Best Java IDEs in 2026
Updated
In short: Apache NetBeans is ranked #1 of 23 as of 5 October 2026, ahead of BlueJ and CS++ Java IDE. The best-ranked option with a free plan is BlueJ. The lowest first paid tier on this page is IntelliJ IDEA at $8.33/mo.
Java IDEs give you a workspace for writing and managing Java projects, with support that can vary across frameworks and development environments. Compared on database tools, Jakarta EE, JavaFX and Spring support, the entries also differ in remote development and supported operating systems. Apache NetBeans and BlueJ offer distinct options to consider alongside Eclipse IDE and IntelliJ IDEA. Check the listed capabilities against the kind of Java work you do and the environment where you develop. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing add practical cost comparisons, while the other criteria help you judge which tools fit your project requirements.
23 Java IDEs ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
13 of the 23 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apache NetBeansWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 2 | BlueJWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 3 | CS++ Java IDEWeb · Windows · Mac · iPhone | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 4 | Eclipse IDEWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 5 | GreenfootWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 6 | IntelliJ IDEAWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | $8.33/mo | 6.6 | |
| 7 | Java-EditorWindows · Mac · Linux · Android | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 8 | DrJavaWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 9 | MCreatorWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 10 | ProcessingWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 11 | Spring Tools for EclipseWindows · Mac · Linux · Extension | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 12 | Java N-IDEAndroid | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 13 | Spring IntegrationSelf-hosted | Two bars | — | 0 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 14 | SnapCodeWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.7 |
| 15 | Oracle JDeveloperWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 16 | Inteljava IQWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 17 | JuiceMind Java IDEWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 18 | AIDEAndroid | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 19 | Code on the GoAndroid | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 20 | JvdroidAndroid | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 21 | Oracle Visual BuilderWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 22 | Eclipse CheWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.0 |
| 23 | MyEclipseWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 4.9 |
Compare all 23 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Supported operating systems | Spring support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apache NetBeans | 6.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | windows, macos, linux | — |
| 2 | BlueJ | 6.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | windows, macos, linux | — |
| 3 | CS++ Java IDE | 6.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | web, Windows, macOS, iOS | — |
| 4 | Eclipse IDE | 6.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Windows, macOS, Linux | Yes |
| 5 | Greenfoot | 6.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | windows, macos, linux | — |
| 6 | IntelliJ IDEA | 6.6 | Free plan | $8.33/mo | Yes | — | windows, macos, linux | — |
| 7 | Java-Editor | 6.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Windows, Linux via Wine, macOS via CrossOver or virtualization | — |
| 8 | DrJava | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Windows, macOS, Linux | — |
| 9 | MCreator | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | — | — | Windows, macOS, Linux | — |
| 10 | Processing | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | macOS, Windows, Linux | — |
| 11 | Spring Tools for Eclipse | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Windows, macOS, Linux | Yes |
| 12 | Java N-IDE | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Android | — |
| 13 | Spring Integration | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 14 | SnapCode | 5.7 | No | — | Yes | — | Windows, macOS, Linux | — |
| 15 | Oracle JDeveloper | 5.3 | No | — | Yes | — | windows, macos, linux | — |
| 16 | Inteljava IQ | 5.2 | No | — | Yes | — | Windows | Yes |
| 17 | JuiceMind Java IDE | 5.2 | No | — | Yes | — | Web browser on any device, including Chromebooks and tablets | — |
| 18 | AIDE | 5.1 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 19 | Code on the Go | 5.1 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 20 | Jvdroid | 5.1 | No | — | Yes | — | Android | — |
| 21 | Oracle Visual Builder | 5.1 | No | — | Yes | — | windows, macos, linux | — |
| 22 | Eclipse Che | 5.0 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 23 | MyEclipse | 4.9 | No | — | No | — | windows, macos, linux | — |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which Java IDE is ranked first on Freedom251?
Apache NetBeans is ranked #1 of 23 with a score of 6.6. BlueJ is second and CS++ Java IDE third.
How many of these have a free plan?
13 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 free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation.