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# BlueJ vs NetBeans Comparison - What are their main differences?

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Reviews

**BlueJ** [

4/5(203)

](https://www.g2.com/products/bluej/reviews#reviews)

**NetBeans** [

4.2/5(673)

](https://www.g2.com/products/netbeans/reviews#reviews)

Pricing

**BlueJ**
No pricing available

**NetBeans**
No pricing available

**Pricing Insights**
from reviews

Time to Implement

**BlueJ**
5 months

Based on 5 responses

**NetBeans**
3 monthsFaster

Based on 22 responses

Return on Investment

**BlueJ**
7 months5 months sooner

Based on 11 responses

**NetBeans**
12 months

Based on 14 responses

Perceived Cost

**BlueJ**
$$$$$

**NetBeans**
$$$$$

Average Discount

**BlueJ**
11%5% more

**NetBeans**
6%

Pros & Cons

**BlueJ**
[
Ease of Use (10)
](https://www.g2.com/products/bluej/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1121495&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
User Interface (8)
](https://www.g2.com/products/bluej/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1121794&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Limited Features (6)
](https://www.g2.com/products/bluej/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1121720&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Limited Plugin Support (4)
](https://www.g2.com/products/bluej/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1121785&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)

**NetBeans**
[
Cross-Platform Compatibility (1)
](https://www.g2.com/products/netbeans/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2434371&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Ease of Use (1)
](https://www.g2.com/products/netbeans/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2434377&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)

Integrations

**BlueJ**
Not enough data

**NetBeans**
[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_e4ae003c4d9b2b7615189af32032183d/git.png "Product Avatar Image")

Git

](https://www.g2.com/products/git/reviews)[
View all
](https://www.g2.com/products/netbeans/integrations)

Screenshots

**BlueJ**
 ![BlueJ screenshot](https://images.g2crowd.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=600,height=600,fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,/https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/attachment/file/36441/BlueJ_Screenshot-1.png)

**NetBeans**
 ![NetBeans screenshot](https://images.g2crowd.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=600,height=600,fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,/https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/attachment/file/20658/uploads_2Fe629765a-b346-4b5a-a66a-c672cf15ff27_2Fcode_editing.png)

Ratings

Meets Requirements

**BlueJ**

7.9

7.9163

**NetBeans**

8.5

8.5609

Ease of Use

**BlueJ**

8.7

8.7166

**NetBeans**

8.5

8.5611

Ease of Setup

**BlueJ**

8.6

8.645

**NetBeans**

8.5

8.5108

Ease of Admin

**BlueJ**

8.7

8.724

**NetBeans**

8.4

8.4104

Quality of Support

**BlueJ**

7.6

7.6137

**NetBeans**

7.8

7.8523

Has the product been a good partner in doing business?

**BlueJ**

7.4

7.420

**NetBeans**

8.1

8.185

Product Direction (% positive)

**BlueJ**

6.8

6.8153

**NetBeans**

7.4

7.4598

Features

PHP Integrated Development Environments (IDE)[Hide 7 FeaturesShow 7 Features](javascript:void(0);)

Not enough data

8.2

70

Functionality

Ease of Use

Not enough data

8.7(won by default)

55

File Management

Not enough data

8.4(won by default)

51

Multi-Language Support

Not enough data

8.3(won by default)

52

Customization

Not enough data

7.6(won by default)

53

Straight-Out-the-Box Functionality

Not enough data

8.1(won by default)

55

Help Guides

Not enough data

8.2(won by default)

55

Patching & Updates

Not enough data

8.1(won by default)

53

C/C++ Integrated Development Environments (IDE)[Hide 7 FeaturesShow 7 Features](javascript:void(0);)

Not enough data

8.5

60

Functionality

Ease of Use

Not enough data

8.9(won by default)

42

File Management

Not enough data

8.6(won by default)

42

Multi-Language Support

Not enough data

8.5(won by default)

41

Customization

Not enough data

8.2(won by default)

41

Straight-Out-the-Box Functionality

Not enough data

8.5(won by default)

41

Help Guides

Not enough data

8.3(won by default)

41

Patching & Updates

Not enough data

8.3(won by default)

41

User Insights

Reviewers' Company Size

[![BlueJ](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_6f0fbce397c3547cdf5e279e53814411/bluej.png "BlueJ")](https://www.g2.com/products/bluej/reviews)

BlueJ

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)

52.9%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)

20.9%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)

26.2%

[![NetBeans](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1487565581/netbeans.svg "NetBeans")](https://www.g2.com/products/netbeans/reviews)

NetBeans

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)

44.5%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)

30.7%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)

24.7%

Small-Business

(50 or fewer emp.)

