9 Best Java IDEs of 2026

1. 1

   IntelliJ IDEA

   JetBrains' Java and Kotlin IDE, now one product with a free core and an Ultimate subscription for advanced frameworks such as Spring.

   9.1overall

   JetBrains' Java and Kotlin IDE, now one product with a free core and an Ultimate subscription for advanced frameworks such as Spring.

   Best forJava and Spring Boot teams working on large codebases who want the deepest framework support in one IDE.

   Adoption data

   27.1%In the 2025 Stack Overflow Developer Survey, 27.1% of all respondents said they used IntelliJ IDEA regularly, the highest share of any Java-focused IDE.

   Stack Overflow, Technology, 2025 Stack Overflow Developer Survey (2025): “Notepad++ 27.4% IntelliJ IDEA 27.1%”

   IntelliJ IDEA is the reference IDE for Spring Boot work on large projects. Since version 2025.3 JetBrains ships a single product: the core IDE is free, and an Ultimate subscription unlocks the advanced tooling, with a 30-day Ultimate trial on install. The free tier already covers the debugger, decompiler, bytecode viewer, test coverage, JUnit and TestNG runners, Maven and Gradle, plus a Spring Boot project wizard and basic Spring syntax highlighting. Ultimate adds the parts Spring teams rely on day to day: full Spring MVC, Boot, Integration and Security support, Spring Cloud, the Spring Debugger, Jakarta EE, Micronaut, Quarkus and Hibernate tooling. JetBrains says its Spring integration is developed in close collaboration with the Spring Framework team. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, including Apple silicon. The costs are hardware and money: JetBrains lists 8 GB of RAM as the requirement, and the Ultimate price page showed only euros from our location, so the USD price is pending.

   Strengths

   • +The free edition includes the debugger, test runners, test coverage and Maven and Gradle support
   • +Spring integration is built in collaboration with the Spring Framework team, per JetBrains
   • +Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux on x86_64 or arm64

   Limitations

   • −Full Spring and Jakarta EE support needs the paid Ultimate subscription
   • −JetBrains recommends 8 GB of RAM, with 3 GB available for the IDE
   • −USD pricing for Ultimate could not be confirmed from this location

   SummaryIntelliJ IDEA has the deepest documented Spring and enterprise Java tooling and the largest Java IDE usage share. Start on the free tier and move to Ultimate when you need full Spring support.

2. 2

   Visual Studio Code

   Microsoft's free, open source code editor that becomes a Java environment through the Extension Pack for Java and Spring Boot extensions.

   8.9overall

   Microsoft's free, open source code editor that becomes a Java environment through the Extension Pack for Java and Spring Boot extensions.

   Best forDevelopers who want a free, lightweight editor for Java and Spring Boot alongside other languages.

   Adoption data

   75.9%Visual Studio Code was the most used development environment in the 2025 Stack Overflow Developer Survey, used regularly by 75.9% of all respondents across every language.

   Stack Overflow, Technology, 2025 Stack Overflow Developer Survey (2025): “All Respondents Visual Studio Code 75.9%”

   Visual Studio Code is the most used development environment overall, and with the right extensions it is a capable Java setup. Microsoft's Java documentation describes it as fast, lightweight, free and open source, and recommends the Extension Pack for Java, which installs Red Hat's Java language support, a debugger, a test runner, Maven support and a project manager. On Windows and macOS the Coding Pack for Java goes further and installs VS Code, a JDK and the suggested extensions together. Spring developers add the Spring Boot Extension Pack, which brings Spring Boot tooling, Spring Initializr project generation and a dashboard to start, stop and debug Boot apps. VS Code also connects to Tomcat and Jetty and supports Live Share for pair work. The trade-off is depth: the Java experience is assembled from extensions, and Microsoft pitches it as a lightweight editor for developers who do not want to learn a complex IDE, so very large multi-module projects may feel less integrated than in IntelliJ IDEA.

   Strengths

   • +Free for Java work, with no paid tier needed
   • +The Coding Pack for Java installs the editor, a JDK and extensions in one step on Windows and macOS
   • +Covers many other languages, so polyglot teams use one editor

   Limitations

   • −Java support depends on several separate extensions rather than one integrated IDE
   • −Microsoft positions it as a lightweight editor, not a full enterprise Java IDE
   • −The Coding Pack for Java is only available for Windows and macOS

   SummaryVS Code is the best free choice for developers who split time between Java and other languages. Add the Java and Spring Boot extension packs and it covers most Spring Boot work.

