Tool profile
Apache NetBeans: cost, fit and limits
Apache NetBeans is a free, open source integrated development environment from The Apache Software Foundation that provides editors, wizards and templates for Java, PHP and many other languages, licensed under the Apache License 2.0. It targets Java developers.
What to know first
Apache NetBeans is a free IDE with editors, wizards and templates for Java, PHP and many other languages, licensed under Apache License 2.0. The homepage names no AI feature and shows no price line. Contributions arrive through pull requests, issues and discussions, and support runs through community mailing lists and channels. Commercial support is listed on a separate page. Its pages list no price for that service.
Apache NetBeans at a glance
| Maker | The Apache Software Foundation, Not stated on the vendor pages |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes |
| Entry price | Free |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI Code Editors in 2026, rank 12 of 13 |
| Website | netbeans.apache.org |
Who Apache NetBeans is best for
Java and PHP developers
Editors, wizards and templates for Java, PHP and many other languages come with the IDE, per the homepage, which speeds up the start of new projects.
Open source contributors
The homepage invites contribution via pull requests, issues and discussions, which suits developers who want to shape the tool and report problems directly.
Teams that want a foundation-run project
Trademarks belong to The Apache Software Foundation, and the site follows its privacy policy, a governance model some organizations prefer.
Apache NetBeans plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Apache NetBeans | Free | Licensed under the Apache License 2.0, with editors, wizards and templates for Java, PHP and other languages; no price line is shown. |
Checked November 2026.
What Apache NetBeans does
- Language wizards and templates
- Wizards and templates cover Java, PHP and many other languages, which speeds up new project creation and keeps the starting structure consistent across a team.
- Apache License 2.0
- The code is licensed under the Apache License 2.0, a permissive license that many companies accept without a long legal review, so adoption is simple for most organizations.
- Open contribution
- Pull requests, issues and discussions are the routes to contribute, according to the homepage, so users with a bug or a missing feature can take part in fixing it.
- Community channels
- Community mailing lists and Slack, Twitter and YouTube channels are listed for help and news, which gives new users several places to ask questions and follow releases.
How Apache NetBeans handles your data
The Apache NetBeans website follows the Apache Software Foundation privacy policy, according to the homepage. No AI feature is named, so no AI training, retention or hosting statements apply to the IDE itself. Certifications were not stated. Any plugin that connects to an outside service carries its own data practices, and the vendor's policy on the IDE's runtime behavior was not checked for this.
Where Apache NetBeans falls short in practice
- Community support. Support runs through community mailing lists and chat channels, so response times are not guaranteed and a team needing a service level has to look elsewhere.
- No named AI. No AI feature is named on the vendor pages, so assistants would come from outside tools, and the pages we read name no plugin that would add one.
- Commercial support unclear. Commercial support is listed on a separate page that we did not open, so its terms and price are not described here and a buyer must check them directly.
Alternatives to Apache NetBeans
Apache NetBeans: common questions
Is Apache NetBeans free?
Yes. The homepage says it is licensed under the Apache License 2.0 and shows no price line or paid tier. Commercial support is listed as a separate page that we did not open, so costs for that service are not stated here.
Does Apache NetBeans have AI features?
No AI feature is named on the Apache NetBeans homepage. The page lists editors, wizards and templates for Java, PHP and many other languages. Developers who want AI help would use an outside assistant, which the pages we read do not describe.
Which languages does Apache NetBeans support?
The homepage says it provides editors, wizards and templates for Java, PHP and many other languages. It does not give a complete list on the page we read, so check the feature pages for your language before relying on it.
How do I get help with Apache NetBeans?
Support runs through community mailing lists, and the homepage also lists Slack, Twitter and YouTube channels. Commercial support is listed as a separate page that we did not open. Response times are not stated, so plan for community speeds. Ask on the lists first.
Who owns Apache NetBeans?
The homepage says trademarks belong to The Apache Software Foundation, and the website follows the Foundation's privacy policy. The headquarters country is not stated on the vendor pages we read, so we do not give one here. Project governance runs through the Foundation.