BlueJ vs IntelliJ IDEA: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for BlueJ and IntelliJ IDEA side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, IntelliJ IDEA leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
BlueJ
A simple, interactive Java development environment designed for beginners.
Best for you if:
- • You want excellent for beginners learning Java and OOP concepts
IntelliJ IDEA
The capable & ergonomic Java IDE
Best for you if:
- • You want best Java IDE
| At a Glance | IntelliJ IDEA | |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $5/mo, billed monthly Basic plan | Free plan, paid from $599/year Ultimate plan |
Category | IDE & Code Editors Developer Tools | IDE & Code Editors Developer Tools |
Rating | 4.0/5 G2 4.0 193 reviews | 4.6/5 G2 4.6 · Capterra 4.7 3,653 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | Storage limits could be hit quickly | Plugin ecosystem is free, but some premium plugins (Database Tools, AI Assistant Pro) are bundled only with Ultimate |
Choose BlueJ or IntelliJ IDEA?
Choose BlueJ if
- You want excellent for beginners learning Java and OOP concepts
- You want simple and intuitive user interface
Choose IntelliJ IDEA if
- You want best Java IDE
- You want smart completions
In-Depth Analysis
BlueJ
A simple, interactive Java development environment designed for beginners.
BlueJ's pricing is quite generous, especially for individual learners and small teams.
Watch out
Storage limits could be hit quickly
Strengths
- Pro: Excellent for beginners learning Java and OOP concepts
- Pro: Simple and intuitive user interface
- Pro: Free and open-source
- Pro: Strong pedagogical focus
- Pro: Allows direct interaction with objects
Weaknesses
- Con: Less suitable for large-scale, complex software development
- Con: Fewer advanced features compared to professional IDEs
- Con: Interface may feel basic to experienced developers
Key features
IntelliJ IDEA
The capable & ergonomic Java IDE
IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition is the best free Java IDE available, it covers core Java, Kotlin, Gradle, and Maven with full refactoring support.
Watch out
Plugin ecosystem is free, but some premium plugins (Database Tools, AI Assistant Pro) are bundled only with Ultimate
Strengths
- Pro: Best Java IDE
- Pro: Smart completions
- Pro: Refactoring tools
Weaknesses
- Con: Resource intensive
- Con: Expensive Ultimate
Key features
Plans and prices: BlueJ vs IntelliJ IDEA
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| BlueJ |
| bluej.app read Oct 3, 2026 |
| IntelliJ IDEA |
| jetbrains.com/idea read Sep 30, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on BlueJ pricing and IntelliJ IDEA pricing.
Key Takeaways
BlueJ
- Choose if you want a simple, interactive Java development environment designed for beginners
IntelliJ IDEA
- Higher user rating: 4.6/5 vs 4.0/5
What the data shows
On the data below, IntelliJ IDEA leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- IntelliJ IDEA has the higher user rating (4.0/5 from 193 reviews for BlueJ, 4.6/5 from 3,653 reviews for IntelliJ IDEA).
- Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: BlueJ $5/mo, billed monthly; IntelliJ IDEA $599/year.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do BlueJ and IntelliJ IDEA compare in 2026?
On the data below, IntelliJ IDEA leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. IntelliJ IDEA has the higher user rating (4.0/5 from 193 reviews for BlueJ, 4.6/5 from 3,653 reviews for IntelliJ IDEA). Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: BlueJ $5/mo, billed monthly; IntelliJ IDEA $599/year. Both have a free plan.
What are BlueJ and IntelliJ IDEA used for?
BlueJ: A simple, interactive Java development environment designed for beginners. IntelliJ IDEA: The capable & ergonomic Java IDE.
What does BlueJ cost vs IntelliJ IDEA?
BlueJ's cheapest paid plan is Basic at $5/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. IntelliJ IDEA's cheapest paid plan is Ultimate at $599/year; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 3, 2026.
What's the main difference between BlueJ and IntelliJ IDEA?
BlueJ's main strength: excellent for beginners learning Java and OOP concepts. IntelliJ IDEA's main strength: best Java IDE.