Software · head to head
JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA vs WebStorm
The short version
- Only JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA high memory consumption and slower startup time compared to lightweight editors like Visual Studio Code; WebStorm jetBrains WebStorm is sold as an annual subscription rather than a one-time purchase: commercial price is $199 per year (USD), and personal price starts at $299 in year one, dropping to $239 in year two and $179 from year three onward with continuous renewal.
- They diverge on capability: JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA covers Smart code completion, WebStorm covers Smart JavaScript editor.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA and WebStorm actually diverge.
| Attribute | JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA | WebStorm |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $12.9/month |
| Pricing model | Unknown | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows, Linux | Windows, Macos, Linux |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown), founded (2000).
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
- Database tools
- Build tools
- Testing frameworks
- Git
Only in WebStorm
- Smart JavaScript editor
- TypeScript support
- Node.js development
- Modern framework support
- Built-in debugger
- Unit testing
- Live templates
- React
Both cover
- Version control
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA
- Enterprise Java developmentnot WebStorm
- Spring applicationsnot WebStorm
- Android appsnot WebStorm
- Web applicationsnot WebStorm
- Microservicesnot WebStorm
WebStorm
- Web application developmentnot JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA
- React/Angular/Vue developmentnot JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA
- Node.js backend developmentnot JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA
- TypeScript projectsnot JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA
- Frontend testingnot 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
WebStorm
- JetBrains WebStorm is sold as an annual subscription rather than a one-time purchase: commercial price is $199 per year (USD), and personal price starts at $299 in year one, dropping to $239 in year two and $179 from year three onward with continuous renewal.
- If the subscription lapses, use of new versions stops; JetBrains grants a fallback license only for the last version used while the subscription was active, per its published buy page.
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
WebStorm
$12.9/month- Individual$12.9/month
- Intelligent JavaScript & TypeScript editor
- Debugging and testing
- VCS integration
- Organizations$25.9/month
- All Individual features
- Commercial use license
- Centralized license management
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 WebStorm if
- You need smart javascript editor.
- You work on Windows, Macos, Linux.
- You also want typescript support.
Questions people ask
- Is JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA or WebStorm better?
- Neither clearly leads. JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA starts at Free and WebStorm at $12.9/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA or WebStorm?
- JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA and $12.9/month for WebStorm.
- Does JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA or WebStorm run on more platforms?
- JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA runs on macOS, Windows, Linux. WebStorm runs on Windows, Macos, Linux.
- Can I use JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA for free?
- Yes. JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. WebStorm starts at $12.9/month.
- 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 WebStorm is typically brought in for.
- What can JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA do that WebStorm cannot?
- JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA covers Smart code completion, Framework support, Refactoring tools, Debugging & profiling. WebStorm covers Smart JavaScript editor, TypeScript support, Node.js development, Modern framework support. Both handle Version control.
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.
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