vs
IntelliJ IDEA vs VS Code: which one to pick in 2026?
VS Code for web and TypeScript. IntelliJ for Flutter and JVM projects.
What each does better
IntelliJ IDEA
In my stack
Better at: The best Flutter/Dart plugin on the market, smart refactoring, contextual completion
Worse at: RAM-hungry (~1-2 GB), slow startup on big projects
Based on my IntelliJ IDEA review
VS Code
Competitor
Better at: Light, fast, endless extensions, excellent for TypeScript/web
Worse at: Weaker on Flutter (plugin less mature than JetBrains), shallower refactoring
Compared from my IntelliJ IDEA review
My verdict
VS Code for web and TypeScript. IntelliJ for Flutter and JVM projects.
My rating
IntelliJ IDEA
I only rate the tools I really use. VS Code is not in my stack, so it has no rating here.
Pricing
IntelliJ IDEA
€0 (Community Edition)
Entry price
Plan I pick: Ultimate at €69
Full-stack and enterprise developers
VS Code
No pricing sheet on my side: I do not use it day to day, so I do not put a price on it here.
Compatibility
IntelliJ IDEA
Go further
Other comparisons
· Dim’s.Build
The newsletter that does not waste your time.
Once a month. SaaS, Flutter, AI, build in public.