Eclipse IDE is still maintained by the Eclipse Foundation and still free. Eclipse 2026-09 is the current release, and a 2026-12 milestone build is already available. There are ten packages, from plain Java to C/C++, PHP, modeling and RCP work. Windows, macOS and Linux builds come for x86_64 and AArch64, and the installer bundles a Java runtime.
People rarely leave Eclipse because it stopped working. They leave because of startup time, memory use once plugins pile up, and an interface that feels dated, the same points Capterra reviewers repeat. The picks below start with full Java IDEs, then cover a lighter editor, the Foundation's own newer IDE, and a C/C++ option for CDT users. If NetBeans is also on your shortlist, our NetBeans alternatives guide looks at the same field from the other side.
Prices below are as of November 8, 2026. Our method is on How we review tools.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Price | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| IntelliJ IDEA | Deep Java and Kotlin refactoring | Free core; Ultimate from $199/year | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| VS Code with Java extensions | One light editor for Java and everything else | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Apache NetBeans | A free, foundation-run IDE that works out of the box | Free (Apache 2.0) | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Eclipse Theia IDE | Open-source IDE with VS Code extensions and AI | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux, browser |
| CLion | C and C++ projects built with CMake | Free non-commercial; paid commercial | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Spring Tools for VS Code | Spring Boot work outside Eclipse STS | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux |
IntelliJ IDEA
IntelliJ IDEA is the most common landing spot for Eclipse Java developers. Where Eclipse leans on plugins for Maven, Gradle, Spring or Kotlin, IntelliJ ships that support in one download and keeps it consistent across releases. Its inspections and refactorings across large multi-module projects are the main reason teams pay for it.
JetBrains merged Community and Ultimate into a single distribution in 2025.3. The single-distribution help page says the free core covers Java and Kotlin, basic database tools and Kubernetes, and every new install gets a 30-day Ultimate trial. Community Edition 2025.2 and older still run, but only the unified IDE gets updates.
Best for: Java and Kotlin teams with large codebases who want refactoring that just works.
Pricing:
- Core IDE: free
- Ultimate, individual: $199 the first year, billed yearly, with lower renewal prices in later years
- All Products Pack, individual: $299 the first year, billed yearly
Watch out for:
- Enterprise Java, Spring and advanced framework tooling sit behind Ultimate, so check your stack during the trial.
- A lapsed Ultimate subscription drops you to the free core, not to a perpetual copy of the paid version.
Official site: IntelliJ IDEA.
VS Code with Java extensions
An odd fact helps Eclipse users here. The Red Hat Java extension, with about 58 million installs, provides language support through the Eclipse JDT Language Server. Code completion, errors and quick fixes come from the same Java engine you already know, inside a much lighter editor.
Microsoft's Extension Pack for Java adds a debugger, a JUnit and TestNG runner, Maven, Gradle and a project view. On Windows, macOS and Linux for x64 and ARM, the Red Hat extension embeds its own JRE, and projects can target Java 8 or newer. VS Code is free and updates monthly; 1.145 came out in November 2026.
Best for: Developers who split time between Java, front-end code and scripts and want one editor.
Pricing:
- VS Code: free for private and commercial use
- Extension Pack for Java and Red Hat Java extension: free
Watch out for:
- Spring Boot support is a separate extension pack, and each piece of the Java pack is its own project, so bugs can bounce between repositories.
- On platforms without the embedded JRE, the language server needs a JDK 25 or newer to run.
Official site: VS Code with Java extensions.
Apache NetBeans
NetBeans is the closest match to Eclipse in spirit: free, open source and run by a foundation, in this case Apache. The difference is how much works before you install anything. Java, Maven and Gradle support come in the standard download along with PHP and HTML tools, so there is no plugin hunt on day one.
The NetBeans download page lists version 31 from August 10, 2026 as the latest, on a four-releases-a-year schedule much like Eclipse's. Its GUI builder for Swing is still one of the easiest ways to lay out a desktop form.
Best for: Developers who want a free, all-in-one Java IDE without assembling plugins.
Pricing:
- Free, Apache License 2.0
Watch out for:
- Its plugin catalogue is far smaller than Eclipse's, so niche tooling such as modeling or embedded C may have no NetBeans equivalent.
- Framework support for Spring and Kotlin trails IntelliJ IDEA.
Official site: Apache NetBeans.
