GNU Emacs Alternatives

GNU Emacs is described as 'extensible, customizable text editor—and more. At its core n interpreter for Emacs Lisp, a dialect of the Lisp programming language with extensions to support text editing. The features of GNU Emacs include:' and is a very popular Text Editor in the development category. There are more than 100 alternatives to GNU Emacs for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, BSD and Chrome OS. The best alternative is Visual Studio Code, which is free. Other great apps like GNU Emacs are Notepad++, Sublime Text, VSCodium and Vim.

GNU Emacs alternatives are mainly Text Editors but may also be Code Editors or IDEs. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of GNU Emacs.

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GNU Emacs

355

Free • Open Source
Text Editor

Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
Haiku
Homebrew
Android
F-Droid

GNU Emacs is an extensible, customizable text editor—and more. At its core is an interpreter for Emacs Lisp, a dialect of...

Learn more about GNU Emacs

Visual Studio Code
Is this a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Proprietary
Code Editor
Text Editor
IDE
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
Chrome OS
188 alternatives to Visual Studio Code
Visual Studio Code is a free and extensible code editor for building web, desktop, and mobile applications, using any programming language and framework.
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Visual Studio Code Features
1. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsVisual Studio Code can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
2. AutocompletionVisual Studio Code can predict and complete the rest of a word or phrase you're typing.
3. Syntax HighlightingVisual Studio Code supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
4. Git SupportVisual Studio Code supports Git, a free and open source distributed version control system.
5. Support for ThemesYou can use themes and templates to change the look and feel of Visual Studio Code.
6. Dark ModeVisual Studio Code supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
7. Support for MarkDownVisual Studio Code supports MarkDown for document formatting.
8. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in Visual Studio Code without registration.
9. Code FormattingVisual Studio Code supports code formatting for multiple languages and code styles.
Customizable
Built-in terminal emulation
Code Completion
Multiple languages
GitHub integration
Source code debugging
Supports Python
C++
Graphical User Interface
Multiple Cursors
Notepad++
Is this a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Text Editor
Code Editor
Windows
PortableApps.com
215 alternatives to Notepad++
Notepad++ is a free source code editor and Notepad replacement that supports several languages.
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Notepad++ Features
1. LightweightNotepad++ consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. Code FormattingNotepad++ supports code formatting for multiple languages and code styles.
3. PortableNotepad++ can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
4. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsNotepad++ can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
5. AutocompletionNotepad++ can predict and complete the rest of a word or phrase you're typing.
6. Syntax HighlightingNotepad++ supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
7. Live PreviewInstantly see what your files and documents look like as you create them.
Tabbed interface
Text formatting
Search and Replace
Support for Javascript
Color coding
Multiple languages
Debugging
Configurable
Multiple Open Tabs
Built-in themes
Notepad++ vs GNU Emacs
pros, cons and recent comments
Guest
Many possibilities for all languages and the plugins are great.
Positive comment• ago

0
Sublime Text
Is this a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Text Editor
Code Editor
IDE
Mac
Windows
Linux
189 alternatives to Sublime Text
Sublime Text is a sophisticated text editor for code, html and prose - any kind of text file. You'll love the slick user interface and extraordinary features.
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Sublime Text Features
1. LightweightSublime Text consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsSublime Text can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
3. Syntax HighlightingSublime Text supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
4. Dark ModeSublime Text supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
5. Distraction-freeSublime Text has a distraction-free mode for when you need to focus.
6. PortableSublime Text can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
7. AutocompletionSublime Text can predict and complete the rest of a word or phrase you're typing.
Customizable
Package Control
Multiple Cursors
Clean design
Text editing
Font Ligature Support
Simple text editor
Code review
High-dpi support
Git integration
VSCodium
Is this a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Code Editor
Text Editor
IDE
Mac
Windows
Linux
Electron / Atom Shell
Code - OSS (vscode)
177 alternatives to VSCodium
This repository contains a build file to generate FLOSS release binaries of Microsoft's Visual Studio Code - Open Source ("Code - OSS") project, the open source core of the proprietary Visual Studio Code.
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VSCodium Features
1. No TrackingVSCodium will not track you or use your personal data.
2. Privacy focusedVSCodium is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
3. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsVSCodium can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
4. Works OfflineVSCodium can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
5. AutocompletionVSCodium can predict and complete the rest of a word or phrase you're typing.
6. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in VSCodium without registration.
7. LightweightVSCodium consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
8. Support for ThemesYou can use themes and templates to change the look and feel of VSCodium.
9. Syntax HighlightingVSCodium supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
Prevent telemetry
Customizable
Minimap
Git integration
MIT License
Clean design
Code Completion
Support for MarkDown
Support for Javascript
Git Support
Vim
Is this a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Text Editor
Code Editor
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
Haiku
AmigaOS
OpenSolaris
MorphOS
193 alternatives to Vim
Vim ("Vi IMproved") is an advanced text editor that allows syntax highlighting, word completion and has a huge amount of contributed content. It also has a GUI version called GVim.
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Vim Features
1. LightweightVim consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsVim can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
3. Syntax HighlightingVim supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
4. Command line interfaceVim either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
5. Support for MarkDownVim supports MarkDown for document formatting.
6. Works OfflineVim can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
7. Batch EditingVim allows you to select multiple items (tasks, files, images etc) and edit their properties all at once.
8. Spell CheckingVim can detect and correct all types of grammar and spelling mistakes.
Keyboard focused
Customizable
Hackable
Well documented
Code Syntax Highlighting
Configurable
Modal editor
Built-in terminal emulation
Terminal-based
Plugin manager
Vim vs GNU Emacs
Almost everyone thinks Vim is a great alternative to GNU Emacs.
Guest
Vim is nowhere near as extensible as Emacs. Vim is designed to do 1 thing and do 1 thing well. In comparison, Emacs is supposed to do everything.
Negative comment• ago

