Eclipse IDE is completely free and open-source, released under the Eclipse Public License 2.0.
SourceJetBrains IntelliJ IDEA: Is there a free version of IntelliJ IDEA?
Yes, IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition is completely free for personal, educational, and commercial use. As of IntelliJ IDEA 2025.3, the Community Edition has been unified with Ultimate, maintaining all core functionality free including Java, Kotlin, Scala, Python, Go, Rust, PHP, and Ruby support.
SourceJetBrains IntelliJ IDEA: What programming languages does IntelliJ IDEA support?
IntelliJ IDEA supports Java, Kotlin, Scala, Python, Go, Rust, PHP, Ruby, JavaScript, TypeScript, and more. The free Community Edition includes support for all major languages with new features in Spring, Jakarta EE, Thymeleaf, and other frameworks.
SourceJetBrains IntelliJ IDEA: Can I use IntelliJ IDEA with Spring Boot?
Yes, IntelliJ IDEA has built-in Spring Boot integration including the Spring Initializr project wizard, automatic dependency management with Maven and Gradle, code inspections for Spring frameworks, and direct project creation from Spring Initializr.
SourceJetBrains IntelliJ IDEA: Does IntelliJ IDEA support Git version control?
Yes, IntelliJ IDEA includes comprehensive Git integration allowing users to create Git repositories, commit changes, push to GitHub, create and merge branches, resolve conflicts, and investigate file history directly from the IDE.
SourceJetBrains IntelliJ IDEA: How much does IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate cost?
IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate subscription starts at $19.90 per month for Individual plans or $29.90 for the All Products Pack. Long-term discounts apply: 20% off year 2 and 40% off year 3 and beyond, reducing the annual cost significantly for loyal users.
SourceJetBrains IntelliJ IDEA: What are the main differences between IntelliJ IDEA and Eclipse?
IntelliJ IDEA offers a cleaner UI and more powerful code assistance capabilities compared to Eclipse's more complex interface. IntelliJ provides better refactoring tools, superior code completion, and optimized performance, while Eclipse remains free and open-source with a larger plugin ecosystem.
Source