Eclipse Theia IDE
Theia is the Eclipse Foundation's newer IDE, and it shares nothing with the old Eclipse workbench except the governance. It looks and works like VS Code, runs VS Code extensions from Open VSX, and is developed independently rather than as a VS Code fork. Arm, IBM, Red Hat and Samsung are among its adopters.
The Theia IDE site offers desktop builds for Windows, Linux and macOS on x86 and ARM, plus a browser trial. Its AI features work with cloud, self-hosted or local models on your own key, and the project says it collects no telemetry on code or prompts. The Theia platform reached version 1.76 in October 2026.
Best for: Teams that want a vendor-neutral, open-source IDE with modern editing and AI on their own terms.
Pricing:
- Free and open source
Watch out for:
- Java support depends on Open VSX extensions, so it is an editor you assemble, not a Java IDE out of the box.
- The x86 macOS build can be slow and unstable on recent ARM Macs; use the ARM build there.
Official site: Eclipse Theia IDE.
CLion
Eclipse CDT users have a different set of needs from Java developers, and CLion is JetBrains' answer for C and C++. It understands CMake projects natively, and it adds refactorings, code analysis and an integrated debugger on Windows, macOS and Linux.
The CLion page says it is free for non-commercial use, with a 30-day trial for commercial work. CLion is also included in JetBrains' All Products Pack, which helps if your team already pays for IntelliJ IDEA.
Best for: C and C++ developers moving off Eclipse CDT who want strong CMake support.
Pricing:
- Non-commercial use: free
- Commercial: yearly subscription, 30-day trial
- Included in the All Products Pack, $299 the first year for individuals
Watch out for:
- Commercial use needs a paid subscription, while Eclipse CDT costs nothing for any purpose.
- Vendor-specific embedded toolchains often ship as Eclipse-based IDEs, so check your chip maker's support first.
Official site: CLion.
Spring Tools for VS Code
Many people search for Eclipse alternatives because they use Spring Tool Suite, the Eclipse-based Spring IDE. The Spring team now ships the same tooling for VS Code, Cursor, Theia and Claude Code as well as Eclipse, so leaving Eclipse no longer means leaving Spring Tools.
The Spring Tools page lists Spring Initializr project creation, navigation, completion for configuration files, live Actuator data from running apps and an embedded MCP server. Spring Tools for Eclipse is at 5.4.0, and the builds for the other editors are free downloads from the same page.
Best for: Spring Boot developers who want STS features in a lighter editor.
Pricing:
- Free and open source
Watch out for:
- It is an add-on, not a full IDE. You still need the Java extensions for compiling, debugging and tests.
Official site: Spring Tools for VS Code.
How to choose
| If you need | Pick |
|---|---|
| The strongest Java refactoring and inspections | IntelliJ IDEA |
| A light editor that keeps Eclipse's Java engine | VS Code with Java extensions |
| A free all-in-one IDE with no plugin setup | Apache NetBeans |
| An open-source IDE with VS Code extensions and local AI | Eclipse Theia IDE |
| C and C++ with CMake | CLion |
| Spring Tool Suite features outside Eclipse | Spring Tools for VS Code |
When to stay with Eclipse IDE
Stay on Eclipse if you build RCP applications, use the modeling tools, or work with an embedded toolchain that only ships as an Eclipse plugin. Nothing else covers those cases as well, and the quarterly release train keeps the IDE current. It is also still a sound free choice for Java when a team already has a tuned workspace and plugin set.
Frequently asked questions
Is Eclipse IDE still maintained?
Yes. Eclipse IDE ships four times a year. The 2026-09 release is current, a 2026-12 milestone build is out, and packages cover Java, enterprise Java and web, C/C++, PHP, modeling and more.
Is IntelliJ IDEA better than Eclipse?
For most Java teams, IntelliJ IDEA gives better refactoring, inspections and framework support with less setup. Eclipse wins on price for commercial work with advanced features, on plugin range, and for RCP and modeling projects. The free IntelliJ core is a fair way to compare both on your own codebase.
What happened to JetBrains Fleet?
JetBrains stopped Fleet downloads and updates on December 22, 2025, as JetBrains' post on the future of Fleet explains. Copies already installed keep working, but they get no fixes. DevClass reported that JetBrains moved the effort to an agentic development tool called Air.
What is the best free alternative to Eclipse for Java?
Apache NetBeans is the most complete free Java IDE. VS Code with the Java extensions is free and lighter, and the free IntelliJ IDEA core is a strong option for plain Java and Kotlin.
