Open-source alternatives to JetBrains

2 free, open-source alternatives with 107K total GitHub stars. The best open-source alternative to JetBrains is Zed, with 84.1K GitHub stars.

Updated July 2026Stats synced from GitHub

Compare JetBrains alternatives

ToolStarsForksLicenseSelf-hosted
Zed84.1K8.8KGPL-3.0No
CodeEdit22.9K1.2KMITNo

JetBrains makes a family of proprietary IDEs (IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, WebStorm, and others) sold on a subscription license, each tuned for a specific language or stack. That depth comes with recurring licensing costs and a closed-source core.

Zed is the better fit if raw performance and AI-native editing matter more than JetBrains' deep language-specific tooling. CodeEdit is a lighter, free option if you're on macOS and don't need JetBrains' full IDE feature set.

FAQ

Is there a free, open-source alternative to JetBrains IDEs?

Yes. Zed and CodeEdit are both open source and free, without JetBrains' subscription licensing.

What's the best open-source alternative to JetBrains IDEs?

Zed is the better pick for speed and built-in AI features across platforms. CodeEdit is the better pick for a lightweight, macOS-native experience. Neither fully replicates JetBrains' deep per-language refactoring tools, so heavy IntelliJ or PyCharm users may still miss specific features.

What are the top open-source alternatives to JetBrains IDEs?

Browse all open-source alternatives to JetBrains above, or explore the full Developer Tools category for more options.

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