If you're specifically searching for the Community Edition, you already know JetBrains also sells a paid Ultimate version, and you want to be sure you're getting the free one instead. This is that build: permanently free, Apache-licensed, and built for Java and Kotlin work without any hidden trial countdown. It won't cover enterprise frameworks like Spring out of the box, but for core JVM development it's the same editor experience JetBrains is known for.
Community vs Ultimate: what you're actually getting
Community Edition is released under the Apache 2.0 license, so it never expires and carries no usage restrictions for personal or commercial code. It covers Java, Kotlin, Groovy and Android development with full refactoring and debugging tools built in.
What it leaves out is enterprise tooling: Spring, Java EE, and most web-framework support live only in the paid Ultimate edition. If you later need those, JetBrains lets you upgrade in place rather than reinstalling from scratch.
Who ends up using IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition
Students, backend Java/Kotlin developers and Android app builders who don't need enterprise frameworks make up most of its users.
- Computer science students learning Java or Kotlin fundamentals without paying for a licensed IDE
- Backend developers building plain Java or Kotlin services who never touch Spring or Java EE
- Android developers who want JetBrains' code intelligence outside Android Studio's larger footprint
Before you install
A couple of things worth knowing about IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition before you request the link: it covers Windows, macOS and Linux, so pick the right build for the machine you're setting up. And on pricing, IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition is open source, so the installer is free with no trial timer, feature lock, or upsell screen to click past. It's developed and maintained by JetBrains.
System requirements
- WindowsWindows 10 or 11 (64-bit); older 7/8.1 builds usually still run but no longer get official support
- macOSa recent macOS release — check the download page for the current minimum version, since Apple Silicon vs Intel builds sometimes differ
- Linuxmost current 64-bit distributions; look for a native .deb/.rpm/AppImage or a package in your distro's own repository
Heavier workloads (large files, high-res media, big projects) will naturally want more RAM and a faster CPU/GPU than the bare minimum.
Quick steps
- Grab the Community Edition installer for your OS from the button below
- Run it and accept the defaults — no license key screen will appear
- Launch IntelliJ IDEA and open or create a Java/Kotlin project to start coding
IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition: the honest trade-offs
- Smart code completion and refactoring tools rival the paid Ultimate edition for core work
- Built-in Git integration and a solid debugger with no extra plugins needed
- Never expires and adds no watermarks, unlike many free trial IDE editions
- No built-in support for Spring, Java EE, or most web frameworks without upgrading
- Heavier on RAM and startup time than lightweight editors like VS Code
The installer here links straight to JetBrains' own distribution, unmodified and with no added installer wrappers.
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Keeping IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition up to date
Since IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition is open source, most Linux distributions keep it current through their own package manager. On Windows/macOS, re-running the installer from the official site (or an updater built into the app, if it has one) gets you the latest release. Sticking to the developer's own distribution channel — which is what this page links to — means you're never stuck on an old build with unpatched bugs just because a mirror site stopped updating its copy.
Features, install steps, alternatives and more detail live on the main IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition page.
Frequently asked questions
Does Community Edition expire like a trial?
No, it's permanently free under the Apache 2.0 license with no time limit, unlike the 30-day trial of Ultimate.
Can I add plugins for web or Spring development?
Some plugins work, but full Spring, Java EE and advanced web-framework support is reserved for the paid Ultimate edition.
