9 Best IDEs for Scala of 2026

1. 1

   IntelliJ IDEA

   JetBrains' Java and Kotlin IDE, which becomes a full Scala IDE with the official Scala plugin.

   9.4overall

   JetBrains' Java and Kotlin IDE, which becomes a full Scala IDE with the official Scala plugin.

   Best forprofessional Scala teams on sbt projects

   Adoption data

   24.3%24.3% of the 13,193 developers who answered the 2026 Stack Overflow Developer Survey question on development environments reported using IntelliJ IDEA regularly.

   Stack Overflow, Dev IDEs, Technology data 2026, Stack Overflow Developer Survey (2026): “IntelliJ IDEA 3,201 24.3%”

   IntelliJ IDEA is the editor most Scala developers mean when they say IDE. Its Scala plugin, maintained by JetBrains, adds coding assistance such as highlighting, completion, formatting and refactorings, information about types and implicits, sbt integration, test support for ScalaTest, Specs2 and uTest, plus a Scala debugger and worksheets. The New Project wizard lets you pick sbt, download a Scala SDK and switch Scala 3 code to the optional braces syntax. Since JetBrains merged its editions, the IDE is free for commercial and non-commercial projects; an Ultimate subscription unlocks Play Framework, Akka and Scala.js support. 24.3% of 2026 Stack Overflow survey respondents use IntelliJ IDEA. Developers who prefer one editor for many languages, or the Metals language server that the Scala Center backs, will be more at home in VS Code.

   Strengths

   • +JetBrains states the IDE is free for commercial and non-commercial projects without a subscription
   • +The Scala plugin is maintained by JetBrains and offers Stable, Early Access and Nightly update channels
   • +Debugger, test runner and worksheets work without assembling extra plugins

   Limitations

   • −The Scala plugin is a separate install from Settings, Plugins
   • −Play Framework, Akka and Scala.js support need the Ultimate subscription
   • −JetBrains did not show a USD price for Ultimate from our location, so the paid tier price is pending

   SummaryIntelliJ IDEA is the best IDE for Scala because its free edition with the JetBrains Scala plugin includes a debugger, worksheets, sbt integration and refactorings with no extra setup.

2. 2

   Visual Studio Code

   Microsoft's free editor, which runs Scala through the Metals extension from the Scalameta project.

   9.4overall

   Microsoft's free editor, which runs Scala through the Metals extension from the Scalameta project.

   Best fordevelopers who want a free Metals setup in a familiar editor

   Adoption data

   70.9%70.9% of the 13,193 developers who answered the 2026 Stack Overflow Developer Survey question on development environments reported using Visual Studio Code regularly.

   Stack Overflow, Dev IDEs, Technology data 2026, Stack Overflow Developer Survey (2026): “Visual Studio Code 9,350 70.9%”

   Visual Studio Code is the main home of Metals, the Scala language server from the Scalameta project. After you install the Metals extension and open a folder with build.sbt or Scala files, Metals asks to import the build, uses Bloop to compile it, and then provides go to definition, completion, formatting and worksheets. Running and debugging tests and main methods goes through the Debug Adapter Protocol, and since Metals 0.11.0 test suites appear in VS Code's Test Explorer. The Metals docs warn that the first import can take from 10 seconds in small cached builds up to 10 to 15 minutes in large uncached ones. VS Code is free for commercial use and 70.9% of 2026 Stack Overflow respondents use it, so it is the default for polyglot developers. Teams that want deeper refactorings and framework support usually pick IntelliJ IDEA.

   Strengths

   • +Metals docs treat VS Code as the first supported editor
   • +Free for commercial work
   • +Downloads a JDK through Coursier when no suitable Java is found

   Limitations

   • −First build import can take 10 to 15 minutes in large uncached builds, per the Metals docs
   • −Needs the Metals extension installed before Scala features appear
   • −No built-in support for Play or Akka specific tooling

   SummaryVisual Studio Code is the best free Scala editor for most developers because the Metals extension gives it build import, debugging, a Test Explorer and worksheets at no cost.

3. 3

   Neovim

   A terminal editor whose dedicated nvim-metals plugin connects it to the Metals language server.

   8.3overall

   A terminal editor whose dedicated nvim-metals plugin connects it to the Metals language server.

   Best forterminal-first developers who want Metals in Vim keybindings

   Adoption data

   14.7%14.7% of the 13,193 developers who answered the 2026 Stack Overflow Developer Survey question on development environments reported using Neovim regularly.

