IntelliJ IDEA runs on Ubuntu without much setup work. JetBrains ships the IDE through Snap and through its own Toolbox App, so you can install IntelliJ IDEA in Ubuntu from a terminal or from a graphical launcher. Both routes land on the same editor. Decide on the edition first, then pick the method that matches how you like to work.
Choose an IntelliJ IDEA Edition Before You Install
Two builds exist. Ultimate is the paid one, with a 30-day trial before a licence purchase becomes necessary. Community costs nothing at download and nothing later.
Community handles Java, Kotlin, Groovy and Scala. Ultimate adds Spring, Jakarta EE, database tools and profiling. Snap uses a different package name for each, so the choice matters before you type a command.
| Edition | Cost | Trial | Snap package name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultimate | Licence required after trial | 30 days | intellij-idea-ultimate |
| Community | Free, Apache 2.0 | Not applicable | intellij-idea-community |
| Educational | Free for learning | Not applicable | intellij-idea-educational |
Source: JetBrains State of Java 2025, based on responses from more than 5,000 developers.
Check Java and Snap Support First
The IDE ships with its own JetBrains Runtime, so it opens without a JDK on the machine. Your Java projects will not compile without one.
Snap arrives pre-installed on Ubuntu 16.04 and every release after it. If the command fails, install snapd and confirm the service is active before continuing. It also helps to know which Ubuntu release you are on, since older builds handle Snap differently.
Install IntelliJ IDEA in Ubuntu With Snap
Snap is the fastest path. One command pulls the package, unpacks it and registers a desktop entry.
Run the Snap Install Command
Your account needs to sit in the sudo group. Read up on how root privileges actually work on Linux if that part is new to you.
Want the free build instead? Swap the package name:
The –classic flag is not optional. IntelliJ IDEA needs full system access, the same as a traditionally packaged application, and the install fails without it.
Install IntelliJ IDEA Using the JetBrains Toolbox App
Toolbox suits anyone who prefers windows over prompts, and it manages updates and multiple JetBrains IDEs from one panel.
Download and Extract the Toolbox Archive
Grab the archive from the JetBrains download page. What arrives is a .tar.gz bundle.
Extraction flags trip up plenty of people. The tar command builder assembles the exact syntax if you would rather not memorise it. Should the binary refuse to run, check its execute permissions.
Pick IntelliJ IDEA Inside Toolbox
Toolbox opens to a list of available tools. Select IntelliJ IDEA, choose Ultimate or Community, and setup starts on its own.
Download and unpacking usually finish inside two or three minutes. Toolbox keeps the install folder under your home directory, which means no root prompt at this stage.
Snap vs Toolbox: Which IntelliJ IDEA Method Fits
Times vary with connection speed and disk performance.
Terminal users get a result in seconds with Snap, and updates arrive on their own. Toolbox costs a couple of extra minutes but earns them back when you run several JetBrains IDEs side by side.
Disk space is the one thing worth checking beforehand. IntelliJ IDEA needs roughly 3.5 GB, so review your partition layout if the drive is tight.
Launch IntelliJ IDEA on Ubuntu After Setup
Snap installs respond to a single command:
The Activities menu lists the IDE as well. First launch walks through theme selection, plugin choices and a privacy agreement.
A free JetBrains account is required at that point, even for Community. Sign in, and the editor opens ready for a new project or an import. The same pattern applies to other developer tooling, including setting up Conda on Ubuntu for Python work alongside it.
FAQs
Is IntelliJ IDEA free on Ubuntu?
Community edition is free permanently under Apache 2.0. Ultimate requires a paid licence once its 30-day trial ends. Both install through Snap using the same command with a different package name.
Do I need Java installed before IntelliJ IDEA?
No. The IDE bundles its own JetBrains Runtime and starts without a JDK. Compiling or running your own Java code does need one, available through apt as default-jdk.
How do I install IntelliJ IDEA without Snap?
Use the JetBrains Toolbox App or the official tarball. Extract the archive, then run idea.sh from the bin folder. Toolbox also manages version updates for you afterwards.
Which command launches IntelliJ IDEA on Ubuntu?
Run intellij-idea-community or intellij-idea-ultimate in a terminal, depending on your edition. Snap also adds a desktop entry, so the IDE appears in the Activities search results.
How do I uninstall IntelliJ IDEA from Ubuntu?
Run sudo snap remove intellij-idea-community for Snap installs. Toolbox installations are removed inside the Toolbox interface. Tarball copies disappear once you delete the extracted folder and its desktop file.
