JetBrains Startup Program
SaaS Startup Programs
Up to 100% off
JetBrains offers startups an exclusive 50% discount on its suite of developer tools, providing long-term access and support to accelerate innovation.
Who qualifies
Every condition below is taken from the vendor’s own published criteria. Read them before you spend an afternoon on the application.
Under 5 years old
The company must be less than 5 years old, measured from incorporation rather than launch. Predecessor entities and reincorporations are usually counted from the original date.
Startups
The programme is aimed at startups. Vendors read this loosely, but expect to describe the company and what you are building on the application.
JetBrains offers startups an exclusive 50% discount on its suite of developer tools, providing long-term access and support to accelerate innovation.
About JetBrains Startup Program
Quick answer
JetBrains offers startups an exclusive 50% discount on its suite of developer tools, providing long-term access and support to accelerate innovation.
JetBrains is a leading provider of intelligent developer IDEs and team collaboration tools used by millions of engineers worldwide. The Startup Program offers privately held companies founded within the last 5 years a 50% discount on its entire product suite—including IDEs, team tools, and AI Assistant Pro—for up to 10 users, valid for 5 years. Accelerator and incubator-backed startups receive an additional 6 months of free access upfront, plus 24/7 priority support.
JetBrains Startup Program at a glance
JetBrains is a leading provider of intelligent developer IDEs and team collaboration tools used by millions of engineers worldwide. The Startup Program offers privately held companies founded within the last 5 years a 50% discount on its entire product suite—including IDEs, team tools, and AI Assistant Pro—for up to 10 users, valid for 5 years. Accelerator and incubator-backed startups receive an additional 6 months of free access upfront, plus 24/7 priority support.
- 50%Discount on all JetBrains tools
- 10 usersMax team size covered
- 5 yearsProgram duration
- 6 monthsFree access for accelerator-backed startups
The JetBrains Startup Program offer explained
JetBrains provides a flat 50% discount on all paid licenses (IDEs, Space, AI Assistant Pro) for up to 10 team members, renewable annually for 5 years total. Startups backed by an incubator or accelerator receive 6 months of completely free access first, then transition to the 50% discount. No equity, revenue share, or VC requirement—only proof of founding date and active online presence.
Heads up: credit programs change their terms and caps regularly — confirm the current offer on the application page before you plan around it.
Apply to JetBrains Startup ProgramHow JetBrains Startup Program compares
Here's how JetBrains Startup Program stacks up against other discounted SaaS access in the same category:
| Program | Headline offer | Category |
|---|---|---|
| JetBrains Startup Program | Up to 100% off | This page |
| Twilio Segment Startup Program | $50,000 in credits | SaaS Startup Programs |
| Sentry Startup Program | Up to 10% off | SaaS Startup Programs |
| Shopify 3 Month Trial | Up to 99% off | SaaS Startup Programs |
Who should apply — and who shouldn't
Apply if
- Your team actively uses or plans to adopt JetBrains IDEs (IntelliJ, PyCharm, WebStorm, etc.) as your primary development environment.
- You're part of an accelerator or incubator cohort and can claim 6 months of free access before the discount begins.
- You have 3–10 engineers and want to standardize on a single, powerful IDE suite across the team.
- You value AI-assisted coding and want to include JetBrains AI Assistant Pro in your stack at half price.
Skip if
- Your team exclusively uses free or open-source IDEs (VS Code, Vim) and has no plans to migrate.
- Your startup is older than 5 years or is already a public company—you won't qualify.
- You need credits or discounts on non-IDE tools (hosting, databases, CI/CD)—JetBrains only covers its own product suite.
More SaaS Startup Programs
If JetBrains Startup Program isn't the right fit, compare it against Twilio Segment Startup Program, Sentry Startup Program, Shopify 3 Month Trial, Signzy for Startups Program — or browse the full SaaS Startup Programs category.
What the credit covers
- 50% discount on all JetBrains IDEs (IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, WebStorm, RubyMine, GoLand, etc.)
