Top 7 Alternatives to JetBrains AI Assistant in 2025
The best alternatives to JetBrains AI Assistant are GitHub Copilot (94/100) for universal IDE support, Claude Code (98/100) for agentic coding, and Tabnine (86/100) for privacy-focused development. Each works with JetBrains IDEs while offering different strengths.
Quick Comparison: JetBrains AI Alternatives
| Tool | Score | Best For | Price | JetBrains Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claude Code | 98/100 | Agentic coding, complex tasks | $20/mo | Extension + Terminal |
| GitHub Copilot | 94/100 | Inline completions, broad support | $10/mo | Official Plugin |
| Cursor | 96/100 | AI-native IDE experience | $20/mo | Separate IDE |
| Tabnine | 86/100 | Privacy, offline mode | $12/mo | Official Plugin |
| Sourcegraph Cody | 89/100 | Enterprise, large codebases | $59/mo | Official Plugin |
| ChatGPT | 85/100 | Code generation, learning | $20/mo | Third-party plugins |
| CodeGPT | 75/100 | Multiple LLM providers | Free* | Official Plugin |
*CodeGPT is free but requires your own API key for premium models.
Why Look for JetBrains AI Alternatives?
JetBrains AI Assistant offers excellent IDE integration, but developers consider alternatives for several reasons:
More Advanced AI Capabilities
Claude Code and Cursor offer more sophisticated multi-file editing and agentic capabilities that go beyond JetBrains AI's current features.
Cross-IDE Consistency
If you use multiple IDEs, GitHub Copilot or Tabnine provide consistent AI assistance across VS Code, JetBrains, Neovim, and more.
Privacy Requirements
Tabnine offers complete on-premises deployment and offline operation for teams with strict security policies.
Enterprise Features
Sourcegraph Cody provides enterprise-grade features like multi-repository understanding and advanced security controls.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | JetBrains AI | GitHub Copilot | Claude Code | Tabnine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Code completion | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Excellent |
| Multi-file editing | Good | Limited | Excellent | Limited |
| Agentic capabilities | Limited | Basic | Industry-leading | None |
| Offline mode | Yes (local models) | No | No | Yes (full) |
| IDE support | JetBrains only | Universal | Any + terminal | Universal |
| Price/month | $10 | $10 | $20 | $12 |
Alternatives That Work With JetBrains IDEs
All of these tools have official or well-supported JetBrains plugins:
GitHub Copilot
Official JetBrains plugin with inline suggestions, chat, and agent mode. The most popular AI coding assistant with seamless JetBrains integration.
Install: Settings > Plugins > Search "GitHub Copilot"
Tabnine
Privacy-first AI with native JetBrains support. Runs locally for complete offline operation. Learns from your team's code patterns.
Install: Settings > Plugins > Search "Tabnine"
Sourcegraph Cody
Enterprise-focused with deep codebase understanding. Official JetBrains plugin with multi-repository context awareness.
Install: Settings > Plugins > Search "Sourcegraph Cody"
Claude Code
Terminal-based agentic coding that works alongside any IDE. Has native JetBrains extension for seamless integration.
Install: npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code + JetBrains extension
Which Alternative Should You Choose?
Choose GitHub Copilot if...
- You want the most mature, widely-used AI assistant
- You use multiple IDEs beyond JetBrains
- You want solid inline completions at a competitive price
Choose Claude Code if...
- You want advanced agentic capabilities
- You work on complex multi-file tasks
- You prefer terminal-based workflows alongside your IDE
Choose Tabnine if...
- Privacy and security are top priorities
- You need offline or air-gapped deployment
- You want AI trained on your team's codebase
Choose Sourcegraph Cody if...
- You work with large enterprise codebases
- You need multi-repository context awareness
- Enterprise security features are required
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use GitHub Copilot in IntelliJ IDEA?
Yes. GitHub Copilot has an official plugin for all JetBrains IDEs including IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, WebStorm, CLion, and others. Install it via Settings > Plugins.
Which AI assistant works offline with JetBrains?
Tabnine offers complete offline functionality with its JetBrains plugin. JetBrains AI Assistant also supports local models via Ollama for offline use.
Is GitHub Copilot better than JetBrains AI Assistant?
Both have similar capabilities for inline completion. GitHub Copilot has broader IDE support and more mature features. JetBrains AI has deeper integration with JetBrains-specific features like refactoring tools. Choose based on whether you use multiple IDEs (Copilot) or exclusively JetBrains (JetBrains AI).
What's the best free alternative for JetBrains IDEs?
CodeGPT is free and works with JetBrains IDEs, though it requires your own API key for premium models. JetBrains AI itself has a free tier with limited cloud AI quota.