JetBrains

A suite of intelligent development tools

4.9•68 reviews•

1.4K followers

A suite of intelligent development tools

4.9•68 reviews•

1.4K followers

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Team collaboration software

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Code editors

Powerful IDEs for most programming languages and technologies along with products for team collaboration.

The Best JetBrains Alternatives

The best JetBrains alternatives are VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf, Sublime, and Xcode.

VS Code

4.9 ·

Choose VS Code if...

✓you want a lightweight, extension-driven workflow
✓you prefer open-source with massive plugin choice
✓you rely on Copilot and remote development

See details ↓

Cursor

5.0 ·

Choose Cursor if...

✓ai should handle multi-file changes and refactors
✓you want VS Code familiarity plus agent mode
✓you need AI chat and diffs in-editor

See details ↓

Windsurf

4.7 ·

Choose Windsurf if...

✓you want an agentic IDE with Cascade automation
✓the editor should pull context with less handholding
✓you prefer iterative, diff-first AI changes

See details ↓

Sublime

4.8 ·

Choose Sublime if...

✓you want the fastest editor for huge files
✓you prefer a clean UI with low RAM
✓you don’t need a full IDE or AI

See details ↓

Xcode

5.0 ·

Choose Xcode if...

✓you build, test, and ship Apple platform apps
✓you need SwiftUI previews, simulators, Instruments
✓you want TestFlight and signing workflows built-in

See details ↓

What to Consider

JetBrains is a gold standard for deep, language-aware IDEs—especially when you want powerful refactoring, navigation, and debugging in a single, cohesive desktop experience. But the IDE landscape has splintered in useful ways: VS Code leads with a lightweight, extension-driven approach; Cursor and Windsurf rethink the editor around AI-first, agentic workflows; Sublime doubles down on speed and minimalism; and Xcode remains the non-negotiable choice for end-to-end Apple-platform development.

In evaluating alternatives, the key tradeoffs were workflow style (integrated IDE vs configurable editor vs AI-native agent), performance and stability on real projects, how much setup/extensions are required, quality of debugging and collaboration, predictability of pricing/usage, and how well each option fits specific ecosystems or large codebases.

VS Code

Microsoft Visual Studio Code lets you build and debug apps

4.9 · 220 reviews

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VS Code is built around a lightweight, editor-first philosophy, which makes it a strong counterpoint to JetBrains’ heavier, fully integrated IDE approach. It starts fast, stays relatively uncluttered, and lets teams assemble exactly the workflow they want through its massive extension ecosystem.

For polyglot development, VS Code’s breadth is the point: IntelliSense via language servers, a built-in terminal, Git tooling, debugging, and collaboration can be dialed in per project instead of adopting an all-in-one suite. That flexibility is also why many developers treat it as the default “general coding” environment and then add specialized tooling only where needed.

VS Code is also compelling if AI is part of the workflow but control still matters. Copilot integration can feel like a natural enhancement to a familiar editor loop, and remote development options make it practical for containerized stacks, SSH environments, and cloud dev setups.

The main trade-off versus JetBrains is that consistency and depth can vary depending on which extensions are installed and how they’re configured. If the goal is a single, cohesive IDE with uniform language intelligence across the board, JetBrains will often feel more turnkey; if the goal is a flexible, modular setup, VS Code tends to fit better.

Best for

Best for developers and teams who want a fast, extensible editor that adapts to any stack.

Standout features

✓Huge extension marketplace
✓Built-in Git, terminal, debugger
✓Remote development via SSH and containers
✓Copilot and AI extensions ecosystem

Cursor

The AI Code Editor

5.0 · 733 reviews

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Cursor stands out by making AI a first-class part of the editing experience, rather than a feature bolted onto a traditional IDE. Compared to JetBrains, it prioritizes fast, context-aware generation and multi-file changes with a workflow built around prompting, reviewing diffs, and iterating quickly.

Because it’s based on a VS Code fork, Cursor can be an easier switch than moving into an entirely different IDE ecosystem. Existing shortcuts and extensions often carry over, which lowers adoption friction for teams that already standardized on VS Code workflows but want deeper AI assistance than typical extensions provide.

Cursor is most compelling when the day-to-day work includes refactors, prototypes, test scaffolding, or repetitive cross-file edits that benefit from an agent’s ability to propose coordinated changes. The in-editor chat and autocomplete reduce context switching, and the “apply as diff” model helps keep developers in control of what lands in the codebase.

