# Helix vs IntelliJ IDEA

**Leader by vioscaleAI score:** IntelliJ IDEA

| Attribute | Helix | IntelliJ IDEA |
|---|---|---|
| **vioscaleAI score** | 41 (39% (low)) | 51.9 (72% (medium)) |
| activity.commits_last_30d | 5 | 100 |
| adoption.dependent_repos | 0 | 890 |
| adoption.github_stars | 46,571 | 20,630 |
| content.faq | `[{"answer":"A terminal-based code editor written in Rust featuring multiple cursors as a core editing primitive, Tree-sitter syntax highlighting, and built-in language server support for IDE-like features. It is indexed under IDEs & Code Editors.","source":"https://helix-editor.com","question":"What is Helix?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Helix is open source, so it can be self-hosted and used at no licence cost. It is released under the MPL-2.0 licence. Pricing changes often, so verify at source before relying on it.","source":"https://helix-editor.com","question":"Is Helix free to use?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Helix supports a command-line interface. Platforms we have not confirmed are simply not listed here rather than ruled out.","source":"https://helix-editor.com","question":"What platforms does Helix support?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Yes. Helix can be deployed self-hosted, so it does not have to run on the vendor's infrastructure.","source":"https://helix-editor.com","question":"Can Helix be self-hosted?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Yes. Helix is published under the MPL-2.0 licence, a permissive licence that generally allows commercial use and modification. Licence terms can change between releases, so verify against the repository for the version you intend to use.","source":"https://github.com/helix-editor/helix","question":"Is Helix open source?","confidence":0.95}]` | `[{"answer":"An IDE that accelerates software development through smart code editing, debugging, and analysis tools, enhanced with native AI capabilities for code completion and suggestions. It is indexed under IDEs & Code Editors.","source":"https://www.jetbrains.com/idea/","question":"What is IntelliJ IDEA?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"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 IntelliJ IDEA support?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"We have confirmed 8 integrations for IntelliJ IDEA, including Claude, GPT, Gemini, Grok, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Junie and Codex. 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 IntelliJ IDEA integrate with?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"We have independently confirmed SOC 2 and GDPR for 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 IntelliJ IDEA not holding them. Always confirm compliance directly before you rely on it.","source":"https://www.jetbrains.com/idea/","question":"What security certifications does IntelliJ IDEA have?","confidence":0.48}]` |
| deployment.options | `{"self_hosted":true}` | - |
| description.long | A terminal-based code editor written in Rust featuring multiple cursors as a core editing primitive, Tree-sitter syntax highlighting, and built-in language server support for IDE-like features. | Professional integrated development environment for Java and Kotlin with built-in AI assistance for code generation and validation. Includes integrated debugging, testing, database tools, and application profiling in a unified interface. |
| features.capabilities | `{"type":"terminal_editor","lsp_dap":true,"builtin_ai":"none","deployment":"desktop","os_support":"Cross-platform terminal","remote_dev":true,"open_source":"oss","base_platform":"original","extensibility":"config_only","pricing_model":"free","language_scope":"polyglot","git_integration":false,"code_intelligence":"lsp_grade","integrated_debugger":false}` | `{"type":"full_ide","builtin_ai":"native","deployment":"desktop","os_support":"Windows, macOS","remote_dev":true,"open_source":"open_core","base_platform":"original","extensibility":"plugins","pricing_model":"subscription","language_scope":"polyglot","code_intelligence":"ide_grade","integrated_debugger":true}` |
| integrations.count | - | 9 |
| integrations.list | - | `[{"name":"Claude"},{"name":"GPT"},{"name":"Gemini"},{"name":"Grok"},{"name":"GitHub Copilot"},{"name":"Cursor"},{"name":"Junie"},{"name":"Claude Agent"},{"name":"Codex"},{"name":"Spring Framework","native":true}]` |
| language.primary | Rust | Java |
| license.spdx | MPL-2.0 | - |
| platform.support | `{"cli":true}` | `{"mac":true,"windows":true}` |
| pricing | `{"type":"open_source","summary":"Free, open source","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://helix-editor.com","retrievedAt":"2026-08-13T23:03:11.895Z"}` | `{"type":"subscription","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://www.jetbrains.com/idea/","retrievedAt":"2026-09-14T13:22:10.181Z","freeTrialDays":30}` |
| pricing.free_tier | yes | yes |
| pricing.model | open_source | freemium |
| pricing.price_level | free | low |
| release.cadence_days | 75 | 2 |
| release.history | `[{"url":"https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases/tag/25.07.1","date":"2025-07-18T15:13:19Z","type":"stable","version":"25.07.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases/tag/25.07","date":"2025-07-15T19:18:05Z","type":"stable","version":"25.07"},{"url":"https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases/tag/25.01.1","date":"2025-01-19T21:31:02Z","type":"stable","version":"25.01.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases/tag/25.01","date":"2025-01-03T20:30:05Z","type":"stable","version":"25.01"},{"url":"https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases/tag/24.07","date":"2024-07-14T16:53:17Z","type":"stable","version":"24.07"},{"url":"https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases/tag/24.03","date":"2024-03-30T14:06:45Z","type":"stable","version":"24.03"},{"url":"https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases/tag/23.10","date":"2023-10-25T17:20:28Z","type":"stable","version":"23.10"},{"url":"https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases/tag/23.05","date":"2023-05-18T07:56:01Z","type":"stable","version":"23.05"},{"url":"https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases/tag/23.03","date":"2023-03-31T09:04:21Z","type":"stable","version":"23.03"},{"url":"https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases/tag/22.12","date":"2022-12-07T03:56:16Z","type":"stable","version":"22.12"},{"url":"https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases/tag/22.08.1","date":"2022-09-01T17:43:43Z","type":"stable","version":"22.08.