I regularly develop in Python, Java, and Kotlin, and switching between PyCharm and IntelliJ can be frustrating. Is it possible to use IntelliJ for Python development? What are the pros and cons of using IntelliJ versus PyCharm for Python projects?
I’ve been in the same situation, juggling multiple languages. You can definitely use IntelliJ for Python, but you’ll need the Python plugin.
Once installed, it provides syntax highlighting, code completion, virtual environment support, and debugging, basically the core features you get in PyCharm.
I personally use IntelliJ for multi-language projects (Java + Python), so I don’t have to switch IDEs constantly.
It’s a solid solution if you like having everything under one roof.
On the other hand, PyCharm is purpose-built for Python development.
It has more advanced features out-of-the-box like Django support, scientific tools, database integration, and Python-specific inspections.
I’ve noticed it can save time on larger Python projects because of its specialized refactoring and testing tools.
If you mostly code in Python, PyCharm (even the free Community Edition) might be easier to work with.
Here’s how I personally weigh them:
-
IntelliJ + Python plugin → Great if you’re juggling Java, Kotlin, and Python in one IDE. Keeps your workflow consistent, but some Python-specific tools might be missing.
-
PyCharm → Best for pure Python projects. Everything is ready-to-go, and it’s optimized for Pythonic development.
-
Performance → Both are heavy IDEs, but IntelliJ can feel slower if you load too many plugins. PyCharm is slightly lighter if you only use Python.
For me, I usually stick to IntelliJ for multi-language projects and switch to PyCharm only when I need advanced Python tools like Django debugging or scientific computing support.