Our verdict: IntelliJ IDEA is the reference IDE for Java and Kotlin, and its free tier is now part of one unified download. Code completion, refactoring and the debugger are excellent without paying. Spring, enterprise frameworks and database tools stay behind the Ultimate subscription.
About IntelliJ IDEA
IntelliJ IDEA now ships as a single installer that replaces the separate Community and Ultimate downloads. Every installation starts with a 30-day Ultimate trial; when it ends, you can subscribe or keep using the free core features, which include everything from the former Community Edition.
JetBrains states that the free version may be used to build proprietary and commercial software. The Ultimate subscription adds Spring and wider JVM framework support, advanced database tools, more integrations and AI features. The open-source Community code is still available on GitHub.
What it does well
- Smart code completion. Context-aware suggestions for Java and Kotlin, with deep static analysis.
- Refactoring. Safe project-wide rename, extract, move and change-signature operations.
- Debugger. Breakpoints, expression evaluation and step-through debugging for JVM apps.
- Build tools. Works with Maven and Gradle projects out of the box.
- Version control. Git integration with diff, merge and history views.
Who it is for
Good fit
Java and Kotlin developers, students and teams who want a powerful IDE without a subscription.
Look elsewhere
Developers who rely on Spring, Jakarta EE or built-in database tools without paying, and people with low-RAM PCs.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Free core features, also for commercial use
- Excellent Java and Kotlin code analysis
- Strong refactoring tools
- Maven, Gradle and Git built in
Cons
- Spring, enterprise frameworks and database tools require Ultimate
- Uses a lot of RAM and takes time to index large projects
- Ultimate trial and upgrade prompts in the free version
How to install IntelliJ IDEA
Download the Windows installer from jetbrains.com, or install it through the JetBrains Toolbox App to manage updates. The first launch activates a 30-day Ultimate trial; after it ends, the IDE continues in free mode with the core features. Give it enough memory, as large projects are slow on 8 GB of RAM.
Questions about IntelliJ IDEA
Is IntelliJ IDEA free?
Yes. The core Java and Kotlin features are free without a subscription; advanced features require an Ultimate subscription.
Can I use free IntelliJ IDEA for commercial work?
Yes. JetBrains states that the free version may be used to build proprietary and commercial software.
What happened to IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition?
It is no longer a separate download. Its features are part of the free tier of the unified IntelliJ IDEA, and the source stays on GitHub.
