Zed
High-performance multiplayer code editor in Rust — GPU-accelerated, AI-native, built for speed.
Open-source alternative to VS Code from the Atom and Tree-sitter team. Real-time collaboration, native AI agents, built-in Git, and parallel agentic editing — macOS, Linux, and Windows.
CodeEdit
Native macOS code editor in Swift — lightweight, open-source, and free forever.
MIT-licensed VS Code alternative built for Mac with Tree-sitter, Git, terminal, and debugging. Community-driven, Apple HIG native — pre-release, macOS only.
Compare JetBrains alternatives
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.