IntelliJ IDEA Overview
IntelliJ IDEA, developed by JetBrains, is a standalone development environment renowned for its robust capabilities. It supports a wide array of operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it accessible to a broad developer audience. The tool integrates with advanced large language models such as GPT-5 and Gemini 2.0, and it even offers proprietary JetBrains SLMs for custom model solutions. With a context window of 200k tokens, IntelliJ IDEA excels in handling complex codebases. The platform offers full terminal access and supports local inference, ensuring developers can work efficiently offline. Additionally, IntelliJ IDEA provides predictive editing and agentic capabilities across multiple files, enhancing productivity. The product is available in both free and pro versions, making it an attractive option for developers seeking a comprehensive development tool with enterprise-level security certifications, including SOC2 Type II.
Pros
- ✓ Supports a wide range of operating systems.
- ✓ Integrates with advanced LLMS like GPT-5.
- ✓ Offers JetBrains SLMs for custom solutions.
- ✓ Provides full terminal access.
- ✓ Supports multi-file agentic editing and predictive edits.
Cons
- ✕ Migration requires setup.
- ✕ Complex configuration file (.intellij-ai-config).
Zed Overview
Zed is a standalone development tool designed by the developer Zed, compatible with macOS, Linux, and Windows. It provides an inclusive environment with support for various language models, including Claude 3.7 Sonnet and Gemini 2.5. Zed stands out with its support for local inference, allowing developers to maintain high productivity even offline. The tool offers a generous context window of 200k tokens, which is ideal for managing extensive projects. Zed also features agentic editing capabilities across multiple files and predictive editing, which streamlines the coding process. Available in both free and pro tiers, Zed ensures accessibility while adhering to enterprise-level privacy standards, such as SOC2 Type II certification. The configuration is managed through the .zedrc file, and while setup is required for migration, the overall user experience is designed to be intuitive and efficient.
Pros
- ✓ Compatible with all major operating systems.
- ✓ Supports a variety of LLMS including open-source options.
- ✓ Offers local inference capabilities.
- ✓ Facilitates multi-file agentic editing.
- ✓ Adheres to SOC2 Type II certification for security.
Cons
- ✕ Migration requires setup.
- ✕ Limited configuration flexibility compared to IntelliJ IDEA.
Comparison Table
| Feature | IntelliJ IDEA | Zed |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture Type | standalone | standalone |
| Supported Os | Windows, macOS, Linux | macOS, Linux, Windows |
| Developer | JetBrains | Zed |
| Supported Llms | GPT-5, Gemini 2.0, Llama 4, Mistral Enterprise, JetBrains SLMs | Claude 3.7 Sonnet, Gemini 2.5, Ollama (local), Zeta (open-source) |
| 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 | .zedrc |
| Migration | Requires setup | Requires setup |
Conclusion
Both IntelliJ IDEA and Zed provide powerful standalone development environments with advanced language model support and comprehensive features. While IntelliJ IDEA offers proprietary options and a more extensive range of supported LLMS, Zed provides an appealing alternative with its emphasis on open-source models and straightforward configuration. Developers should consider their specific needs, such as operating system compatibility and security certifications, when choosing between these tools.