Development Tools · head to head
Helix vs PhpStorm
Helix
Development Tools
Post-modern modal text editor for the terminal, written in Rust
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Helix has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Helix no official GUI application yet, so it requires comfort with terminal workflows.; PhpStorm requires an ongoing paid subscription with no free tier for commercial use.
- They diverge on capability: Helix covers Multiple Selections, PhpStorm covers PHP-aware coding assistance.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Helix and PhpStorm actually diverge.
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Development Tools).
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 Helix
- Multiple Selections
- Tree-sitter Syntax Trees
- Built-in LSP Support
- Fuzzy File Finder
- Project-wide Search
Only in PhpStorm
- PHP-aware coding assistance
- Integrated debugger
- Front-end tooling
- Database tools
- Version control integration
- Docker and remote deployment
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Helix
- Editing code over SSH or in tmux sessionsnot PhpStorm
- Working with syntax-aware selection and navigationnot PhpStorm
- Getting IDE-like completion and diagnostics without plugin setupnot PhpStorm
- Lightweight, low-resource code editing on laptopsnot PhpStorm
PhpStorm
- Building PHP web applications with Laravel or Symfonynot Helix
- Debugging PHP code with Xdebugnot Helix
- Working across PHP, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in one projectnot Helix
- Managing databases alongside application codenot Helix
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Helix
- No official GUI application yet, so it requires comfort with terminal workflows.
- Plugin ecosystem is far smaller than Vim's or Neovim's, limiting customization.
- Keybindings differ from both Vim and Kakoune, adding a learning curve for users of either.
- Configuration is more limited than Neovim's Lua-based extensibility.
PhpStorm
- Requires an ongoing paid subscription with no free tier for commercial use.
- Heavier and slower to start than lightweight code editors.
- Some advanced framework-specific tooling requires additional configuration or plugins.
- Renewal pricing rises for lapsed subscriptions after the grace period.
Pricing, plan by plan
Helix
Free- FreeFree
- Full editor, no paid tiers
PhpStorm
$24/month- Individual$24/month
- Personal use license
- Access to PhpStorm
- Free for students and open-source maintainers
- Organization$34/month
- Business use license
- Access to PhpStorm
- Volume and renewal discounts
Which should you pick?
Choose Helix if
- You need multiple selections.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on linux, mac, windows.
- You also want tree-sitter syntax trees.
Choose PhpStorm if
- You need php-aware coding assistance.
- You work on windows, mac, linux.
- You also want integrated debugger.
Questions people ask
- Is Helix or PhpStorm better?
- Neither clearly leads. Helix starts at Free and PhpStorm at $24/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Helix or PhpStorm?
- Helix has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Helix and $24/month for PhpStorm.
- Does Helix or PhpStorm run on more platforms?
- Helix runs on linux, mac, windows. PhpStorm runs on windows, mac, linux.
- Can I use Helix for free?
- Yes. Helix has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. PhpStorm starts at $24/month.
- What is Helix best used for?
- Helix is most often used for editing code over ssh or in tmux sessions, working with syntax-aware selection and navigation, getting ide-like completion and diagnostics without plugin setup, lightweight, low-resource code editing on laptops. Of those, editing code over ssh or in tmux sessions and working with syntax-aware selection and navigation are not what PhpStorm is typically brought in for.
- What can Helix do that PhpStorm cannot?
- Helix covers Multiple Selections, Tree-sitter Syntax Trees, Built-in LSP Support, Fuzzy File Finder. PhpStorm covers PHP-aware coding assistance, Integrated debugger, Front-end tooling, Database tools.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Helix: Is Helix free to use?
Yes, Helix is free and open source, licensed under the Mozilla Public License 2.0 (MPL-2.0), with no paid tiers or subscriptions.
SourcePhpStorm: How much does PhpStorm cost?
PhpStorm is sold via JetBrains Toolbox subscription starting around $24/month for individuals and $34/month for organizations, with free licenses for students and open-source maintainers.
SourceHelix: How do I install Helix?
Install via your operating system's package manager, or download pre-built binaries from GitHub Releases; the nightly version requires building from source.
SourcePhpStorm: Is there a free trial?
JetBrains offers a free trial of PhpStorm so developers can test it before subscribing.
SourceHelix: Does Helix support plugins?
Not yet. Helix currently has no plugin system, though the project intends to add one eventually; it instead ships with built-in LSP and tree-sitter support out of the box.
SourcePhpStorm: What platforms does PhpStorm support?
PhpStorm is a desktop IDE available on Windows, macOS, and Linux via JetBrains Toolbox.
SourceHelix: How do I configure Helix?
Helix ships with sane modern defaults requiring much less config-file fiddling than Vim, though settings can still be customized in a config.toml file.
SourceHelix: Where can I get help or support?
Support is community-driven via GitHub for code and issues, the Matrix chat for discussion, and OpenCollective for funding ongoing development.
SourceRelated pages
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