# Helix vs IntelliJ IDEA

**Leader by Vioscale score:** IntelliJ IDEA

| Attribute | Helix | IntelliJ IDEA |
|---|---|---|
| **Vioscale score** | 42 (45% (low)) | 53.3 (53% (medium)) |
| activity.commits_last_30d | 27 | 100 |
| adoption.dependent_repos | 0 | 890 |
| adoption.github_stars | 45,941 | 20,488 |
| 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. | An IDE that accelerates software development through smart code editing, debugging, and analysis tools, enhanced with native AI capabilities for code completion and suggestions. |
| 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","remote_dev":true,"open_source":"open_core","base_platform":"original","extensibility":"plugins","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"}]` |
| language.primary | Rust | Java |
| license.spdx | MPL-2.0 | - |
| platform.support | `{"cli":true}` | `{"mac":true,"linux":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"}` | - |
| pricing.free_tier | yes | - |
| pricing.model | open_source | commercial |
| pricing.price_level | free | - |
| release.cadence_days | 75 | 1 |
| 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/2026.2.1","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"},{"url":"https://github.com/JetBrains/intellij-community/releases/tag/pycharm/2026.1.2","date":"2026-05-15T11:37:01Z","type":"stable","version":"pycharm/2026.1.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/JetBrains/intellij-community/releases/tag/idea/2026.1.2","date":"2026-05-15T11:59:22Z","type":"stable","version":"idea/2026.1.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/JetBrains/intellij-community/releases/tag/pycharm/2025.3.5","date":"2026-05-07T09:31:20Z","type":"stable","version":"pycharm/2025.3.5"},{"url":"https://github.com/JetBrains/intellij-community/releases/tag/idea/2025.3.5","date":"2026-05-06T14:36:01Z","type":"stable","version":"idea/2025.3.5"}]` |
| reliability.status_page | - | yes |
| security.disclosure_policy | - | yes |
| security.gdpr | - | yes |
| security.scorecard | - | 4.4 |
| security.soc2 | - | yes |
| 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 | - |
| **Deployment** |  |  |
| Deployment | Desktop | Desktop |
| **Platform support** |  |  |
| OS support | Cross-platform terminal | - |
| 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 | - |

*Source: Vioscale. Generated 2026-09-01T16:33:48.853Z. "-" = undocumented, not absent.*