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JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA vs Eclipse

JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA logo

JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA

Software

The Leading Java and Kotlin IDE

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Eclipse logo

Eclipse

Software

The Eclipse Foundation - home to a global community

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; Eclipse high memory consumption and CPU usage, especially with multiple plugins installed
  • They diverge on capability: JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA covers Smart code completion, Eclipse covers Java development environment.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA and Eclipse actually diverge.

Attributes where JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA and Eclipse differ
AttributeJetBrains IntelliJ IDEAEclipse
PlatformsmacOS, Windows, LinuxWindows, macOS, Linux
Founded20002001

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 Eclipse

  • Java development environment
  • Extensible plugin architecture
  • Integrated debugger
  • Code refactoring
  • Version control integration
  • Build automation
  • Multi-language support
  • Rich client platform

Both cover

  • Git
  • Maven
  • Gradle

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA

  • Enterprise Java developmentnot Eclipse
  • Spring applicationsnot Eclipse
  • Android appsnot Eclipse
  • Web applicationsnot Eclipse
  • Microservicesnot Eclipse

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

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

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

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

Eclipse

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Eclipse 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.
JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA review

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.
Eclipse review

Questions people ask

Is JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA or Eclipse better?
Neither clearly leads. JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA starts at Free and Eclipse at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA or Eclipse?
JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA starts at Free and Eclipse at Free.
Does JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA or Eclipse run on more platforms?
JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA runs on macOS, Windows, Linux. Eclipse 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 Eclipse is typically brought in for.
What can JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA do that Eclipse cannot?
JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA covers Smart code completion, Framework support, Refactoring tools, Debugging & profiling. Eclipse covers Java development environment, Extensible plugin architecture, Integrated debugger, Code refactoring. Both handle Git, 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.

Source
Eclipse: How much does Eclipse IDE cost?

Eclipse IDE is completely free and open-source, released under the Eclipse Public License 2.0.

Source
JetBrains 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.

Source
JetBrains 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.

Source
JetBrains 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.

Source
JetBrains 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.

Source
JetBrains 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
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