   Stack Overflow, Dev IDEs, Technology data 2026, Stack Overflow Developer Survey (2026): “Neovim 1,939 14.7%”

   Neovim gets first-class Metals support through nvim-metals, a plugin maintained under the Scalameta organization that the Metals docs recommend over generic LSP clients. Generic Vim LSP clients work too, but they miss Metals commands like build import and LSP extensions like the tree view, and you have to install Metals yourself. The Metals docs also note that Neovim ships with no default mappings for hover, go to definition or signatures, so you start from the published example configuration. The coc-metals plugin for classic Vim is deprecated. Neovim is free under Apache 2.0, and 14.7% of 2026 Stack Overflow respondents use it. Choose it if you live in the terminal; choose VS Code if you want Metals running in minutes.

   Strengths

   • +Metals docs recommend nvim-metals for the best Metals support in Vim-style editors
   • +Free for any use
   • +Keyboard-driven workflow over SSH

   Limitations

   • −Neovim has no default mappings for hover or go to definition, so you copy an example configuration
   • −The older coc-metals plugin for Vim is deprecated and unmaintained
   • −Setup takes longer than in VS Code or IntelliJ IDEA

   SummaryNeovim is the best Scala editor for terminal users because the Scalameta-maintained nvim-metals plugin exposes Metals commands such as build import.

4. 4

   Cursor

   An AI code editor built on VS Code that installs Metals from the Open VSX registry.

   8.1overall

   An AI code editor built on VS Code that installs Metals from the Open VSX registry.

   Best forScala developers who want AI agents on top of Metals

   Adoption data

   14.9%14.9% of the 13,193 developers who answered the 2026 Stack Overflow Developer Survey question on development environments reported using Cursor regularly.

   Stack Overflow, Dev IDEs, Technology data 2026, Stack Overflow Developer Survey (2026): “Cursor 1,971 14.9%”

   Cursor is a fork of VS Code with AI agents built in, and it gets Scala support the same way: through the Metals extension. Cursor's docs say it uses the Open VSX registry for third-party extensions and runs automated malware and supply-chain checks before offering them; the Metals listing there shows 295,374 downloads. Once Metals is installed you get the same build import, debugging, Test Explorer and worksheets as in VS Code. The Hobby plan is free with limited agent and chat requests, and Plus costs $8 per month. 14.9% of 2026 Stack Overflow respondents use Cursor. Pick it if AI agents are part of your daily Scala work; otherwise plain VS Code gives the same Metals features for free.

   Strengths

   • +Metals listing on Open VSX shows 295,374 downloads
   • +Free plan available
   • +Familiar VS Code layout and keybindings

   Limitations

   • −Scala support depends on the Metals extension, not on Cursor itself
   • −Free plan has limited agent and chat requests
   • −AI usage beyond the plan is a separate cost

   SummaryCursor is the best Scala editor for developers who want AI agents because it runs the same Metals extension as VS Code, with Plus at $8 per month.

5. 5

   Zed

   A fast native editor whose community Scala extension runs the Metals language server.

   7.9overall

   A fast native editor whose community Scala extension runs the Metals language server.

   Best fordevelopers who want a lightweight native editor for Scala

   Adoption data

   11.4%11.4% of the 13,193 developers who answered the 2026 Stack Overflow Developer Survey question on development environments reported using Zed regularly.

   Stack Overflow, Dev IDEs, Technology data 2026, Stack Overflow Developer Survey (2026): “Zed 1,504 11.4%”

   Zed supports Scala through a community-maintained extension that pairs the tree-sitter-scala grammar with the Metals language server, and issues go to the metals-zed repository under Scalameta. Configuration comes from the usual .scalafix.conf and .scalafmt.conf files, and Zed's docs show how to install Coursier and the Almond kernel for a Scala REPL. The docs do not cover Scala debugging, so it suits editing and navigation more than step-through work. The Personal plan is free and Pro costs $10 per month for AI features. 11.4% of 2026 Stack Overflow respondents use Zed. Teams that rely on a debugger should stay with IntelliJ IDEA or VS Code.

   Strengths

   • +Free Personal plan
   • +Uses the same Metals server as VS Code
   • +Scala setup documented on zed.dev

   Limitations

   • −Scala extension is community maintained, with issues filed on the metals-zed repository
   • −Zed's Scala docs do not describe a Scala debugger
   • −Fewer Scala-specific commands than VS Code's Metals extension

   SummaryZed is the best lightweight Scala editor because its free Personal plan runs Metals through the Scalameta-hosted metals-zed extension.

6. 6

   GNU Emacs

   The extensible free editor, which runs Metals through lsp-mode and lsp-metals.

   7.7overall

   The extensible free editor, which runs Metals through lsp-mode and lsp-metals.

   Best forEmacs users who want Metals and debugging in their editor

   Adoption data

   5.3%5.3% of the 13,193 developers who answered the 2026 Stack Overflow Developer Survey question on development environments reported using Emacs regularly.

