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JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA vs PHP

JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA logo

JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA

Developer Tools

Java and Kotlin IDE

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit JetBrains IntelliJ IDEAFull review
PHP logo

PHP

Web Development

A popular general-purpose scripting language that is especially suited to web development

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit PHPFull review

The short version

  • PHP is an open source scripting language for web development.
  • PHP is free; JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA starts at $19.9/mo.
  • Where JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA falls short: high memory consumption and slower startup time compared to lightweight editors like Visual Studio Code.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA and PHP differ
AttributeJetBrains IntelliJ IDEAPHP
PlatformsmacOS, Windows, LinuxWeb
CategoryDeveloper ToolsWeb Development

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes).

Not yet recorded: pricing model for JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA, founded for PHP.

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 PHP

Nothing recorded that JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA

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

PHP

  • Server-side web developmentnot JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA
  • Content management systemsnot JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA
  • API backendsnot 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

PHP

  • PHP 8.2 lost active support on 31 Dec 2024 and enters full end of life on 31 Dec 2026, with only security fixes since, per php.net/supported-versions.php (Aug 2026)

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/mo
    • All Community Edition features
    • Advanced web development tools
    • JavaScript, TypeScript, React support
  • All Products Pack (Individual)$29.9/mo
    • IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate
    • PyCharm Professional
    • WebStorm

PHP

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the PHP 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 PHP if

  • You want to start without paying.
PHP review

Questions people ask

Is JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA or PHP better?
Neither clearly leads. JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA starts at Free and PHP at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA or PHP?
JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA starts at Free and PHP at Free.
Does JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA or PHP run on more platforms?
JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA runs on macOS, Windows, Linux. PHP runs on Web.
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 PHP is typically brought in for.
What can JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA do that PHP cannot?
JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA covers Smart code completion, Framework support, Refactoring tools, Debugging & profiling.

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
PHP: Is PHP free to use?

Yes, PHP is completely free and open-source software under the PHP Foundation governance. There are no licensing fees or paid tiers.

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
PHP: Does the PHP Foundation offer paid support?

The PHP Foundation accepts voluntary donations to support long-term development, but donations are optional and not required to use PHP.

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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