IntelliJ IDEA themes change the colours of the editor, and some restyle the whole IDE, with themes built for JetBrains IDEs such as PyCharm and WebStorm too. The eleven below are mostly dark themes, listed in no particular order, with downloads, ratings and last update dates from the JetBrains plugin repository as of Oct 2026.
You stare at your IDE for hours, so the theme isn't a small thing. The right colours make code easier to scan and kinder on your eyes late in the day.
This page sticks to themes for JetBrains IDEs, chosen by their downloads in the JetBrains plugin repository. If you're tuning your whole working setup, my guide on how to choose productivity software that fits your workflow is a good companion.
How the themes were picked
I sorted JetBrains themes by all-time downloads in the JetBrains plugin repository and kept eleven. For each one I noted the downloads, the rating out of 5, the number of rating votes and the last update date, all as of Oct 2026. The last column says Yes where the repository labels a theme free, and Not stated where it doesn't.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atom One Theme | Dark and light | The Atom One look, in dark and light | Yes |
| Darcula Darker Theme | Dark | Darcula with more contrasting tones | Yes |
| Dracula Theme | Dark | The Dracula colour scheme in your IDE | Yes |
| Gerry Themes | Theme collection | A collection of themes built for comfortable work | Yes |
| Gradianto | Gradient colours | Bright, colourful themes based on gradients from nature | Yes |
| Hiberbee Theme | Dark | A vivid, colour-rich dark theme | Yes |
| Material Theme UI | Full IDE restyle | A Material Design look across the whole IDE | Not stated |
| Nightfall Theme | Dark | A clean, simple dark theme | Yes |
| One Dark Theme | Dark | The One Dark look, with an Islands variant | Yes |
| Trash Panda Theme | Dark and light | Four dark and two light variations | Yes |
| Xcode-Dark Theme | Dark | Xcode Dark colours brought to IntelliJ | Yes |
Eleven JetBrains colour themes
Atom One Theme
Best for: People coming from Atom who want its One colours, with dark and light versions; 1,030,538 downloads and 4.9 from 16 votes, as of Oct 2026.
Darcula Darker Theme
Best for: Anyone who likes the default Darcula look but wants more contrast; 543,278 downloads and 4.9 from 52 votes, as of Oct 2026.
Dracula Theme
Best for: Developers who use Dracula in other apps and want the same scheme in their JetBrains IDE; 3,619,767 downloads and 4.4 from 46 votes, as of Oct 2026.
Gerry Themes
Best for: Trying several looks from one plugin, since it's a collection of themes for IntelliJ-based IDEs; 3,795,347 downloads and 4.9 from 140 votes, as of Oct 2026.
Gradianto
Best for: Developers who find flat themes dull and want colour that's still easy on the eyes; 1,970,653 downloads and 4.9 from 104 votes, as of Oct 2026.
Hiberbee Theme
Best for: Working across several languages, with one consistent colour map for every language; 953,629 downloads and 4.8 from 69 votes, as of Oct 2026.
Material Theme UI
Best for: Restyling the whole IDE, not just the editor, with a Material Design look across JetBrains IDEs; last updated October 22, 2026.
Nightfall Theme
Best for: Minimalists who want a dark theme that's clean, simple and elegant; 525,079 downloads and 4.9 from 74 votes, as of Oct 2026.
One Dark Theme
Best for: A widely used dark look that's free, picked from the Appearance settings once installed; 11,802,048 downloads and 4.8 from 217 votes, as of Oct 2026.
Trash Panda Theme
Best for: Night owls who want four dark variations to pick from, including high contrast, plus two light ones; 500,699 downloads and 4.9 from 43 votes, as of Oct 2026.
Xcode-Dark Theme
Best for: Mac developers who also work in Xcode and want matching colours in IntelliJ; 1,181,893 downloads and 4.9 from 44 votes, as of Oct 2026.
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The most downloaded theme has the lowest rating
Material Theme UI has by far the most downloads here, 18,970,286 as of Oct 2026, yet it carries the lowest rating on the list: 4.0 from 728 votes. Smaller themes sit at 4.9, often from fewer than a hundred votes.
That gap doesn't mean the big one's bad. A theme that millions install collects more critics than one a few hundred people chose on purpose, and a 4.9 from a few dozen votes is a thin sample. Read both numbers together.
Some themes haven't been touched in years
Update dates vary more than you'd expect. Darcula Darker Theme was last updated on September 15, 2019, as of Oct 2026, and three other themes here haven't had an update since 2021, 2022 and 2023.
A colour theme is simpler than a tooling plugin, so an older one may still look fine. IDEs do change their look over time, though, so open a few panels after installing an older theme and make sure everything still reads well.
Which kind of theme for how you work
- You want the whole IDE restyled, not just the code: pick a full UI theme.
- You want to try a few looks quickly: pick a theme collection and switch between them.
- You use the same scheme in other editors: pick the JetBrains version of that scheme, so your eyes don't have to adjust.
- You work late or in a dark room: pick a dark theme with a high contrast variation.
- You work in bright light: pick a theme that ships a light variation as well as dark ones.
Do you make a JetBrains theme? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on IntelliJ IDEA themes
Install two or three, give each one a full working day, and keep the one you stop noticing. A theme's job is to get out of the way. Check the last update date too, and lean towards themes that someone's still looking after.
If you want more from your setup than nicer colours, my ChatGPT prompts that speed up coding work are a quick win.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
How do I change the theme in IntelliJ IDEA?
Install the theme plugin from the Plugins settings, then go to Settings, Appearance and Behavior, Appearance and pick it from the theme list. Some themes ask you to restart the IDE.
Do IntelliJ themes work in PyCharm and WebStorm?
Themes in the JetBrains plugin repository are built for JetBrains IDEs, and some here say on their listings that they work across IntelliJ-based IDEs. Check the listing for the IDE you use.
What's the most downloaded IntelliJ theme?
Of the themes here, the full UI restyle leads with 18,970,286 downloads as of Oct 2026, ahead of a One Dark style theme with 11,802,048.
Are IntelliJ themes free?
Ten of the eleven here are labelled free in the JetBrains plugin repository as of Oct 2026. For the other one, the free plan column says Not stated.
