Choose IntelliJ IDEA if you want a polished Java and Kotlin IDE where the core is now free and Ultimate adds Spring and other advanced tools by subscription. Choose Eclipse IDE if you want a fully open-source IDE under the Eclipse Public License, backed by a foundation and a large plug-in ecosystem. Both support current Java versions, so the choice is about workflow, licence and whether you'll pay for advanced features.
I read JetBrains' IntelliJ IDEA home and download pages, then the Eclipse IDE page and the Eclipse Foundation's developer tools page. The headline change since most older comparisons: IntelliJ IDEA no longer has a separate Community Edition download.
IntelliJ IDEA and Eclipse in one table
| IntelliJ IDEA | Eclipse IDE | |
|---|---|---|
| Maker | JetBrains | Eclipse Foundation and community |
| Languages in focus | Java and Kotlin | Java, with plug-ins for much more |
| Editions | One unified installer: free core, Ultimate by subscription | One open-source IDE with named releases such as 2026-09 |
| Licence | JetBrains product licence | Eclipse Public License 2.0 |
| Latest Java support named | Not stated on the pages I read | Java 26 |
| Free option (as of October 2026) | Free core with 30 days of Ultimate included | Free and open source |
What IntelliJ IDEA offers now
JetBrains' download FAQ explains the change: IntelliJ IDEA has a single unified installer that replaces the separate Community Edition and Ultimate downloads. All core Java and Kotlin features are free, and every download includes 30 days of Ultimate, after which advanced features need a subscription.
The home page leans on Spring support in Ultimate, showing how the IDE understands a Spring application and helps you find and fix errors, and on AI agent features. JetBrains also claims it's trusted by 72% of Java developers, which is its own claim rather than an independent survey.
What Eclipse offers
The Eclipse IDE page calls it open, industry-backed and community-driven. The 2026-09 release supports Java 26, adds a wizard for compact source files for Java 25, improves plug-in development tooling with a dedicated p2.inf editor, and adds debug view options such as resuming all threads except the one you've selected.
It's free and open source under the Eclipse Public License 2.0. The Eclipse Foundation's developer tools community also works on Theia and Open VSX, so Eclipse sits inside a wider open-source tools ecosystem rather than a single company.
Getting started is easy on either. JetBrains lets you install IntelliJ IDEA from the command line with a snap on Ubuntu 16.04 or later, and Eclipse ships named releases such as 2026-09 with a download on its IDE page. The Eclipse Foundation adds that its Cloud DevTools Working Group gives a vendor-neutral home to open-source tools projects, which matters if you care who steers the IDE you'll use for years.
The licence question teams forget
For a company, the licence can matter more than features. Eclipse's EPL 2.0 means anyone can use and extend it at no charge. IntelliJ IDEA's core is free too now, but Ultimate's advanced tools, such as deep Spring support, are a subscription, so check which features your team needs before standardising on either.
What's free in IntelliJ is explained in our IntelliJ free guide.
Five points to decide
- Writing Kotlin as well as Java? IntelliJ IDEA is built around both.
- Need deep Spring Boot support? That sits in IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate.
- Must everything be open source? Eclipse IDE under EPL 2.0.
- Building plug-ins or tools on an IDE platform? Eclipse is designed as a platform.
- New to Java? Try both free versions on the same small project.
If you're setting up a developer toolkit, see these points to check in developer productivity tools and a look at AI coding assistants that pair with any IDE.
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My advice on IntelliJ or Eclipse
For most Java and Kotlin developers starting today, I'd install IntelliJ IDEA's free core and see whether the 30 days of Ultimate show you anything you'd miss. For teams that need a fully open-source tool, or that build on an IDE platform, Eclipse remains a dependable choice with a foundation behind it. Neither choice locks your code in, so switching later is a habit change, not a migration.
Do you make a Java IDE or developer tool? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place in comparisons like this one.
Frequently asked questions
Is IntelliJ IDEA free?
Yes, as of October 2026, all core Java and Kotlin features are free in the unified installer, with 30 days of Ultimate included.
What happened to IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition?
JetBrains replaced the separate Community Edition and Ultimate downloads with one unified installer that has a free core.
Is Eclipse IDE free?
Yes. Eclipse IDE is free and open source under the Eclipse Public License 2.0.
Which Java version does Eclipse support?
The Eclipse IDE 2026-09 page says it supports Java 26.
Is IntelliJ better for Kotlin?
JetBrains describes IntelliJ IDEA as the Java and Kotlin IDE, and Kotlin is a JetBrains language.
