Apache NetBeans vs Eclipse IDE
Apache NetBeans
netbeans.apache.org
Eclipse IDE
eclipseide.orgSide by side
| Figure | Apache NetBeans | Eclipse IDE |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Integrated Development Environments | 8.3 (#12) | 8.8 (#7) |
| Spec score · IDE Software | 8.3 (#13) | 8.9 (#5) |
| Spec score · Web Development IDEs | 8.3 (#15) | 8.9 (#5) |
| Founded | 1996 | 2004 |
| License | The IDE and Platform are free for commercial and non-commercial use under the Apache License. | Eclipse IDE is free and released under the Eclipse Public License 2.0, which includes royalty-free copyright and patent grants. |
Plans
In their own words
Apache NetBeans
Apache NetBeans is a development environment, tooling platform, and application framework for Linux, macOS, and Windows. Its editor highlights code by syntax and meaning and supports refactoring. Editors, wizards, and templates cover Java, PHP, and other languages, with plugins and linked support for JavaFX and JavaScript. The NetBeans Platform is a modular framework for Swing applications, with state saving, menus, toolbars, keyboard shortcuts, and window management. The IDE and Platform are free for commercial and non-commercial use under the Apache License; the listed plan is free. Apache NetBeans 31, dated August 10, 2026, supports running on JDK 26, 25, or 21, with initial support for JDK 27. Downloads include platform-independent binary and source ZIPs, plus linked installers for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Those installers are provided by committers for convenience, not as Apache Software Foundation releases. The release page provides SHA-512 hashes and PGP signatures. Windows/ARM is not fully supported, and older releases are no longer supported.
Eclipse IDE
Eclipse IDE has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.