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases/tag/22.08","date":"2022-08-31T17:44:58Z","type":"stable","version":"22.08"},{"url":"https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases/tag/22.05","date":"2022-05-28T16:39:49Z","type":"stable","version":"22.05"},{"url":"https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases/tag/22.03","date":"2022-03-29T13:47:14Z","type":"stable","version":"22.03"},{"url":"https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases/tag/v0.6.0","date":"2022-01-04T10:15:57Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.6.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases/tag/v0.5.0","date":"2021-10-28T07:58:46Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.5.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases/tag/v0.4.1","date":"2021-08-14T04:44:27Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.4.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases/tag/v0.4.0","date":"2021-08-12T16:46:45Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.4.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases/tag/v0.3.0","date":"2021-06-27T04:42:22Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.3.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases/tag/v0.2.1","date":"2021-06-14T16:22:35Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.2.1"}]` | `[{"url":"https://github.com/JetBrains/intellij-community/releases/tag/pycharm/2026.2.3","date":"2026-09-18T15:43:23Z","type":"stable","version":"pycharm/2026.2.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/JetBrains/intellij-community/releases/tag/idea/2026.2.3","date":"2026-09-16T09:31:48Z","type":"stable","version":"idea/2026.2.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/JetBrains/intellij-community/releases/tag/pycharm/2026.2.2","date":"2026-09-07T15:24:11Z","type":"stable","version":"pycharm/2026.2.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/JetBrains/intellij-community/releases/tag/idea/2026.2.2","date":"2026-09-02T15:41:49Z","type":"stable","version":"idea/2026.2.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/JetBrains/intellij-community/releases/tag/pycharm/2026.2.1","date":"2026-08-12T07:24:12Z","type":"stable","version":"pycharm/2026.2.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/JetBrains/intellij-community/releases/tag/pycharm/2026.1.5","date":"2026-08-13T11:27:43Z","type":"stable","version":"pycharm/2026.1.5"},{"url":"https://github.com/JetBrains/intellij-community/releases/tag/idea/2026.1.5","date":"2026-08-12T14:41:47Z","type":"stable","version":"idea/2026.1.5"},{"url":"https://github.com/JetBrains/intellij-community/releases/tag/idea/2026.2.1","date":"2026-08-10T11:37:47Z","type":"stable","version":"idea/2026.2.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/JetBrains/intellij-community/releases/tag/idea/2025.2.6.3","date":"2026-07-28T18:32:49Z","type":"stable","version":"idea/2025.2.6.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/JetBrains/intellij-community/releases/tag/pycharm/2026.2.0.1","date":"2026-07-27T19:34:39Z","type":"stable","version":"pycharm/2026.2.0.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/JetBrains/intellij-community/releases/tag/pycharm/2025.3.6.1","date":"2026-07-28T18:00:12Z","type":"stable","version":"pycharm/2025.3.6.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/JetBrains/intellij-community/releases/tag/idea/2025.3.6.1","date":"2026-07-29T07:38:33Z","type":"stable","version":"idea/2025.3.6.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/JetBrains/intellij-community/releases/tag/pycharm/2026.2","date":"2026-07-20T17:13:34Z","type":"stable","version":"pycharm/2026.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/JetBrains/intellij-community/releases/tag/idea/2026.2","date":"2026-07-16T13:32:03Z","type":"stable","version":"idea/2026.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/JetBrains/intellij-community/releases/tag/pycharm/2026.1.4","date":"2026-07-03T13:04:15Z","type":"stable","version":"pycharm/2026.1.4"},{"url":"https://github.com/JetBrains/intellij-community/releases/tag/idea/2026.1.4","date":"2026-07-02T11:28:47Z","type":"stable","version":"idea/2026.1.4"},{"url":"https://github.com/JetBrains/intellij-community/releases/tag/pycharm/2026.1.3","date":"2026-06-22T12:12:40Z","type":"stable","version":"pycharm/2026.1.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/JetBrains/intellij-community/releases/tag/idea/2026.1.3","date":"2026-06-04T10:57:17Z","type":"stable","version":"idea/2026.1.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/JetBrains/intellij-community/releases/tag/pycharm/2025.3.6","date":"2026-06-04T09:43:41Z","type":"stable","version":"pycharm/2025.3.6"},{"url":"https://github.com/JetBrains/intellij-community/releases/tag/idea/2025.3.6","date":"2026-06-03T11:14:12Z","type":"stable","version":"idea/2025.3.6"}]` |
| reliability.status_page | - | yes |
| security.certifications | - | `[{"name":"SOC 2 Type II","level":"Type II","status":"active"}]` |
| security.disclosure_policy | - | yes |
| security.gdpr | - | yes |
| security.scorecard | - | 4.4 |
| 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%2Fhelix-editor%2Fhelix&per_page=100","last_12m":0,"max_severity":null}` | `{"count":0,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=maven&package_name=com.intellij%3Aannotations&per_page=100","last_12m":0,"max_severity":null}` |

## Capabilities (IDEs & Code Editors)

| Capability | Helix | IntelliJ IDEA |
|---|:--:|:--:|
| **Core** |  |  |
| Type | Terminal editor | Full IDE |
| Language scope | Polyglot | Polyglot |
| **Deployment** |  |  |
| Deployment | Desktop | Desktop |
| **Platform support** |  |  |
| OS support | Cross-platform terminal | Windows, macOS |
| Base platform | Original | Original |
| **Extensibility** |  |  |
| Extensibility | Config file only | 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 | Open-core |
| **Pricing** |  |  |
| Pricing model | Free | Per-seat subscription |

*Source: vioscaleAI. Generated 2026-10-17T05:48:25.652Z. "-" = undocumented, not absent.*