52.9%

44.5%

Mid-Market

(51-1000 emp.)

20.9%

30.7%

Enterprise

(\> 1000 emp.)

26.2%

24.7%

Reviewers' Industry

[![BlueJ](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_6f0fbce397c3547cdf5e279e53814411/bluej.png "BlueJ")](https://www.g2.com/products/bluej/reviews)
BlueJ

Computer Software

33.5%

Information Technology and Services

16.2%

Higher Education

11.0%

Education Management

7.9%

Primary/Secondary Education

6.8%

Other

24.6%

[![NetBeans](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1487565581/netbeans.svg "NetBeans")](https://www.g2.com/products/netbeans/reviews)
NetBeans

Computer Software

33.5%

Information Technology and Services

22.2%

Internet

4.6%

Higher Education

4.6%

Program Development

3.7%

Other

31.4%

FAQs

## BlueJ vs NetBeans FAQs

Generated using AI

Last updated: August 14, 2026

### What is the difference between NetBeans vs BlueJ?

NetBeans is favored for its broader feature set and support, while BlueJ is recognized for its simplicity and educational focus.

| [NetBeans](https://www.g2.com/products/netbeans/reviews) | [BlueJ](https://www.g2.com/products/bluej/reviews) |
| --- | --- |
| 4.2/5 (675 reviews) | 4.0/5 (203 reviews) |
| Small-Business | Small-Business |
| 8.5 | 8.7 |
| 7.8 | 7.6 |
| Features | Ease of Use (10 all-time mentions) |

### How do the pricing models of NetBeans and BlueJ compare?

NetBeans and BlueJ are rated at parity for value, with both products receiving strong satisfaction scores for price and cost.

- **NetBeans:** In recent reviews, users highlight that NetBeans is free to use and offers a robust set of features, making it a strong value for developers.
- **BlueJ:** Reviewers consistently mention BlueJ's optimal pricing and suitability for beginners, emphasizing its accessibility for educational use.

### What are the best alternatives to NetBeans and BlueJ?

Eclipse, Visual Studio, and IntelliJ IDEA are the top three alternatives to NetBeans and BlueJ.

| Product | G2 Rating (reviews) | Largest Segment | Pricing Insight | Top Reviewer-Cited Strength |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [NetBeans](https://www.g2.com/products/netbeans/reviews) | 4.2/5 (675 reviews) | Small-Business | Free to use | Features |
| [BlueJ](https://www.g2.com/products/bluej/reviews) | 4.0/5 (203 reviews) | Small-Business | Optimal pricing for beginners | Ease of Use |
| [Eclipse](https://www.g2.com/products/eclipse/reviews) | 4.3/5 (3,221 reviews) | Enterprise | — | Extensive plugin ecosystem |
| [Visual Studio](https://www.g2.com/products/visual-studio/reviews) | 4.5/5 (4,004 reviews) | Small-Business | — | Comprehensive development tools |
| [IntelliJ IDEA](https://www.g2.com/products/intellij-idea/reviews) | 4.6/5 (2,389 reviews) | Enterprise | — | Advanced code intelligence |

### Which C/C++ Integrated Development Environments (IDE) features should I prioritize when comparing NetBeans and BlueJ?

Buyers comparing NetBeans and BlueJ should prioritize feature set, ease of use, integration capabilities, support quality, and suitability for project scale.

- **Feature set:** NetBeans is cited for its features (1 all-time mention); BlueJ is noted for limited features (6 all-time mentions).
- **Ease of use:** BlueJ receives 10 all-time mentions for ease of use; NetBeans is also recognized for ease of use (1 all-time mention).
- **Integration capabilities:** NetBeans is mentioned for integrations (1 all-time mention), including Git support; BlueJ is noted for limited plugin support (4 all-time mentions).
- **Support quality:** NetBeans scores 7.8 and BlueJ 7.6 on Quality of Support.
- **Suitability for project scale:** BlueJ is frequently described as best for beginners and small projects, while NetBeans is favored for more complex or professional development.

