IntelliJ IDEA Overview
IntelliJ IDEA, developed by JetBrains, is a standalone integrated development environment (IDE) supporting a variety of operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux. Known for its robust architecture and powerful features, IntelliJ IDEA is favored by developers for its local inference capabilities and comprehensive agentic editing tools. The platform supports a wide range of large language models (LLMs) such as GPT-5, Gemini 2.0, and JetBrains’ custom SLMs. With a context window of 200k tokens, it allows for extensive code analysis and editing. Full terminal access and predictive edits make it a versatile choice for complex multi-file projects. IntelliJ IDEA’s standard privacy policy and SOC2 Type II certification ensure a secure development environment.
Pros
- ✓ Supports a variety of LLMs including custom JetBrains SLMs.
- ✓ Local inference capabilities for enhanced performance.
- ✓ Full terminal access for comprehensive development needs.
- ✓ Predictive edits and multi-file agentic editing.
- ✓ Standard privacy policy and SOC2 Type II certification.
Cons
- ✕ Requires setup for migration.
- ✕ May have a steeper learning curve due to advanced features.
Replit Overview
Replit is a cloud-based development tool provided by Replit, Inc., offering a broad range of functionalities on Windows, macOS, and Linux systems. It stands out for its ease of use and online collaboration features, making it ideal for team projects. Replit supports several prominent LLMs including GPT-5.2 and Claude, facilitating efficient coding with a 200k token context window. While it does not support local inference, it provides full terminal access and predictive edits for seamless development processes. Like IntelliJ IDEA, Replit adheres to a standard privacy policy and holds a SOC2 Type II certification, ensuring user data protection. Its cloud architecture and free tier make it accessible and convenient for developers at any level.
Pros
- ✓ Cloud-based architecture for easy access and collaboration.
- ✓ Supports a wide array of LLMs.
- ✓ Full terminal access with predictive editing features.
- ✓ User-friendly with a free tier option.
- ✓ Standard privacy policy and SOC2 Type II certification.
Cons
- ✕ No local inference capabilities, which may affect performance.
- ✕ Requires setup for migration.
Comparison Table
| Feature | IntelliJ IDEA | Replit |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture Type | standalone | cloud |
| Supported Os | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Developer | JetBrains | Replit, Inc. |
| Supported Llms | GPT-5, Gemini 2.0, Llama 4, Mistral Enterprise, JetBrains SLMs | GPT-5.2, Claude, Gemini, Hugging Face |
| Custom Model | JetBrains SLMs | – |
| Context Window | 200k tokens | 200k tokens |
| Agentic Editing | Yes, multi-file | Yes, multi-file |
| Terminal Access | Full | Full |
| Privacy Mode | Standard Privacy Policy | Standard Privacy Policy |
| Certifications | SOC2 Type II (Enterprise) | SOC2 Type II (Enterprise) |
| About Price | Free/Pro | Free/Pro |
| Config File | .intellij-ai-config | .replit |
| Migration | Requires setup | Requires setup |
Conclusion
Both IntelliJ IDEA and Replit offer comprehensive development environments with unique strengths. IntelliJ is ideal for those seeking robust local features and advanced editing tools, while Replit excels in cloud-based collaboration and accessibility. Choosing between them depends on specific project needs and user preferences.