# Emacs vs JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA

**Leader by vioscaleAI score:** JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA

| Attribute | Emacs | JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA |
|---|---|---|
| **vioscaleAI score** | 39.2 (53% (medium)) | 46.9 (69% (medium)) |
| activity.commits_last_30d | 100 | - |
| adoption.dependent_repos | 0 | - |
| adoption.github_stars | 5,218 | - |
| content.faq | `[{"answer":"A free and open-source text editor built on a Lisp interpreter that enables extensive customization through Lisp code. It combines core text editing with broader functionality including project planning, email and news reading, debugging, calendar, and IRC capabilities. It is indexed under IDEs & Code Editors.","source":"https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/","question":"What is Emacs?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Emacs is open source, so it can be self-hosted and used at no licence cost. It is released under the GPL-3.0 licence. Pricing changes often, so verify at source before relying on it.","source":"https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/","question":"Is Emacs free to use?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Emacs supports Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and a command-line interface. Platforms we have not confirmed are simply not listed here rather than ruled out.","source":"https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/","question":"What platforms does Emacs support?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Yes. Emacs can be deployed self-hosted, so it does not have to run on the vendor's infrastructure.","source":"https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/","question":"Can Emacs be self-hosted?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Yes. Emacs is published under the GPL-3.0 licence, a copyleft licence, so check its terms before embedding it in a closed-source product. Licence terms can change between releases, so verify against the repository for the version you intend to use.","source":"https://github.com/emacs-mirror/emacs","question":"Is Emacs open source?","confidence":0.95}]` | `[{"answer":"A professional IDE for Java and Kotlin development that combines advanced code intelligence with integrated AI capabilities for code generation, testing, debugging, and application profiling. Includes deep support for Spring Framework and modern development practices. It is indexed under IDEs & Code Editors.","source":"https://www.jetbrains.com/idea/","question":"What is JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA offers a free tier, so you can start without paying. Pricing changes often, so verify at source before relying on it.","source":"https://www.jetbrains.com/idea/","question":"Is JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA free?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA supports Windows, macOS and Linux. Platforms we have not confirmed are simply not listed here rather than ruled out.","source":"https://www.jetbrains.com/idea/","question":"What platforms does JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA support?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"We have confirmed 6 integrations for JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA, including Claude, GPT, Gemini, Grok, GitHub Copilot and Cursor. This is what we could verify from public sources, so the vendor may support others we have not indexed.","source":"https://www.jetbrains.com/idea/","question":"What does JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA integrate with?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"We have independently confirmed SOC 2 and GDPR for JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA. Certifications we do not list are ones we have not been able to verify from public sources, which is not the same as JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA not holding them. Always confirm compliance directly before you rely on it.","source":"https://www.jetbrains.com/company/commitment/compliance-highlights/","question":"What security certifications does JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA have?","confidence":0.7}]` |
| deployment.options | `{"self_hosted":true}` | - |
| description.long | An open-source text editor written in C and Lisp that emphasizes extensibility and customization through programming, with support for multiple platforms and international character input methods. | A professional IDE for Java and Kotlin development that combines advanced code intelligence with integrated AI capabilities for code generation, testing, debugging, and application profiling. Includes deep support for Spring Framework and modern development practices. |
| features.capabilities | `{"type":"terminal_editor","lsp_dap":true,"builtin_ai":"none","deployment":"desktop","os_support":"GNU/Linux, Windows, macOS, BSD, Haiku, Android","remote_dev":false,"open_source":"oss","base_platform":"original","extensibility":"plugins","pricing_model":"free","language_scope":"polyglot","git_integration":false,"code_intelligence":"lsp_grade","integrated_debugger":true}` | `{"type":"full_ide","lsp_dap":true,"builtin_ai":"native","deployment":"desktop","os_support":"Windows, Mac, Linux","remote_dev":true,"open_source":"closed","base_platform":"original","extensibility":"plugins","pricing_model":"subscription","language_scope":"polyglot","git_integration":true,"code_intelligence":"ide_grade","integrated_debugger":true}` |
| integrations.count | 2 | 6 |
| integrations.list | `[{"name":"Tree-Sitter"},{"name":"EditorConfig"}]` | `[{"name":"Claude"},{"name":"GPT"},{"name":"Gemini"},{"name":"Grok"},{"name":"GitHub Copilot"},{"name":"Cursor"}]` |
| language.primary | Emacs Lisp | - |
| license.spdx | GPL-3.0 | - |
| platform.support | `{"cli":true,"mac":true,"linux":true,"android":true,"windows":true}` | `{"mac":true,"linux":true,"windows":true}` |
| pricing | `{"type":"open_source","summary":"Free and open source","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/","retrievedAt":"2026-10-13T13:45:48.009Z"}` | `{"type":"hybrid","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://www.jetbrains.com/idea/","retrievedAt":"2026-09-04T11:04:58.084Z","freeTrialDays":30}` |
| pricing.free_tier | yes | yes |
| pricing.model | open_source | freemium |
| pricing.price_level | free | low |
| pricing.transparent | yes | no |
| reliability.status_page | - | yes |
| security.certifications | - | `[{"name":"SOC 2 Type II","status":"active"}]` |
| security.disclosure_policy | - | yes |
| security.gdpr | - | yes |
| security.scorecard | 3.2 | - |
| security.soc2 | - | yes |
| security.trust_center | - | https://www.jetbrains.com/company/commitment/compliance-highlights/ |
| security.vulnerabilities | `{"count":0,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=go&package_name=github.com%2Femacs-mirror%2Femacs&per_page=100","last_12m":0,"max_severity":null}` | - |

## Capabilities (IDEs & Code Editors)

| Capability | Emacs | JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA |
|---|:--:|:--:|
| **Core** |  |  |
| Type | Terminal editor | Full IDE |
| Language scope | Polyglot | Polyglot |
| **Deployment** |  |  |
| Deployment | Desktop | Desktop |
| **Platform support** |  |  |
| OS support | GNU/Linux, Windows, macOS, BSD, Haiku, Android | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| Base platform | Original | Original |
| **Extensibility** |  |  |
| Extensibility | Plugins | Plugins |
| **DX** |  |  |
| LSP / DAP support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Remote / dev-containers | ✗ | ✓ |
| Integrated debugger / profiler | ✓ | ✓ |
| Code intelligence depth | LSP-grade | IDE-grade |
| Built-in git integration | ✗ | ✓ |
| **AI** |  |  |
| Built-in AI | None | Native |
| **Licensing** |  |  |
| Openness | Open-source | Closed |
| **Pricing** |  |  |
| Pricing model | Free | Per-seat subscription |

*Source: vioscaleAI. Generated 2026-10-16T19:30:23.157Z. "-" = undocumented, not absent.*