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IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate

$19.90/mo or $199/yr

VS

PhpStorm 2025.3

$99.00/yr (1st year) - $59.00/yr (3rd year+)

Analysis

The definitive IDE for JVM development, now featuring a 'Unified Distribution' where professional tools are unlocked via subscription. Known for its unparalleled static analysis and the new 'Junie' AI agent, it remains the gold standard for complex enterprise Java/Kotlin, though its heavy resource footprint and high cost drive hobbyists toward AI-first editors.

Analysis

The industry's most specialized IDE for PHP and web development. The December 2025 'v2025.3' update features full PHP 8.5 support, native Claude Agent integration, and built-in Laravel support (via bundled Laravel Idea). It excels at WordPress development, complex refactoring, and deep code analysis. While it remains a paid subscription (unlike WebStorm), its efficiency in handling massive frameworks and its robust Xdebug integration make it the standard for professional PHP teams.

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The Breakdown

FeatureIntelliJ IDEA UltimatePhpStorm 2025.3
CategoryIDEIDE
Subscription Cost$19.90/mo or $199/yr$99.00/yr (1st year) - $59.00/yr (3rd year+)