- Discounted access to JetBrains Space (team collaboration and CI/CD)
- AI Assistant Pro included at half price
- Up to 10 users per license tier
- 5-year program validity
- No equity or revenue-share requirement
- 6 months free access for accelerator-backed startups
- 24/7 priority support for incubator/accelerator cohorts
- Annual renewal option throughout the 5-year term
- Covers all major programming languages and frameworks
Programme tracks
What JetBrains Startup Program publishes for each stage — confirm on the application, since credit programmes are re-cut more often than list pricing.
| Track | Value | Who it is for | What it includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Startup Program | 50% off | Annual renewal for 5 years | All JetBrains IDEs at 50% discount · JetBrains Space at 50% discount · AI Assistant Pro at 50% discount · Up to 10 users · 5-year program validity · Email support |
| Accelerator/Incubator Program | 6 months free, then 50% off | 6 months free + 4.5 years at 50% discount | All JetBrains IDEs free for 6 months, then 50% off · JetBrains Space free for 6 months, then 50% off · AI Assistant Pro free for 6 months, then 50% off · Up to 10 users · 24/7 priority support · Remaining 4.5 years at 50% discount |
How to apply
4 steps. The last one is the part most people skip.
- 1
Open JetBrains Startup Program through the link on this page
It carries our referral tag. The terms you get are identical either way, and it never changes what this page says about the programme.
- 2
Have the eligibility evidence ready
Applications are checked against 2 conditions — under 5 years old, startups. Incorporation date, cap table and a one-line description of what you are building cover most of it.
- 3
Size the migration against the 60 months window
Credits start burning from activation, not from when you get round to using them. Work out what you will genuinely consume in that window before you move production workloads across.
- 4
Know the rate you land on when it runs out
JetBrains offers startups an exclusive 50% discount on its suite of developer tools, providing long-term access and support to accelerate innovation.
Where this programme wins and loses
What works
- No equity or revenue share Unlike many startup programs, JetBrains doesn't take a cut of your company or future revenue.
- Long program duration 5-year validity gives you predictable, discounted tooling costs through Series A and beyond.
- Covers entire suite Discount applies to all JetBrains products—IDEs, Space (team collaboration), AI Assistant Pro, and more.
- Up to 10 users Enough for most early-stage teams; scales with your hiring without reapplying.
- Accelerator bonus Incubator/accelerator-backed startups get 6 months completely free before the discount starts.
- Priority support for accelerator cohorts 24/7 support access for program participants adds operational value beyond the discount.
What doesn't
- 5-year age limit Startups older than 5 years are ineligible, even if still early-stage; no exceptions for bootstrapped companies.
- Capped at 10 users Larger teams will need to purchase additional licenses at full or discounted rates; not a true unlimited team benefit.
- Requires active online presence Stealth-mode startups or those without a public website may struggle to meet the 'verifiable presence' requirement.
The bottom line
The 50% discount on JetBrains' full suite for 5 years is substantial for dev-heavy startups, with no equity or revenue-share strings attached. Eligibility is straightforward (founding date + online presence), and accelerator-backed teams gain an extra 6 months free—making this a high-ROI program for teams already committed to JetBrains tools.
JetBrains Startup Program FAQ
The questions we actually get asked about this programme.
Ask us something elsePrivately held companies founded within the last 5 years with a verifiable online presence (website, social media, etc.). Public companies and startups older than 5 years are not eligible.
The 50% discount is valid for 5 years from approval, renewable annually. Accelerator-backed startups receive 6 months of free access first, then the discount applies for the remaining 4.5 years.
No. The standard Startup Program requires only proof of founding date and online presence. However, accelerator/incubator-backed startups unlock additional benefits (6 months free + priority support).
You'll transition to standard pricing unless you reapply (if still eligible) or negotiate a renewal. JetBrains does not automatically extend the discount.
Typically, no. The Startup Program discount is standalone and cannot be stacked with other promotional offers. Check with JetBrains support for edge cases.
JetBrains typically reviews applications within 1–2 weeks. Accelerator-backed startups may have expedited review if submitted through their partner portal.
