JetBrains AI
Deep AI integration across JetBrains IDEs
AICoding score
Quick Verdict
8.2 / 10 — The deepest AI integration in the JetBrains ecosystem — PSI-level semantic analysis, free Mellum completion, and the Junie agent, at a $10 entry on top of your IDE license.
For developers embedded in JetBrains IDEs — especially Java/Kotlin teams — JetBrains AI delivers AI that feels native, not bolted on, with the deepest semantic refactoring in the category. The trade-off: it only works inside JetBrains IDEs, requires a separate AI subscription on top of the IDE license, and the credit-metered Junie agent makes Ultimate ($30) the realistic cost for heavy use.
Use JetBrains AI if…
- You live in IntelliJ/PyCharm/WebStorm and want AI without switching
- You are a Java/Kotlin team that benefits from semantic refactoring
- You want free unlimited Mellum completion on the free tier
- You need local models / zero-data-retention for regulated code
Skip JetBrains AI if…
- You split time between VS Code and JetBrains (Copilot better)
- You want an AI-first editor with the most mature agent (Cursor)
- You want open-source BYOK control (Cline/Continue better)
Core Features
PSI-Level Semantic Integration
AI Assistant is integral to the IDE (since 2025.1), sharing the same type-inference engine, inspection system, and refactoring graph that make JetBrains IDEs exceptional. AI-suggested refactors use the same engine as the legendary rename/extract features — the deepest semantic integration in the category.
Mellum: Free Unlimited Completion
JetBrains' own open-source code completion model, optimized for ultra-low-latency inference with IDE context. Unlimited Mellum completions are included on all tiers including Free — no credits consumed. This is JetBrains' answer to Copilot's unlimited Tab.
Junie: Plan-Before-Code Agent
The autonomous coding agent that plans multi-file tasks before executing, directly inside your IDE with full project-model access. Unlike cloud-VM agents, Junie runs in your IntelliJ session with real refactoring capability. Included in Pro/Ultimate, consumes credits.
Local Model Support
Fully offline inference via Ollama, LM Studio, llama.cpp, and LiteLLM — zero AI credits regardless of tier. Zero-data-retention agreements with cloud providers (code discarded after inference) make it viable for regulated industries.
Multi-Model Cloud Access
AI Ultimate unlocks frontier models (Claude, GPT, Gemini) for heavy chat and agentic work. Personal tiers get JetBrains' own models plus cloud access; commercial tiers add licensing for orgs.
Cross-Language Intelligence
Polyglot teams managing Java backends, TypeScript frontends, and SQL in one repository get cross-language semantic context in a single IDE — leveraging JetBrains' codebase analysis beyond single-language plugins.
Pricing
A genuinely usable free tier for autocomplete: unlimited Mellum completions, local model support, and limited cloud model access. Enough to evaluate or for completion-only workflows.
- 3 AI credits/30 days
- Unlimited Mellum completions
- Local model support
- Limited cloud access
The entry for real AI work: Junie agent, full AI chat, test/documentation generation. $10 Personal / $20 Commercial. All Products Pack / dotUltimate users may have it included.
- Junie agent included
- Full AI chat
- Test + doc generation
- 10 credits/month
Adds frontier model access (Claude, GPT, Gemini) plus everything in Pro. $30 Personal / $60 Commercial. The realistic tier for teams running regular multi-file agent tasks.
- Frontier models
- 35 credits/month
- Everything in Pro
- Heavy agent workflows
The LLM-agnostic terminal agent — bring your own key (OpenAI/Anthropic/Google/xAI/local Ollama), pay JetBrains nothing for the CLI, pay your provider at consumption rates.
- BYOK across providers
- Local Ollama support
- No JetBrains fee
- Most economical heavy use
* Estimates from published usage reports & community benchmarks. Your API cost depends on model choice and volume. Local models via Ollama cost $0.
JetBrains AI vs The Field
JetBrains AI vs GitHub Copilot
IDE-native depth vs cross-editor consistencyJetBrains AI wins on semantic analysis (PSI-level), local model support, and JVM-language strength — at the same $10 entry as Copilot. Copilot wins on cross-editor reach (VS Code, JetBrains, Vim in one sub) and GitHub integration. The catch: JetBrains AI's credit-metered Junie makes Ultimate ($30) the real cost for heavy agent users — a 3x premium over Copilot that only pays off for teams fully embedded in JetBrains.
JetBrains for depth · Copilot for reachJetBrains AI vs Cursor
Stay in your IDE vs switch to AI-first editorCursor is a standalone VS Code fork ($20) that centers everything on its Composer agent. JetBrains AI adds an AI layer to the IDE you already use — no editor switch, deeper refactoring for JVM languages. If you've invested years in JetBrains workflows, JetBrains AI meets you there; if you want a purpose-built AI editor, Cursor.
JetBrains for continuity · Cursor for AI-firstJetBrains AI vs Cline & Continue
Managed native vs open BYOKCline and Continue are free, open-source BYOK extensions (Apache 2.0) that work in JetBrains with any model including local Ollama — full control, no credit system. JetBrains AI offers deeper native integration and Mellum free completion, but is proprietary and credit-metered. Privacy/control-first: open tools. Deepest JetBrains integration: AI Assistant.
Open tools for control · JetBrains for integrationWho JetBrains AI Is Best For
Java/Kotlin backend teams
The largest accuracy advantage of the semantic analysis engine — AI refactors use the same engine as IntelliJ's legendary rename/extract, unmatched for JVM languages.
Existing JetBrains IDE users
Years of workflows, shortcuts, and plugins — get AI without switching editors. The natural upgrade path for teams standardized on JetBrains.
