What are the key differences between PhpStorm and IntelliJ IDEA?

Compare PhpStorm and IntelliJ IDEA side by side on Lunoo to see detailed feature differences, AI scores, and expert analysis.

How are PhpStorm and IntelliJ IDEA scored?

PhpStorm has an AI score of 9.2/10 and IntelliJ IDEA has an AI score of 9.6/10. Scores are based on category fit, feature coverage, pricing signals, public reception, and recency.

PhpStorm vs IntelliJ IDEA 2026 - Compared

PhpStorm

IntelliJ IDEA

WINNER IntelliJ IDEA

IntelliJ IDEA edges ahead with a score of 9.6/10 compared to 9.2/10 for PhpStorm. While both are highly rated in their r...

PhpStorm

9.2 Brilliant

Code Editor Get PhpStorm open_in_new

emoji_events WINNER

IntelliJ IDEA

9.6 Brilliant

Code Editor Get IntelliJ IDEA open_in_new

PhpStorm From $149.00/mo (Professional Edition) Free plan available

payments

IntelliJ IDEA From $149/mo for the professional edition or free community edition with limited features Free plan available

psychology AI Verdict

IntelliJ IDEA edges ahead with a score of 9.6/10 compared to 9.2/10 for PhpStorm. While both are highly rated in their respective fields, IntelliJ IDEA demonstrates a slight advantage in our AI ranking criteria. A detailed AI-powered analysis is being prepared for this comparison.

emoji_events Winner: IntelliJ IDEA

verified Confidence: Low

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description Overview

PhpStorm

PhpStorm, from JetBrains, remains the gold standard for PHP development in 2025. Its intelligent code completion, robust debugging tools, and deep integration with popular frameworks like Laravel and Symfony make it a powerhouse for professional PHP developers. It offers advanced refactoring capabilities, test automation, and a wealth of productivity features. While it's a paid product, the time...

IntelliJ IDEA

IntelliJ IDEA is the gold standard for JVM-based development. While it is a full-featured IDE rather than a simple editor, its deep understanding of code structure, advanced refactoring tools, and intelligent code completion make it indispensable for enterprise Java and Kotlin developers. It provides a highly optimized environment that anticipates developer needs, reducing boilerplate and catching...