What is included in JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate?

Spring tooling – Deep Spring, Spring Boot, and Security support.
Database client – Run queries, browse schemas, export data.
HTTP Client – Test HTTP, gRPC, WebSocket, and GraphQL.
Remote development – Run on Docker, SSH, and WSL.
Important – Core Java and Kotlin development is free in the unified IntelliJ IDEA; the Ultimate subscription is what adds Spring, web and JavaScript frameworks, the advanced database client, and AI features.
Core Capacity – Covers Spring, Jakarta EE, Micronaut, Quarkus.

What are the main benefits of JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate?

IntelliJ IDEA is JetBrains' flagship IDE for Java and Kotlin, now shipped as one unified application instead of separate Community and Ultimate downloads. The Ultimate subscription extends the free core with professional tooling for Spring, full-stack web development, databases, and AI-assisted coding.

Spring productivity – Bean navigation, inspections, and Spring Debugger.
Polyglot support – Adds JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, PHP, Go.
Built-in database – Edit SQL against live connections directly.
AI coding – Junie agent plus Claude Agent and Codex.
Runtime insight – Profiler, flame graphs, and step debugging.
One installer – Free core and Ultimate together.

What is the difference between free IntelliJ IDEA and the Ultimate subscription?

Since the 2025.3 unified release, IntelliJ IDEA ships as one application where core Java and Kotlin development is free, and the Ultimate subscription adds the professional tooling. Ultimate enables industry-leading Spring and Spring Boot support, full-stack web and JavaScript/TypeScript frameworks, the advanced DataGrip-based database client, and remote development on Docker, SSH, and WSL targets. The free tier already covers the Spring Boot project wizard, basic Spring syntax highlighting, database connections with schema viewing, and full SQL language support, so those no longer require a paid plan. If you work mainly in plain Java or Kotlin, the free core may be enough; if your daily work is Spring or polyglot full-stack, Ultimate removes the need for separate tools.

Which languages and frameworks does the Ultimate subscription add?

Ultimate adds support for JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, PHP, Ruby, Go, and SQL on top of the JVM languages in the free core. On the framework side it provides deep tooling for Spring, Spring Boot, Jakarta EE, Micronaut, and Quarkus, including Spring-aware code completion and a Spring Beans Dependencies diagram. In the 2026.1 release, some core JavaScript, TypeScript, HTML, and CSS features moved into the free tier, so basic web editing no longer needs a subscription. This matters when you maintain a Spring backend and a web front end in the same project, since you can navigate both layers without switching to a second editor.

Does IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate include database and API testing tools?

Yes. Ultimate includes a DataGrip-based database client that connects to PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, Oracle, MongoDB, and Redis, letting you run queries, browse schemas, and export data inside the IDE. It also includes an integrated HTTP Client that composes and executes HTTP, gRPC, WebSocket, and GraphQL requests directly in the editor. For a developer testing a REST or gRPC service, this means writing and sending requests next to the code instead of switching to a separate tool. Basic database connections and schema viewing are now part of the free core, while advanced data editing and schema management stay in Ultimate.

Is there still a free IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition?

There is no longer a separate Community Edition download. Starting with version 2025.3, JetBrains merged Community Edition and Ultimate into one installer, and updating an existing 2025.2 install converts it to the unified IntelliJ IDEA automatically. The free core of the unified IDE includes everything the former Community Edition had plus extra features, and it can be used for both commercial and non-commercial projects without activation. If you specifically need a fully open-source build, JetBrains still publishes the source on GitHub so you can compile an open-source version yourself.

Who is IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate best suited for?

Ultimate is aimed at professional JVM developers whose daily work involves Spring Boot services, enterprise frameworks, databases, and full-stack web code in one project. The concrete problem it solves is tool sprawl: instead of running a separate database GUI, an API client, and a code editor, you get the database client, the HTTP Client, and Spring navigation in a single IDE. A Spring developer can jump from a bean definition to its autowiring path, query the live database, and call the running endpoint without leaving the editor. If your work is occasional Java or Kotlin scripting, the free core is the more sensible starting point.

Frequently asked questions about JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate

Does IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate include AI features?

Yes. Ultimate comes with the AI Free plan and Junie, JetBrains' coding agent that can plan tasks, write code, and run tests for review. The AI chat also supports external agents such as Claude Agent and Codex, connected through the Agent Client Protocol, so you are not limited to a single model.

Does IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate run on Apple Silicon Macs?

Yes. JetBrains provides native builds for Windows, Linux, and macOS on both Intel and Apple Silicon hardware. The Apple Silicon build runs natively rather than through Rosetta, which keeps indexing and code analysis responsive on M-series machines.

Can I keep using IntelliJ IDEA if my Ultimate subscription ends?

Yes. Core Java and Kotlin development features stay fully available without a subscription, so the IDE does not lock you out between renewals. Through the perpetual fallback license you also keep the extended Ultimate features from the last version released during your active period, though that version stops receiving further updates.