3. 3

   Eclipse IDE

   The Eclipse Foundation's free, open source IDE with mature Java tooling and a large plugin marketplace.

   8.4overall

   The Eclipse Foundation's free, open source IDE with mature Java tooling and a large plugin marketplace.

   Best forEnterprise Java teams with existing Eclipse workflows or plugins who want a free, extensible IDE.

   Adoption data

   7.1%In the 2025 Stack Overflow Developer Survey, 7.1% of all respondents said they used Eclipse regularly.

   Stack Overflow, Technology, 2025 Stack Overflow Developer Survey (2025): “Rider 7.1% Eclipse 7.1%”

   Eclipse IDE remains a serious free option for large Java codebases, especially in companies that standardized on it years ago. The Eclipse Foundation releases it on a quarterly train: the 2026-09 release supports Java 26 and adds Java tooling such as a wizard for compact source files on Java 25 and later, a quick assist that converts enhanced for loops to forEach, and the option to open types in a cloned tab. Platform changes in the same release include regular expression content assist in find and replace, console zoom and filters in the Problems view. Eclipse is released under the Eclipse Public License 2.0 and has a marketplace of plugins, which is how most teams tailor it. For Spring Boot, the usual route is the Spring team's own Spring Tools for Eclipse, a ready-made distribution. The downsides are usage and assembly: only 7.1% of developers in the 2025 Stack Overflow survey used Eclipse, and teams must pick and maintain their own plugin set.

   Strengths

   • +Free and open source with no paid tier
   • +Tracks new Java versions quickly, with Java 26 support in the 2026-09 release
   • +Large plugin ecosystem, including Spring Tools for Eclipse

   Limitations

   • −Spring Boot support comes from the separate Spring Tools plugin or distribution
   • −Smaller usage share than IntelliJ IDEA and VS Code in the 2025 survey
   • −Setup often means choosing and maintaining plugins

   SummaryEclipse is the strongest fully free, full IDE for enterprise Java. Pair it with Spring Tools for Eclipse for Spring Boot work.

4. 4

   Spring Tools

   The Spring team's free, open source tooling for Spring Boot, available for Eclipse, VS Code, Cursor, Claude Code and Theia.

   8.1overall

   The Spring team's free, open source tooling for Spring Boot, available for Eclipse, VS Code, Cursor, Claude Code and Theia.

   Best forSpring Boot developers who want the Spring team's own tooling inside Eclipse or VS Code at no cost.

   Spring Tools is the Spring team's own answer to the Spring Boot IDE question, and it is free and open source. Rather than one IDE, it is a set of tooling that runs in several environments: a ready-made Spring Tools for Eclipse download (version 5.4.0 for Linux, macOS and Windows on x86_64 and ARM), and extensions for Visual Studio Code, Cursor, Claude Code and Theia. The tooling understands Spring code, so you can get an overview of a Spring app, jump to its important pieces, get smart completions for Spring elements, and start new projects through the Spring Initializr and Spring Guides. Its most distinctive feature uses Spring Boot Actuators to show live data from a running app, such as bean wiring and condition reports, right in the source. Spring also says it provides an embedded MCP server and code actions for AI assistants. The limits are scope: it covers Spring only, and the overall editing experience depends on the host editor you pick.

   Strengths

   • +Built by the Spring team specifically for Spring Framework and Spring Boot
   • +Free and open source in every supported editor
   • +Shows bean wiring and conditions from running Boot apps in the source code

   Limitations

   • −It is tooling for an editor or IDE, not a standalone general Java IDE
   • −Spring-specific, so other frameworks need other plugins
   • −Depth depends on the host editor, such as Eclipse or VS Code

   SummarySpring Tools is the best free way to get Spring-aware tooling, and it pairs well with Eclipse or VS Code. Teams that want everything in one paid IDE will still prefer IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate.

5. 5

   Cursor

   An AI-first code editor built on the VS Code extension model, with agents, tab completion and chat for Java projects.

   8.0overall

   An AI-first code editor built on the VS Code extension model, with agents, tab completion and chat for Java projects.

   Best forJava developers who want an AI agent at the center of their editor and are fine assembling Java support from extensions.

   Adoption data

   17.9%In the 2025 Stack Overflow Developer Survey, 17.9% of all respondents said they used Cursor regularly.