Regulated industries
Finance/healthcare: zero-data-retention agreements and local-model routing via Ollama keep sensitive code on-premises.
Privacy & air-gapped codebases
Fully offline inference via Ollama/LM Studio consumes zero credits and never leaves the machine.
All Products Pack users
dotUltimate / All Products Pack may include AI Pro at no extra cost — activate it regardless of usage volume.
BYOK power users
Junie CLI with your own key and local Ollama — pay JetBrains nothing, pay your provider at consumption rates.
Getting Started
Update your IDE
Ensure you're on IDE version 2025.1+ (IntelliJ, PyCharm, WebStorm, GoLand, etc.) where AI Assistant is built in.
Sign in to JetBrains AI
Open Settings → AI Assistant → sign in. The AI Free tier works immediately with 3 credits and unlimited Mellum completions.
Try Mellum completion
Just type — Mellum provides unlimited, free, low-latency completions without consuming credits. Evaluate this first.
Add a local model
For zero-cost offline AI, configure Ollama or LM Studio as a provider. Consumes zero credits regardless of tier.
Upgrade for the agent
If you need AI chat and Junie, upgrade to AI Pro ($10) or Ultimate ($30 for frontier models). Watch credit consumption on agent tasks.
Try Junie CLI (BYOK)
For terminal work, install Junie CLI and connect your own key — pay only your provider, no JetBrains fee.
FAQ
Is JetBrains AI free?
Yes — AI Free tier gives 3 AI credits per 30 days plus unlimited Mellum code completions (JetBrains' own open-source model) and full local model support via Ollama/LM Studio. That is enough for autocomplete-focused workflows. Real AI chat and the Junie agent need AI Pro at $10/mo (10 credits) or AI Ultimate at $30/mo (35 credits + frontier models).
How much does JetBrains AI cost?
AI Free $0 (3 credits/30 days) · AI Pro Personal $10/mo (10 credits) · AI Pro Commercial $20/mo (20 credits) · AI Ultimate Personal $30/mo (35 credits + Claude/GPT/Gemini) · AI Ultimate Commercial $60/mo · Enterprise custom. Important: this is a separate subscription from your IDE license — you pay for both. Top-up credits are $1/credit and included credits reset monthly. All Products Pack / dotUltimate users may get AI Pro included.
What is Junie?
Junie is JetBrains' autonomous coding agent — it plans multi-file tasks before executing them, directly inside your IDE with full access to the project model. It is included with AI Pro and AI Ultimate, consuming credits. Junie CLI is a separate LLM-agnostic terminal agent supporting BYOK (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, xAI, or local Ollama) — with BYOK you pay JetBrains nothing for the CLI and pay your model provider directly.
What is Mellum?
Mellum is JetBrains' own family of fast, open-source language models built for code. It powers unlimited code completion in JetBrains AI without consuming credits — analogous to Copilot's unlimited Tab completions. Mellum is optimized for ultra-low-latency inference using IDE context (the PSI project model), while heavier chat and agentic work routes to cloud frontier models (Claude, GPT, Gemini) which consume credits.
Is JetBrains AI better than GitHub Copilot?
For developers embedded in JetBrains IDEs — especially Java/Kotlin backend teams — yes: JetBrains AI's semantic analysis (type inference, inspections, refactoring graph) is deeper than Copilot's plugin, and it supports local models. Copilot wins on cross-editor consistency (VS Code, JetBrains, Vim/Neovim in one $10 sub) and GitHub ecosystem integration. Both start at $10; Copilot is flatter-priced while JetBrains AI's credit-metered Junie makes Ultimate ($30) the realistic cost for heavy agent users.
Does JetBrains AI support local models?
Yes — AI Assistant supports fully offline inference via Ollama, LM Studio, llama.cpp, and LiteLLM, consuming zero AI credits regardless of tier. This makes it viable for air-gapped or privacy-sensitive codebases. Junie CLI is also BYOK-friendly with local Ollama connections. JetBrains enforces zero-data-retention agreements with its cloud LLM providers — code is transmitted for inference only and discarded immediately.
Which JetBrains IDEs support AI Assistant?
AI Assistant is available in IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, WebStorm, GoLand, Rider, PhpStorm, RubyMine, RustRover, CLion, DataGrip, and DataSpell (IDE version 2025.1+), with Android Studio supported with limitations. Junie supports IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate, PyCharm Pro, WebStorm, and GoLand, expanding across the family.
Is JetBrains AI worth it?
For developers who work primarily in JetBrains IDEs — especially JVM language teams — AI Pro at $10/mo is a reasonable add-on that leverages the IDE's legendary refactoring engine. The caveats: it is a paid layer on top of your IDE license, and AI Ultimate at $30 is three times Copilot Pro's price — that 3x premium only pays off for teams fully embedded in JetBrains. Evaluate with the free tier first.
Can I use JetBrains AI with VS Code or other editors?
No — AI Assistant only works inside JetBrains IDEs. If you split time between VS Code and JetBrains, GitHub Copilot is the better fit (one subscription covers both). If you live in JetBrains and want AI without switching editors, JetBrains AI meets you where you are — that is its core value proposition.
What are the best alternatives to JetBrains AI?
GitHub Copilot ($10/mo) for cross-editor consistency and GitHub integration; Cursor ($20/mo) if you want an AI-first standalone editor with the most mature Composer agent; Cline or Continue (free, BYOK) for open-source control with local models; Cody for enterprise codebase intelligence. The choice depends on whether you value IDE integration (JetBrains), ecosystem fit (Copilot), or AI-first editing (Cursor).