We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. It never changes a score or a ranking. How we make money
It's a split decision.
Choose IntelliJ IDEA if your work centers on Java or Kotlin and you want one IDE with code navigation, suggestions, and built-in run, debug, and test tools. Choose PyCharm for Python projects: it has a free Community Edition under Apache 2.0 and lower listed Pro prices. Both offer free options and paid individual and organization plans. Compare the seat terms before buying for a team: PyCharm organization seats are transferable, while IntelliJ IDEA organization licenses are assigned to named users.
01Side by side
| IntelliJ IDEA | PyCharm | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Ultimate: $19.90 monthly individual; $71.90 per organization user. | Pro: $10.90 monthly individual; $29.90 per organization user. |
| Free tier | Free for commercial and non-commercial use. | Community Edition: free core features. |
| Open source and licence | Licence details for the free tier aren't stated. | Community Edition is Apache 2.0 licensed. |
| Integrations | Broad language and framework support; Kotlin ecosystem tools are mentioned. | Broad language and framework support; no named integrations. |
| Platforms | Listed platform: Web. | Listed platform: Web. |
| Limits and scaling | Organization licenses are for named commercial users. | Organization seats are concurrent and transferable. |
| IDE focus | Java and Kotlin development. | Python development. |
| Built-in workflow | Run, debug, and test applications in the IDE. | Run, debug, and test applications in the IDE. |
IntelliJ IDEA Choose IntelliJ IDEA if
- Choose IntelliJ IDEA if Java is your primary language.
- Choose IntelliJ IDEA if you develop in Kotlin.
- Choose IntelliJ IDEA if your team needs named-user licenses.
PyCharm Choose PyCharm if
- Choose PyCharm if you build Python applications.
- Choose PyCharm if Apache 2.0 Community Edition fits your needs.
- Choose PyCharm if your team needs transferable seats.
02Pricing at real usage
Both products have free options and 30-day trials for paid plans. IntelliJ IDEA's free tier is listed as free for commercial and non-commercial use; its Ultimate individual plan is $19.90 monthly or $199 for the first year billed annually. PyCharm Community Edition is free with core features; Pro for individuals costs $10.90 monthly or $109 for the first year billed annually. The listed annual rates fall in later years: IntelliJ IDEA individual Ultimate is $159 in year two and $119 from year three; PyCharm Pro is $87 and then $65. For teams, IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate is $71.90 per user monthly or $719 annually in the first year. PyCharm Pro is $29.90 per user monthly or $299 annually in the first year. Those organization prices are per seat; AI add-ons can add cost.
03API, SDKs and integration
IntelliJ IDEA is JetBrains' IDE for Java and Kotlin; PyCharm is its IDE for Python. The homepage describes JetBrains IDEs as supporting a wide variety of languages and frameworks, and says they provide code-aware navigation and suggestions. Both include tools to run, debug, and test applications in the IDE. The homepage does not describe a public API, SDK, or CLI for either product, so teams evaluating programmatic integration should confirm those requirements with JetBrains. It also does not name product-specific integrations for either IDE. JetBrains mentions an ecosystem of Kotlin tools, libraries, and integrations, but does not identify those as IntelliJ IDEA-specific integrations. The homepage presents both products as customizable IDEs with supported languages and frameworks available out of the box. It does not specify a distinct documentation set or integration protocol for either product.
04Open source, self-hosting and lock-in
PyCharm Community Edition is listed under the Apache 2.0 licence; that licence detail applies to Community Edition, not automatically to PyCharm Pro. IntelliJ IDEA's free tier is described as available for commercial and non-commercial use, but a source licence is not specified. The vendor does not publish self-hosting options or data-export formats for either IDE. These are IDEs rather than hosted application APIs in the product descriptions, but teams should verify deployment, account, and data-handling requirements with JetBrains before standardizing. The homepage emphasizes configurable IDEs and built-in development tools, not project migration or export workflows. For a lower-commitment evaluation, PyCharm Community provides a free core edition; compare its feature needs with Pro before adopting it across a team.
Questions people ask
What are the key differences between IntelliJ IDEA and PyCharm?
Their primary language focus is the clearest difference: IntelliJ IDEA is for Java and Kotlin, while PyCharm is for Python. Both offer code navigation and suggestions, plus tools to run, debug, and test applications. Their free tiers, paid prices, and organization seat terms also differ.
Is there a Python plugin for IntelliJ IDEA?
The JetBrains homepage identifies IntelliJ IDEA as an IDE for Java and Kotlin, but does not specify Python plugin support or its terms. If Python development inside IntelliJ IDEA is a requirement, confirm the current plugin support and licensing directly with JetBrains before choosing it over PyCharm.
What are the disadvantages of using PyCharm?
PyCharm Pro is a paid plan, and its organization seats are billed per user. The pricing page lists a free Community Edition, but describes it as providing core features. Check that those features cover your project before relying on the free tier; the vendor does not publish seat-overage costs.
Should Java developers choose IntelliJ IDEA or PyCharm?
IntelliJ IDEA is the direct fit for Java development: JetBrains describes it as an IDE for Java and Kotlin. PyCharm is the Python-focused option. If your codebase spans both languages, compare the language and framework support you need, as well as licensing and seat costs, before standardizing.