### What are the pros and cons of NetBeans vs BlueJ?

NetBeans stands out for its robust feature set, while BlueJ's headline strength is its simplicity and beginner-friendly interface.

- **NetBeans strengths:** Features (1 all-time mention), cross-platform compatibility, easy integrations, plugin support, user interface.
- **NetBeans trade-offs:** Reviewers note high memory consumption, slower performance on large projects, and an older UI design.
- **BlueJ strengths:** Ease of use (10 all-time mentions), user interface (8 all-time mentions), lightweight, strong for Java development and education.
- **BlueJ trade-offs:** Limited features (6 all-time mentions), limited plugin support (4 all-time mentions), less suitable for large or professional projects, and slower performance on complex tasks.

### Is NetBeans or BlueJ better for small businesses?

NetBeans is the better fit for small businesses, as both products are most popular in the Small-Business segment, but NetBeans offers broader capabilities for growing needs.

- **NetBeans:** Small-Business is the largest segment, with reviewers highlighting its free cost, cross-platform compatibility, and robust feature set for small teams.
- **BlueJ:** Small-Business is also the largest segment, with reviewers emphasizing its simplicity and suitability for educational or entry-level use in small organizations.

### Which C/C++ Integrated Development Environments (IDE) platform has better integrations?

NetBeans is favored for integrations, with reviewers specifically citing its Git integration.

- **NetBeans:** Git integration is mentioned in 63 all-time reviews, with recent reviewers highlighting easy integration with version control systems.
- **BlueJ:** No integrations are cited in recent reviews or all-time mention counts.

### How do NetBeans and BlueJ compare on customer support?

NetBeans and BlueJ are rated at parity for Quality of Support, with NetBeans at 7.8 and BlueJ at 7.6, a difference below the materiality threshold.

- **NetBeans:** Reviewers describe support as responsive and helpful, with several noting positive experiences resolving technical issues.
- **BlueJ:** Reviewers mention accessible support and helpful documentation, especially for beginners, but note that advanced support is limited.

### Which is easier to implement, NetBeans or BlueJ?

BlueJ has a slight edge in Ease of Setup, scoring 8.7 versus NetBeans' 8.5, which is below the materiality threshold for a clear winner.

- **NetBeans:** Reviewers describe setup as straightforward, with most installations completed easily, though some note additional configuration for advanced features.
- **BlueJ:** Reviewers consistently highlight its simple and quick setup process, especially for educational environments and new users.

Alternatives

**BlueJ Alternatives**

 ![Eclipse](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/99f6b354a419d817b55329e62b0ea83f/eclipse.svg "Eclipse")

[
Eclipse
](/products/eclipse/reviews)

 ![IntelliJ IDEA](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/345cf3094b01131abf0d6608092205fa/intellij-idea.svg "IntelliJ IDEA")

[
IntelliJ IDEA
](/products/intellij-idea/reviews)

 ![Visual Studio](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/646c72569089375221819d6efbe819a0/visual-studio.svg "Visual Studio")

[
Visual Studio
](/products/visual-studio/reviews)

 ![Oracle JDeveloper](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_58d1538482a605dc485b84e09d0cea9f/oracle-jdeveloper.png "Oracle JDeveloper")

[
Oracle JDeveloper
](/products/oracle-jdeveloper/reviews)

**NetBeans Alternatives**

 ![Eclipse](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/99f6b354a419d817b55329e62b0ea83f/eclipse.svg "Eclipse")

[
Eclipse
](/products/eclipse/reviews)

 ![Visual Studio](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/646c72569089375221819d6efbe819a0/visual-studio.svg "Visual Studio")

[
Visual Studio
](/products/visual-studio/reviews)

 ![Xcode](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1487565953/xcode.svg "Xcode")

[
Xcode
](/products/xcode/reviews)

 ![IntelliJ IDEA](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/345cf3094b01131abf0d6608092205fa/intellij-idea.svg "IntelliJ IDEA")

[
IntelliJ IDEA
](/products/intellij-idea/reviews)

## BlueJ vs NetBeans

When assessing the two solutions, reviewers found BlueJ easier to use, set up, and administer. However, reviewers preferred doing business with NetBeans overall.

- Reviewers felt that NetBeans meets the needs of their business better than BlueJ.
- When comparing quality of ongoing product support, reviewers felt that NetBeans is the preferred option.
- For feature updates and roadmaps, our reviewers preferred the direction of NetBeans over BlueJ.