0
Eclipse
Is this a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
IDE
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
156 alternatives to Eclipse
Eclipse is an extensible development platform with runtimes and application frameworks for building, deploying and managing software across the entire software lifecycle. Many people know Eclipse as a Java IDE, but it is much more than that- Eclipse actually consists of over 60...
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Eclipse Features
1. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsEclipse can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
2. AutocompletionEclipse can predict and complete the rest of a word or phrase you're typing.
3. Support for ThemesYou can use themes and templates to change the look and feel of Eclipse.
Java IDE
Refactoring
C++
Debugging
Rich Client Platform
Ruby
Java based
Collaborative Workspaces
SCM Integration
Kate
Is this a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Text Editor
Code Editor
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
KDE
127 alternatives to Kate
The Kate project develops two main products: KatePart, the advanced editor component which is used in numerous KDE applications requiring a text editing component, and Kate, a MDI text editor application.
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Kate Features
1. Syntax HighlightingKate supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
2. Code FormattingKate supports code formatting for multiple languages and code styles.
3. LightweightKate consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
4. Support for MarkDownKate supports MarkDown for document formatting.
5. Git SupportKate supports Git, a free and open source distributed version control system.
6. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsKate can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
Native application
Editable text color schemes
Themes
Built-in terminal emulation
Tabbed interface
Built-in themes
Support for regular expressions
Neovim
Is this a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Text Editor
Code Editor
IDE
Mac
Windows
Linux
Android
BSD
82 alternatives to Neovim
Neovim is Vim out of the box.
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Neovim Features
1. LightweightNeovim consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsNeovim can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
3. Syntax HighlightingNeovim supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
Configurable
Terminal-based
Asynchronous
Lua scripting
Sane defaults
Vim
GNU nano
Is this a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Text Editor
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
Haiku
132 alternatives to GNU nano
GNU nano is a small and friendly text editor. Besides basic text editing, nano offers many extra features like an interactive search and replace, go to line and column number, auto-indentation, feature toggles, internationalization support, and filename tab completion.
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GNU nano Features
1. Command line interfaceGNU nano either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
Terminal-based
Search and Replace
Automatic Indentation
GNU nano vs GNU Emacs
pros, cons and recent comments
Guest
GNU nano is a simple text editor from the terminal, GNU emacs is meant to be much larger than a text editor.
Negative comment• ago

0
Geany
Is this a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Text Editor
Code Editor
IDE
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
PortableApps.com
Xfce
133 alternatives to Geany
Geany is a small and lightweight Integrated Development Environment. It was developed to provide a small and fast IDE, which has only a few dependencies from other packages. Another goal was to be as independent as possible from a special Desktop Environment like KDE or GNOME -...
Suggest and vote on features
Geany Features
1. LightweightGeany consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. Support for ThemesYou can use themes and templates to change the look and feel of Geany.
3. Syntax HighlightingGeany supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
4. Ad-freeGeany doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
5. Distraction-freeGeany has a distraction-free mode for when you need to focus.
6. Spell CheckingGeany can detect and correct all types of grammar and spelling mistakes.
7. PortableGeany can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Multiplatform
Minimalistic
Code navigation
Shell integration
Automatic Indentation
Debian package compatible
Shortcut keys
Support for Large File
Built-in terminal emulation
Customizable