   Stack Overflow, Technology, 2025 Stack Overflow Developer Survey (2025): “Vim 24.3% Cursor 17.9%”

   Cursor suits Java developers who want AI agents doing a large share of the editing. Its Java guide explains that Cursor supports VS Code extensions, so the setup mirrors VS Code: install a JDK, then add the Extension Pack for Java, Gradle for Java and the Spring Boot Extension Pack, which Cursor calls required for Spring Boot development. The Spring team also publishes Spring Tools for Cursor. On top of that, Cursor offers tab completion for Java boilerplate, chat to explain stack traces and an agent mode that the docs say can refactor legacy code, for example converting anonymous classes to lambdas. Pricing has a free plan and Plus at $8 per month, but Plus only includes Grok models. Premium at $30 adds cloud agents, automations, Bugbot code reviews and third-party models billed at API list price, and Teams starts at $30 per user per month. The Java language features themselves are the same open source extensions VS Code uses, so Cursor's edge is AI, not deeper Java tooling.

   Strengths

   • +Free plan, with Plus at $8 per month
   • +Uses the same Java and Spring extensions as VS Code
   • +Agent mode can modernize older Java, such as converting anonymous classes to lambdas

   Limitations

   • −Plus at $8 only includes Grok models; third-party models are billed at API list price
   • −Java tooling depends on manually installed extensions and a separately installed JDK
   • −Cloud agents and code reviews require Premium at $30 per month

   SummaryCursor is the pick for Java developers who want agent-driven editing on a VS Code base. Check which models your plan includes before you rely on it for large refactors.

6. 6

   Apache NetBeans

   The Apache Software Foundation's free, open source IDE and application platform for Java, PHP, JavaScript and more.

   7.9overall

   The Apache Software Foundation's free, open source IDE and application platform for Java, PHP, JavaScript and more.

   Best forDevelopers who want a free, all-in-one Java IDE that works out of the box, including for Swing desktop apps.

   Adoption data

   18 millionThe Apache NetBeans project reports more than 18 million downloads of the NetBeans IDE to date and over 800,000 participating developers.

   Apache NetBeans, About Apache NetBeans (2026): “With over 18 million downloads of the NetBeans IDE to date, and over 800,000 participating developers”

   Apache NetBeans is the original free Java IDE and still a straightforward choice for developers who want something that works without assembling plugins. The current release is Apache NetBeans 31. The project site describes syntax and semantic highlighting, refactoring tools, and editors, wizards and templates for Java, PHP and other languages, and it runs on any operating system that supports Java, including Windows, Linux, macOS and BSD. NetBeans was open sourced by Sun Microsystems in 2000, donated by Oracle to the Apache Software Foundation in 2016 and became a top level Apache project in 2019. Both the IDE and the NetBeans Platform, a framework for Swing desktop applications, are free for commercial and non-commercial use under the Apache license, and the project reports over 18 million downloads. For Spring Boot teams, the project pages describe no dedicated Spring tooling, and the project says its tutorials are under review, so newcomers may find thinner learning material than for the leaders.

   Strengths

   • +Free for commercial and non-commercial use under the Apache license
   • +Works on any OS that supports Java, including macOS and BSD
   • +Includes the NetBeans Platform for Swing desktop applications

   Limitations

   • −No dedicated Spring Boot tooling is described on the project pages we checked
   • −The project notes its tutorials are still being reviewed
   • −Download figures are cumulative and self-reported, not current usage

   SummaryNetBeans is a solid free IDE for general Java and Swing desktop work. Spring Boot teams on large projects will find more dedicated tooling elsewhere.

7. 7

   MyEclipse

   Genuitec's commercial, Eclipse-based IDE for enterprise Java, Spring and Jakarta EE, with built-in AI features.

   7.2overall

   Genuitec's commercial, Eclipse-based IDE for enterprise Java, Spring and Jakarta EE, with built-in AI features.

   Best forEnterprise teams that want Eclipse with a preassembled, vendor-supported toolset for Spring and Jakarta EE.

   Adoption data

   17,000Genuitec, the maker of MyEclipse, says 17,000 companies use its development tools.

   Genuitec, Genuitec: Enterprise Eclipse platform (2026): “Join the other 17,000 companies that have discovered how to streamline development”

   MyEclipse is a commercial take on Eclipse for enterprise Java, sold by Genuitec, which has offered developer tools since 1997. The 2026 release supports Java 25, Spring Boot 4 and Jakarta EE 11, and adds MyEclipse AI along with GitHub Copilot support. Genuitec pitches it as one download for the whole life cycle: coding and debugging, application server deployment and database management, with specific tooling for WebSphere, REST web services and Maven. For teams that like Eclipse but do not want to curate plugins, that preassembled toolset is the main reason to pay. Pricing is low for a commercial IDE: the product page lists a free 30-day trial and licenses from $37 per year, and teams can request quotes with multi-year discounts. Genuitec says 17,000 companies use its tools. The drawbacks are reach and lock-in: there is no permanent free tier, it has a much smaller community than the leaders, and it inherits Eclipse's interface and plugin model.

