Best Foundation Alternatives in 2025
Looking for alternatives to Foundation? In this comparison, we take a closer look at Foundation alongside similar software solutions including Foundation, Apache NetBeans IDE, NetBeans IDE and IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition.
Our detailed comparison table highlights key features, pricing, and performance of these leading solutions, empowering you to make an informed decision. Whether you're seeking robust functionality, user-friendly design, or cost-effective alternatives, explore how Foundation, Apache NetBeans IDE, NetBeans IDE and IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition stack up to find the perfect software for your goals.
License
 Foundation
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Open-source under the Apache License maintained by the Apache Software Foundation. |
 Apache NetBeans IDE
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Free and open-source software under the Apache License. |
 NetBeans IDE
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Open-source software under the Apache License. |
 IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition
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Free and open-source under the Apache License (Community Edition). |
Supported Programming Languages
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Foundation
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Supports a wide range of programming languages including Java, Python, Ruby, and some less popular languages. |
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Apache NetBeans IDE
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Supports Java, JavaScript, PHP, HTML5, CSS and some other languages. |
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NetBeans IDE
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Supports Java, JavaScript, PHP, C++, C/C++, CSS, HTML and others. |
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IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition
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Supports Java, Kotlin, Groovy, Scala, JavaScript, HTML/CSS and others. |
Key Features
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Foundation
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Provides a robust modular architecture for open-source software development with comprehensive documentation and community collaboration tools. |
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Apache NetBeans IDE
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Includes GUI builder, debugger, profiler, version control integration, code editor with auto-completion and syntax highlighting. |
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NetBeans IDE
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Features integrated development environment with modular architecture, strong plugin ecosystem, built-in version control integration (Git, Subversion, Mercurial), debugging tools. |
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IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition
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Offers intelligent code completion, advanced debugging and refactoring tools, integration with build tools like Maven and Gradle, version control systems integration. |
Supported Platforms
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Foundation
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Cross-platform support as it is a framework for software development projects. |
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Apache NetBeans IDE
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Cross-platform including Windows, Linux, macOS, Solaris. |
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NetBeans IDE
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Cross-platform including Windows, Linux, macOS. |
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IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition
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Cross-platform including Windows, Linux, macOS. |
Community and Support
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Foundation
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Strong community support with active development and governance by the Apache Software Foundation. |
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Apache NetBeans IDE
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Community support through mailing lists and forums; open-source contributions accepted. |
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NetBeans IDE
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Community-driven content with forums and mailing lists; some stability issues reported. |
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IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition
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Community support via various online forums and GitHub repository; no official JetBrains support in Community Edition. |
Choosing the right software isn’t just about features. Size, license type, user ratings, and popularity also matter.
This quick comparison shows how Foundation stacks up against Foundation, Apache NetBeans IDE, NetBeans IDE and IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition in these key areas—helping you find the best alternative for your needs.
Size
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Foundation
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13.6MB |
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Apache NetBeans IDE
|
|
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NetBeans IDE
|
|
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IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition
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856.8MB |
License
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Foundation
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Shareware |
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Apache NetBeans IDE
|
Shareware |
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NetBeans IDE
|
Open Source |
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IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition
|
Shareware |