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IntelliJ IDEA vs WebStorm: A Comprehensive Comparison

Alex Hrymashevych Author by:
Alex Hrymashevych
Last update:
25 Jan 2026
Reading time:
~ 2 mins

IntelliJ IDEA

IntelliJ IDEA is a comprehensive standalone development environment developed by JetBrains, designed to provide a robust coding experience across multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, and Linux. This tool supports a wide array of language models such as GPT-5, Gemini 2.0, Llama 4, and Mistral Enterprise, along with JetBrains’ proprietary SLMs. With a context window of 200k tokens and local inference capabilities, it enables effective coding solutions and predictive edits. The tool offers full terminal access and agentic editing across multiple files, enhancing productivity for developers. It has a free tier available, which makes it accessible to a broader audience. IntelliJ IDEA is particularly suited for developers looking for an integrated development experience with strong local inference and editing capabilities.

Pros

  • Supports a wide range of language models including custom JetBrains SLMs.
  • Full terminal access and multi-file editing.
  • Free tier availability.

Cons

  • Migration requires setup.
  • Context window is smaller compared to WebStorm.

WebStorm

WebStorm, also developed by JetBrains, is a specialized standalone development tool aimed at web development across Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms. It supports advanced language models such as GPT-5, Gemini 2.0, Llama 4, and Mistral Enterprise. With an impressive context window of 1M tokens, it stands out for handling larger codebases efficiently. Like IntelliJ IDEA, it provides local inference, predictive edits, and full terminal access, with the added benefit of extensive agentic editing capabilities. WebStorm is a premium tool, with pricing ranging from $8 to $15 per month, reflecting its specialized features tailored for web developers who require high-performance tools for managing complex projects.

Pros

  • Extensive context window of 1M tokens.
  • Supports a variety of advanced language models.
  • Full terminal access and multi-file editing.

Cons

  • No free tier available.
  • Migration requires setup.

Comparison Table

Feature IntelliJ IDEA WebStorm
Architecture Type standalone standalone
Supported Os Windows, macOS, Linux Windows, macOS, Linux
Developer JetBrains JetBrains
Supported Llms GPT-5, Gemini 2.0, Llama 4, Mistral Enterprise, JetBrains SLMs GPT-5, Gemini 2.0, Llama 4, Mistral Enterprise
Custom Model JetBrains SLMs
Context Window 200k tokens 1M 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 $8 – $15/mo
Config File .intellij-ai-config .aicofig
Migration Requires setup Requires setup

Conclusion

Both IntelliJ IDEA and WebStorm offer robust development environments with strong support for advanced language models and local inference capabilities. While IntelliJ IDEA provides a more generalist platform with free access, WebStorm is specialized for web development, offering a larger context window at a premium cost. Choosing between them depends on the specific needs of the development project and budget considerations.