The trade-offs are usually around predictability and scale: pricing and usage expectations can feel less transparent than a classic IDE license model, and performance or context selection can degrade in very large or complex repositories. If JetBrains is preferred for deeply consistent language tooling and project models, Cursor often wins when AI-driven iteration speed is the top priority.

Best for

Ideal for developers who want an AI-native editor for fast multi-file implementation and refactoring.

Standout features

✓Agent mode for multi-file changes
✓In-editor chat with codebase context
✓Diff-based apply and review workflow
✓VS Code-based extensions and shortcuts

Windsurf

The first agentic IDE. Tomorrow's editor, today.

4.7 · 60 reviews

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Windsurf is built for an agentic workflow via Cascade where the AI does more than autocomplete—it can plan, iterate, and execute changes through Cascade. Compared to JetBrains’ traditional IDE model, it’s optimized for collaborative, prompt-to-implementation loops where the editor becomes the control center for an AI pair programmer.

A major differentiator is how Windsurf handles context and change review. It aims to pull in the right project context with less manual setup, and its revert and iteration flow is designed for making multiple passes on a solution without constant handholding.

Windsurf is a strong fit when speed matters and tasks are well described: generating new files from prompts, cascading refactors, and quickly getting unit tests written can compress a lot of routine engineering work into shorter cycles. It’s also useful for “vibe coding” style exploration, where the path is discovered while building.

The trade-off versus JetBrains is maturity and reliability expectations. Agentic IDEs can hit rough edges—timeouts, provider hiccups, or over-engineered solutions—so it works best for teams that are comfortable validating and steering AI output. If JetBrains is chosen for stability and deep language tooling, Windsurf is chosen for higher automation and faster AI-led iteration.

Best for

Best for developers who want a Cascade-style agent to implement features with minimal manual steps.

Standout features

✓Cascade agentic workflow
✓Context-aware suggestions and edits
✓Write Mode for file generation
✓Revert and iteration-focused UX

Sublime

A sophisticated text editor for code, markup and prose

4.8 · 19 reviews

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Sublime Text wins on responsiveness: it’s a minimal, performance-first editor that stays fast even when working with huge files. If JetBrains feels heavy for quick edits, scripting, or jumping around large logs and datasets, Sublime offers a noticeably lighter alternative.

The core advantage is focus. A clean UI, strong keybindings, multi-cursor editing, and a fast command palette make it ideal for developers who want speed and precision without an IDE trying to orchestrate the whole toolchain.

Sublime can be extended via packages and LSP integrations, but it generally remains an editor you shape deliberately rather than a full environment that comes pre-integrated with debuggers, project models, and deep refactoring. That’s the key trade-off versus JetBrains: less “batteries included,” more control over minimalism.

It’s also not the best pick if AI-assisted coding is a requirement out of the box. Sublime is most compelling when the priority is a snappy, reliable editing experience that stays out of the way.

Best for

Best for power users who want the fastest, cleanest editor for daily coding.

Standout features

✓Very fast performance and low memory use
✓Excellent multi-cursor editing
✓Command palette and distraction-free mode
✓Handles huge files smoothly

Xcode

Develop, test, and distribute apps for all Apple platforms

5.0 · 150 reviews

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For Apple-platform development, Xcode isn’t just an alternative to JetBrains—it’s the canonical toolchain. It integrates the compiler, SDKs, simulators, signing, profiling, UI tooling, and distribution workflow in a way third-party IDEs can’t fully replicate.

Xcode shines when the job includes SwiftUI previews, simulator-based testing across devices, deep performance work with Instruments, or shipping through TestFlight and the App Store. Keeping these steps inside one native environment reduces the plugin juggling and integration gaps that can appear when using a general-purpose IDE.

Teams building polished macOS and iOS apps often choose Xcode for reliability and platform parity, especially around StoreKit and Apple-specific frameworks. Debugging and performance tuning are first-class concerns, which matters for battery-sensitive or highly interactive apps.

The trade-offs are well known: indexing and storage usage can be heavy, preferences and UX can feel idiosyncratic, and new releases can introduce bugs. JetBrains can still be attractive for cross-platform development and deeper refactoring, but Xcode is the practical choice when Apple’s ecosystem and shipping pipeline define the requirements.