Software · head to head
JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA vs Android Studio
The short version
- Each has a real cost: JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA high memory consumption and slower startup time compared to lightweight editors like Visual Studio Code; Android Studio requires internet access during installation and initial project setup for dependency downloads
- They diverge on capability: JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA covers Smart code completion, Android Studio covers Intelligent code editor.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA and Android Studio actually diverge.
| Attribute | JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA | Android Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | macOS, Windows, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Founded | 2000 | 2014 |
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 JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA
- Smart code completion
- Framework support
- Refactoring tools
- Debugging & profiling
- Version control
- Database tools
- Build tools
- Testing frameworks
Only in Android Studio
- Intelligent code editor
- Visual layout editor
- APK analyzer
- Fast Android emulator
- Real-time profilers
- Version control integration
- Built-in terminal
- Gradle-based build system
Both cover
- Git
- GitHub
- Maven
- Gradle
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA
- Enterprise Java developmentnot Android Studio
- Spring applicationsnot Android Studio
- Android appsnot Android Studio
- Web applicationsnot Android Studio
- Microservicesnot Android Studio
Android Studio
- Android app developmentnot JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA
- Mobile game developmentnot JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA
- Enterprise mobile appsnot JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA
- Learning Android developmentnot JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA
- Prototyping mobile appsnot JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Android Studio
- Requires internet access during installation and initial project setup for dependency downloads
- Offline mode limited without cached dependencies already downloaded
- Can be resource-intensive with minimum 8GB RAM and 8GB disk space requirements
Pricing, plan by plan
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
Android Studio
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Android Studio review.
Which should you pick?
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.
Choose Android Studio if
- You need intelligent code editor.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
- You also want visual layout editor.
Questions people ask
- Is JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA or Android Studio better?
- Neither clearly leads. JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA starts at Free and Android Studio at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA or Android Studio?
- JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA starts at Free and Android Studio at Free.
- Does JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA or Android Studio run on more platforms?
- JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA runs on macOS, Windows, Linux. Android Studio runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
- Can I use JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA best used for?
- JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA is most often used for enterprise java development, spring applications, android apps, web applications. Of those, enterprise java development and spring applications are not what Android Studio is typically brought in for.
- What can JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA do that Android Studio cannot?
- JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA covers Smart code completion, Framework support, Refactoring tools, Debugging & profiling. Android Studio covers Intelligent code editor, Visual layout editor, APK analyzer, Fast Android emulator. Both handle Git, GitHub, Maven, Gradle.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
JetBrains 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.
SourceAndroid Studio: Can I use Android Studio offline?
Partially. You can work offline after initial setup by enabling Offline Work in settings, but internet access is required during installation and at least once for project dependency downloads.
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.
SourceAndroid Studio: Does Android Studio support Kotlin?
Yes, Kotlin is fully supported with first-class IDE support, Kotlin plugin bundled with releases, and automatic update suggestions. Kotlin is now the default language choice for new Android projects.
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