PhpStorm Junie AI Re-Review: Compared to Cursor / Claude Code

Summary

In this re-review, the reviewer dives into JetBrains' Juny AI, comparing its improvements since the initial release. While Juny has become faster, more stable, and more reliable, it still lags behind market leaders like Cursor and Cloud Code in some areas. The reviewer highlights Juny’s structured UX, solid integration with PHP Storm, and the inclusion of GPT-5, but also points out several UX issues, including its handling of code testing, which could pose risks. The video concludes with a discussion on pricing and the future of Juny in the competitive AI IDE market.

Takeaways

• 😀 Juny, the smart coding agent from JetBrains, has significantly improved since its release in May 2025, becoming faster, more stable, and more usable over time.
• 😀 Juny is not yet on par with top competitors like Claude Code and Cursor, though it does have a strong foundation and useful features for PHP Storm users.
• 😀 Juny’s interface offers a structured and visual way to display tasks, making it easier to follow AI-generated plans and actions compared to other AI editors that often present information as a wall of text.
• 😀 A key improvement in Juny is its use of Sonet 4 as a model, which is much better than the previous Sonet 3.7 model, making Juny perform faster and more reliably.
• 😀 Juny supports GPT-5, but despite being available from day one, the model is slower and sometimes prone to hallucinations. The reviewer prefers staying with Sonet 4 for now.
• 😀 While Juny has essential AI IDE features like code guidelines, context integration, and server settings, it lacks some smaller UX elements, such as easier file referencing and keyboard shortcuts.
• 😀 A major downside is Juny’s inability to handle image inputs in prompts, a feature available in other AI IDEs, and the lack of a quick way to reference files with a symbol.
• 😀 The small font size in Juny is a usability issue, especially for users with visual difficulties. There is no clear option to adjust the font size without impacting other parts of PHP Storm.
• 😀 A critical 'red flag' with Juny is its testing process, where it runs commands like migrations and tests directly on the real database, which can result in unwanted data loss if the system isn't used carefully.
• 😀 The pricing model of Juny, including the Ultimate plan, seems reasonable at around €20-30 per month, but the reviewer suggests alternatives like cloud code with Sonet, which offers better value for money.

Q & A

What was the initial impression of Juny when it was first reviewed in May 2025?

The initial review of Juny in May 2025 had mixed emotions, with the reviewer noting that it wasn't on par with other AI coding tools like Cursor at the time.

Has Juny improved since its initial release?

Yes, Juny has significantly improved in terms of speed, stability, and usability since the initial release. The reviewer mentions that it is now much more functional.

How does Juny compare to market leaders like Claude Code and Cursor?

Juny is considered on par with market leaders in some respects but still has room for improvement in terms of UX and small features. It is praised for getting faster and more reliable, but it still lags behind tools like Cursor and Claude Code in certain areas.

What specific feature of Juny does the reviewer appreciate the most?

The reviewer appreciates Juny's structured UX, especially the display of a plan and visual breakdown of tasks. This makes it easier to follow the AI's process compared to other tools that sometimes just output a wall of text.

What is one major limitation or issue the reviewer found with Juny during usage?

One major issue with Juny is that it lacks some essential UX features, such as the ability to input images into prompts, assign files with a keyboard shortcut, and increase font size without affecting other parts of PHPStorm.

What kind of problems did the reviewer experience when using Juny’s testing functionality?

The reviewer encountered problems when Juny executed terminal commands without proper user permission, leading to potential issues such as wiping a database during testing. The lack of safeguards in 'brave mode' is seen as a red flag.

Why does the reviewer suggest being cautious about trusting Juny’s generated code?

The reviewer advises caution because Juny sometimes runs code that can affect real databases, as seen in the examples provided where generated tests modified actual data without user control. This is why backup practices are recommended when using Juny.

How does Juny handle model selection, and what improvements were made with the release of GPT-5?

Juny initially had limited model options, but with the release of GPT-5, it became available in Juny right away. However, the reviewer is not entirely impressed with GPT-5's performance, stating that it is slower and occasionally produces hallucinations. As a result, they prefer to stick with Sonet 4.

What are some of the small user experience issues with Juny that make the tool less efficient?

Some small UX issues include the need for additional clicks to reference files, inability to add symbols directly in prompts, and a lack of keyboard shortcuts to activate Juny. These issues make using Juny feel slower compared to competitors.

How does the pricing of Juny compare to other AI coding assistants like Cursor and Cloud Code?

Juny's pricing seems competitive, with the reviewer mentioning the AI Ultimate plan costing around €20 to €30 per month. This includes access to Juny Ultimate. In contrast, Cursor's pricing is higher, as the $20 plan can be used up quickly, while Cloud Code's pricing for Sonet is considered one of the best deals for value.

What are the reviewer’s overall thoughts on Juny’s future in comparison to other AI tools?

The reviewer believes that Juny will always be a little behind tools like Cloud Code and Cursor because JetBrains is a larger company with a slower pace of innovation. However, Juny's goal is to serve PHPStorm users, which gives it a niche audience rather than competing directly with AI-only tools.