Best Java IDEs in 2026
Updated
In short: Eclipse IDE is ranked #1 of 23 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Spring Integration and Apache NetBeans. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Spring Integration. The lowest first paid tier on this page is IntelliJ IDEA at $8.33/mo.
Java IDEs support the work of writing, running, and maintaining Java applications, with features that can matter differently across project types and teams. Compared on database tools, Jakarta EE and JavaFX support, Spring support, remote development, and supported operating systems, the entries also show free-plan availability and paid-from pricing. The ranked order begins with Apache NetBeans and BlueJ, followed by Eclipse IDE and IntelliJ IDEA. Java-Editor, Spring Integration, Processing, and Spring Tools for Eclipse also appear among the first entries. Use the listed capabilities and costs to compare options against the frameworks, platforms, and development setup your work requires.
23 Java IDEs ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
Java IDEs, one module each. A lit port is something its maker publishes; 0 of the 23 on this page have a public API.
- 01 Eclipse IDE API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE yesDOCS 6.0Free
- 02 Spring Integration API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE yesDOCS 6.0Free
- 03 Apache NetBeans API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE yesDOCS 5.9Free
- 04 BlueJ API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE yesDOCS 5.9Free
- 05 CS++ Java IDE API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE yesDOCS 5.9Free
- 06 IntelliJ IDEA API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE yesDOCS 5.9$8.33/mo
- 07 Java N-IDE API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE yesDOCS 5.9Free
- 08 Java-Editor API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE yesDOCS 5.9Free
- 09 MCreator API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE yesDOCS 5.9Free
- 10 Processing API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE yesDOCS 5.9Free
- 11 Spring Tools for Eclipse API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE yesDOCS 5.9Free
- 12 SnapCode API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.6
- 13 Oracle Visual Builder API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.2
- 14 Greenfoot API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.1
- 15 Inteljava IQ API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.1
- 16 JuiceMind Java IDE API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.1
- 17 Oracle JDeveloper API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.1
- 18 AIDE API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.0
- 19 DrJava API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.0
- 20 Jvdroid API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 5.0
- 21 Code on the Go API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 4.9
- 22 MyEclipse API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 4.9
- 23 Eclipse Che API not on recordOSS not on recordFREE not on recordDOCS 4.8
Is your platform on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which Java IDE is ranked first on Inferse?
Eclipse IDE is ranked #1 of 23 with a score of 6.0. Spring Integration is second and Apache NetBeans third.
How many of these have a free plan?
11 of the 23 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, IntelliJ IDEA has the lowest first paid tier we found: $8.33/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, open and connectable first: a public API, open-source code, the depth of its documentation and a free tier to try it on. Model lists are sorted by the figure in their title, exactly as each provider publishes it. Paid placements never change a rank.