   Stack Overflow, Dev IDEs, Technology data 2026, Stack Overflow Developer Survey (2026): “Emacs 697 5.3%”

   GNU Emacs runs Metals through lsp-mode with the lsp-metals backend, and the Metals docs publish a complete use-package configuration to copy. dap-mode adds running tests and debugging through the Debug Adapter Protocol, and the lsp-metals-analyze-stacktrace command opens a Scala buffer where each stack frame links to its source. Worksheets work as in other Metals editors. The trade-off is setup: you assemble lsp-mode, lsp-metals, dap-mode and posframe yourself, and may need to remove older ensime packages. Emacs is free software, and 5.3% of 2026 Stack Overflow respondents use it. It makes sense if you already use Emacs; newcomers will be productive faster in VS Code.

   Strengths

   • +Metals docs publish a full use-package configuration
   • +Debugging available through dap-mode
   • +Free for any use

   Limitations

   • −Configuration is several packages: lsp-mode, lsp-metals, dap-mode, posframe
   • −Metals docs say you may need to disable ensime or sbt server packages
   • −Smaller user base than VS Code or IntelliJ IDEA

   SummaryGNU Emacs is the best Scala setup for existing Emacs users because lsp-metals plus dap-mode gives Metals completion and debugging inside Emacs.

7. 7

   Scastie

   The Scala Center's free browser playground that runs sbt on a server.

   6.9overall

   The Scala Center's free browser playground that runs sbt on a server.

   Best forlearners and anyone sharing a quick Scala snippet

   Scastie is the Scala Center's online playground and the place scala-lang.org sends newcomers who want to try Scala in a browser. Its README calls it sbt in your browser: you pick any Scala version or the Scala 3, Scala.js and Scala Native backends, search Scaladex to add any published library, and code runs in an isolated JVM on Scastie's servers. Worksheet mode prints each expression's value and type beside the code, and snippets can be shared or embedded in documentation. It is free and Apache 2.0 licensed. It is not an IDE for real projects, so use it for learning, quick experiments and reproducible bug reports.

   Strengths

   • +No install; scala-lang.org points newcomers to it
   • +Free
   • +Shareable links for bug reports and questions

   Limitations

   • −Code runs on Scastie's servers, so it is not for private code
   • −No multi-file project or local build
   • −Not a replacement for a desktop IDE

   SummaryScastie is the best way to try Scala with no install because it runs any Scala version and any published library in the browser for free.

8. 8

   Sublime Text

   A fast paid text editor that runs Metals through the LSP and LSP-metals packages.

   6.7overall

   A fast paid text editor that runs Metals through the LSP and LSP-metals packages.

   Best forexisting Sublime Text license holders

   Adoption data

   9.8%9.8% of the 13,193 developers who answered the 2026 Stack Overflow Developer Survey question on development environments reported using Sublime Text regularly.

   Stack Overflow, Dev IDEs, Technology data 2026, Stack Overflow Developer Survey (2026): “Sublime Text 1,290 9.8%”

   Sublime Text runs Scala through two packages from Package Control: LSP, and LSP-metals, which installs Metals automatically and adds Metals commands. The Metals docs then have you register a key binding such as F12 for goto definition. Build import and worksheets work, but the Sublime page does not describe debugging, which VS Code, Emacs and IntelliJ IDEA all document. A personal license is $99 one time, and 9.8% of 2026 Stack Overflow respondents use Sublime Text. It is a reasonable choice only if you already own a license and prefer its speed.

   Strengths

   • +LSP-metals handles the Metals install
   • +Lightweight native editor
   • +One-time license instead of a subscription

   Limitations

   • −Metals docs for Sublime do not cover debugging
   • −Goto definition needs a manual key binding
   • −$99 license for features other editors give free

   SummarySublime Text is a fit for Scala developers who already own a license because LSP-metals installs Metals for you, though debugging is not documented.

9. 9

   Almond

   A free Scala kernel for Jupyter notebooks, built on the Ammonite shell.

   6.6overall

   A free Scala kernel for Jupyter notebooks, built on the Ammonite shell.

   Best fordata engineers writing Scala and Spark in notebooks

   Almond is a Scala kernel for Jupyter, formerly known as jupyter-scala, that wraps the Ammonite shell. It brings Ammonite's pretty-printing, magic imports and dependency handling into notebooks, exposes an API for libraries to talk to Jupyter front ends, and supports plotting libraries such as plotly-scala. For data work, you can load the Spark version you need and create a session inside a notebook. It is free under the BSD-3-Clause license. Almond complements an IDE rather than replacing one: use it for exploration and Spark analysis, and IntelliJ IDEA or VS Code for project code.

   Strengths

   • +Free and open source
   • +Notebook workflow for Spark exploration
   • +Zed's docs use it for a Scala REPL

   Limitations

   • −A Jupyter kernel, not a full IDE
   • −No refactoring or project build tooling
   • −Needs Jupyter and Coursier installed

   SummaryAlmond is the best Scala option for notebook work because it runs Scala and Spark inside Jupyter for free.

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