IntelliJ IDEA Alternatives for Mac OS X

Looking for IntelliJ IDEA alternatives? We've curated 11 top alternatives that offer similar functionality. Whether you need Mac OS X options, free plans, or open source solutions, explore our comprehensive list to find the perfect fit for your needs.

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IntelliJ IDEA Alternatives

Below you'll find the best alternatives to IntelliJ IDEA. We've analyzed these options based on features, user ratings, and compatibility to help you find the right solution. Each alternative offers unique advantages that might better suit your specific needs and budget.

Eclipse

Open Source Development IDE

Eclipse is a powerful, open-source Integrated Development Environment (IDE) widely used for Java development, but also supporting a variety of other programming languages through its extensive plugin ecosystem. It provides a robust set of tools for coding, debugging, testing, and deployment.

Unique Features

Highly extensible with a vast plugin ecosystem
Strong support for Java development with robust tools
Open source and free to use

Compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Highly extensible with a vast plugin ecosystem compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Can be resource-intensive, especially with many plugins unlike IntelliJ IDEA

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NetBeans

Open Source Development IDE

NetBeans is a free and open-source Integrated Development Environment (IDE) specifically designed for enterprise-level Java development, supporting a wide array of other languages and technologies, including PHP, C++, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. It provides comprehensive tools for coding, debugging, testing, and deploying applications.

Unique Features

Comprehensive features for various programming languages.
Strong support for Java development.
Integrated debugger and version control.

Compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Comprehensive features for various programming languages. compared to IntelliJ IDEA

User interface can feel less modern compared to some competitors. unlike IntelliJ IDEA

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Aptana Studio

Open Source Development Desktop IDE

Aptana Studio was a robust, open-source integrated development environment (IDE) specifically designed for web development. It provided developers with a comprehensive set of tools and features to build web applications efficiently, supporting various web technologies like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, and Python.

Unique Features

Comprehensive support for web technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript).
Strong features for PHP and Python development including debugging.
Integrated FTP/SFTP client simplifies deployment.

Compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Comprehensive support for web technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript). compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Officially discontinued, meaning no future updates or support. unlike IntelliJ IDEA

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Visual Studio Code

Open Source Development Source Code Editor

Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a free, open-source, lightweight yet powerful source code editor developed by Microsoft. It supports a wide range of programming languages and offers robust features like debugging, intelligent code completion (IntelliSense), built-in Git control, and an extensive ecosystem of extensions for enhanced functionality. Available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, VS Code has become a popular choice for developers across various disciplines.

Unique Features

Free and open-source, making it accessible to everyone.
Lightweight and fast performance.
Excellent built-in debugging capabilities.

Compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Free and open-source, making it accessible to everyone. compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Can become resource-intensive with a large number of extensions installed. unlike IntelliJ IDEA

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Android Studio

Open Source Development Desktop Application

Android Studio is the official integrated development environment (IDE) for Android app development, providing a comprehensive suite of tools to accelerate development across all Android device types. Built on JetBrains' IntelliJ IDEA, it offers world-class code editing, debugging, performance analysis, and an integrated emulator.

Unique Features

Official and supported by Google.
Comprehensive feature set for the entire development lifecycle.
Excellent code editing and intelligent assistance features.

Compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Official and supported by Google. compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Can be resource-intensive, requiring powerful hardware. unlike IntelliJ IDEA

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Xcode

Free Development Developer Tools

Xcode is Apple's integrated development environment (IDE) for macOS, providing a comprehensive suite of tools for building applications for all Apple platforms, including macOS, iOS, watchOS, and tvOS. It offers powerful features like code completion, debugging tools, and a visual interface builder.

Unique Features

Deep integration with Apple ecosystem and SDKs.
Comprehensive suite of development tools.
Excellent performance analysis capabilities with Instruments.

Compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Deep integration with Apple ecosystem and SDKs. compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Exclusively for macOS. unlike IntelliJ IDEA

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Qt Creator

Open Source Development Development

Qt Creator is a powerful, cross-platform Integrated Development Environment (IDE) tailored for building applications with the Qt framework. It supports C++, QML, and JavaScript, offering a comprehensive suite of tools for designing UIs, writing code, debugging, and deploying software across various platforms.

Unique Features

Excellent integration with the Qt Framework
Strong support for cross-platform development
Powerful visual UI design tools

Compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Excellent integration with the Qt Framework compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Can be resource-intensive on large projects unlike IntelliJ IDEA

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Komodo IDE

Commercial Development IDE

Komodo IDE is a powerful and flexible integrated development environment designed for building dynamic web applications.

Unique Features

Excellent support for multiple dynamic languages.
Powerful and integrated debugger.
Highly extensible through plugins and extensions.

Compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Excellent support for multiple dynamic languages. compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Interface can feel somewhat dated compared to newer IDEs. unlike IntelliJ IDEA

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Peppermint

Commercial Development Code Editor

Peppermint is a lightweight and native code editor designed exclusively for macOS, offering a clean and fluid interface for developers. It focuses on providing essential features like syntax highlighting, code completion, and built-in tools for a productive coding experience.