   Strengths

   • +One download with Spring, Jakarta EE, database and app server tooling preassembled
   • +Licenses start at $37 per year, the lowest paid price on this list per year
   • +Keeps compatibility with the Eclipse platform

   Limitations

   • −No permanent free plan, only a 30-day trial
   • −Far smaller user base than IntelliJ IDEA, VS Code or Eclipse
   • −Team purchases go through a quote

   SummaryMyEclipse is a low-cost paid option for teams that want Eclipse with Spring and Jakarta EE tooling already set up. Try the 30-day trial against free Eclipse plus Spring Tools first.

8. 8

   BlueJ

   A free Java development environment designed for teaching beginners, from the University of Kent and supported by Oracle.

   6.9overall

   A free Java development environment designed for teaching beginners, from the University of Kent and supported by Oracle.

   Best forStudents and teachers learning object-oriented Java before moving to a professional IDE.

   Adoption data

   millionsBlueJ's developers describe it as a free Java environment for beginners used by millions of people worldwide.

   BlueJ, BlueJ (2026): “A free Java Development Environment designed for beginners, used by millions worldwide.”

   BlueJ is on this list because many people asking which IDE is best for Java are just starting out. It is a free environment built for teaching, developed by a team in the Computing Education Research Group at the University of Kent and supported by Oracle. Its interface is deliberately smaller than professional IDEs such as NetBeans or Eclipse. The signature features are the object bench, where students create objects, inspect fields and call methods directly, a code pad that runs Java expressions without compiling, and scope highlighting that colors each block so misplaced braces stand out. Version 6.0.1 shipped on 4 September 2026 for Windows, macOS 11 or later and Ubuntu or Debian, and there is a companion textbook and a teacher site called Blueroom. For anything beyond learning, it is the wrong tool: there is no Spring or build tool tooling described, and the team itself contrasts BlueJ with professional environments.

   Strengths

   • +Free, with a deliberately simple interface for beginners
   • +Interactive object inspection helps students understand classes and objects
   • +Actively maintained, with version 6.0.1 released in September 2026

   Limitations

   • −Not designed for large professional projects or Spring Boot
   • −Far fewer tools than professional IDEs such as NetBeans or Eclipse
   • −Requires a 64-bit operating system for current versions

   SummaryBlueJ is the best choice on this list for learning Java concepts. Move to IntelliJ IDEA, VS Code or Eclipse once you start real projects.

9. 9

   Oracle JDeveloper

   Oracle's free Java IDE for building applications on Oracle's platform, centered on Oracle ADF.

   6.6overall

   Oracle's free Java IDE for building applications on Oracle's platform, centered on Oracle ADF.

   Best forTeams building or maintaining Oracle ADF and Oracle Fusion Middleware applications.

   Oracle JDeveloper is a niche pick that matters to a specific group: teams on Oracle's application stack. Oracle describes it as a free integrated development environment for Java-based applications that covers every step of the application life cycle and offers end-to-end development for Oracle's platform and Oracle's applications. In practice that means Oracle ADF, Oracle's application development framework, and Fusion Middleware, and the JDeveloper page links to the 14.1.2.0 release along with the ADF documentation library, installation guide, tutorials, recorded training and a guide to developing JDeveloper extensions. For an organization maintaining ADF applications it is the natural tool, and it costs nothing. For anyone else it is a poor fit: the documentation centers on Oracle technologies rather than Spring Boot, Oracle publishes no adoption numbers for it, and the developer community around it is far smaller than for IntelliJ IDEA, Eclipse or VS Code. We scored adoption conservatively for that reason.

   Strengths

   • +Free from Oracle
   • +Purpose-built for Oracle ADF and Oracle platform applications
   • +Backed by Oracle documentation, tutorials and recorded training

   Limitations

   • −Focused on Oracle's stack rather than Spring Boot
   • −No published usage figures from Oracle
   • −Much smaller community than general Java IDEs

   SummaryJDeveloper is the right free IDE only if you build on Oracle ADF. Spring Boot teams should look higher on this list.

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