Unique Features

Excellent performance and responsiveness due to native macOS design.
Clean and intuitive user interface promoting focused coding.
Strong core features like syntax highlighting and code completion.

Compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Excellent performance and responsiveness due to native macOS design. compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Feature set might be less extensive than some full-fledged cross-platform IDEs. unlike IntelliJ IDEA

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BlueJ

Open Source Development Educational Software

BlueJ is a free Java Development Environment designed specifically for introductory programming education. It provides a visual, interactive interface that helps beginners understand core Java concepts and program execution.

Unique Features

Excellent for learning Java and object-oriented programming
Simple and intuitive user interface
Visual interaction with objects aids understanding

Compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Excellent for learning Java and object-oriented programming compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Lacks advanced features of professional IDEs unlike IntelliJ IDEA

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Zed Code Editor

Open Source Development Code Editor

Zed was a powerful, open-source code and text editor designed for developers who prioritized keyboard-centric workflows and offline capabilities. It aimed to provide a fast, responsive editing experience with advanced features like syntax highlighting, code completion, and integrated tools.

Unique Features

Works completely offline.
Lightweight and performant.
Keyboard-centric for efficient editing.

Compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Works completely offline. compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Project is discontinued, no future updates or support. unlike IntelliJ IDEA

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Eclipse

Open Source Development IDE

Unique Features

Highly extensible with a vast plugin ecosystem
Strong support for Java development with robust tools
Open source and free to use

Compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Highly extensible with a vast plugin ecosystem compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Can be resource-intensive, especially with many plugins unlike IntelliJ IDEA

View Details

NetBeans

Open Source Development IDE

Unique Features

Comprehensive features for various programming languages.
Strong support for Java development.
Integrated debugger and version control.

Compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Comprehensive features for various programming languages. compared to IntelliJ IDEA

User interface can feel less modern compared to some competitors. unlike IntelliJ IDEA

View Details

Aptana Studio

Open Source Development Desktop IDE

Unique Features

Comprehensive support for web technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript).
Strong features for PHP and Python development including debugging.
Integrated FTP/SFTP client simplifies deployment.

Compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Comprehensive support for web technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript). compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Officially discontinued, meaning no future updates or support. unlike IntelliJ IDEA

View Details

Visual Studio Code

Open Source Development Source Code Editor

Unique Features

Free and open-source, making it accessible to everyone.
Lightweight and fast performance.
Excellent built-in debugging capabilities.

Compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Free and open-source, making it accessible to everyone. compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Can become resource-intensive with a large number of extensions installed. unlike IntelliJ IDEA

View Details

Android Studio

Open Source Development Desktop Application

Unique Features

Official and supported by Google.
Comprehensive feature set for the entire development lifecycle.
Excellent code editing and intelligent assistance features.

Compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Official and supported by Google. compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Can be resource-intensive, requiring powerful hardware. unlike IntelliJ IDEA

View Details

Xcode

Free Development Developer Tools

Unique Features

Deep integration with Apple ecosystem and SDKs.
Comprehensive suite of development tools.
Excellent performance analysis capabilities with Instruments.

Compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Deep integration with Apple ecosystem and SDKs. compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Exclusively for macOS. unlike IntelliJ IDEA

View Details

Qt Creator

Open Source Development Development

Unique Features

Excellent integration with the Qt Framework
Strong support for cross-platform development
Powerful visual UI design tools

Compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Excellent integration with the Qt Framework compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Can be resource-intensive on large projects unlike IntelliJ IDEA

View Details

Komodo IDE

Commercial Development IDE

Komodo IDE is a powerful and flexible integrated development environment designed for building dynamic web applications.

Unique Features

Excellent support for multiple dynamic languages.
Powerful and integrated debugger.
Highly extensible through plugins and extensions.

Compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Excellent support for multiple dynamic languages. compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Interface can feel somewhat dated compared to newer IDEs. unlike IntelliJ IDEA

View Details

Peppermint

Commercial Development Code Editor

Unique Features

Excellent performance and responsiveness due to native macOS design.
Clean and intuitive user interface promoting focused coding.
Strong core features like syntax highlighting and code completion.

Compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Excellent performance and responsiveness due to native macOS design. compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Feature set might be less extensive than some full-fledged cross-platform IDEs. unlike IntelliJ IDEA

View Details

BlueJ

Open Source Development Educational Software

Unique Features

Excellent for learning Java and object-oriented programming
Simple and intuitive user interface
Visual interaction with objects aids understanding

Compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Excellent for learning Java and object-oriented programming compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Lacks advanced features of professional IDEs unlike IntelliJ IDEA

View Details

Zed Code Editor

Open Source Development Code Editor

Unique Features

Works completely offline.
Lightweight and performant.
Keyboard-centric for efficient editing.

Compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Works completely offline. compared to IntelliJ IDEA

Project is discontinued, no future updates or support. unlike IntelliJ IDEA

View Details

Compare Side-by-Side

Want to see how IntelliJ IDEA stacks up against alternatives? Select any option below for a detailed side-by-side comparison.