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Leafpad Alternatives for Mac

There are many alternatives to Leafpad for Mac and since it's discontinued a lot of people are looking for a replacement. The best Mac alternative is Visual Studio Code, which is free. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to Leafpad and many of them are available for Mac so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Mac alternatives to Leafpad are Sublime Text, Atom, Vim and VSCodium.

Leafpad 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 Leafpad.
This page was last updated
Leafpad iconLeafpad
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  • Mac
  • Linux
  • BSD
  • Cygwin
  • MacPorts

Leafpad is a lightweight text editor that emphasizes simplicity. As development focuses on keeping weight down to a...

Learn more about Leafpad
  1. Visual Studio Code icon

    Visual Studio Code

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    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Chrome OS
    185 alternatives to Visual Studio Code 

    Visual Studio Code is a free, lightweight, and extensible code editor for building web, desktop, and mobile applications, using any programming language and framework.

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    Features
    1.  Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsVisual Studio Code can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
    2.  LightweightVisual Studio Code consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
    3.  AutocompletionVisual Studio Code can predict and complete the rest of a word or phrase you're typing.
    4.  Syntax HighlightingVisual Studio Code supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
    5.  Git SupportVisual Studio Code supports Git, a free and open source distributed version control system.
    6.  Support for ThemesYou can use themes and templates to change the look and feel of Visual Studio Code.
    7.  Dark ModeVisual Studio Code supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
    8.  Support for MarkDownVisual Studio Code supports MarkDown for document formatting.
    9.  No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in Visual Studio Code without registration.
    Screenshot
    Screenshot
  2. Sublime Text icon

    Sublime Text

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    • 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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    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.
    Edit side by side in widescreen
    Multiple Selections
  4. Atom icon

    Atom

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    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Chrome OS
    • BSD
    • Electron / Atom Shell
    193 alternatives to Atom 

    Atom is an open-source, Electron based text editor with a massive ecosystem of plugins and themes that are easily accessible through a built-in package manager. Being built with Electron, it uses web technology (HTML, CSS, JavaScript and Node.

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    Features
    1.  Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsAtom can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
    2.  Git SupportAtom supports Git, a free and open source distributed version control system.
    3.  Support for ThemesYou can use themes and templates to change the look and feel of Atom.
    4.  Live PreviewInstantly see what your files and documents look like as you create them.
    5.  Syntax HighlightingAtom supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
    6.  Dark ModeAtom supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
    7.  Distraction-freeAtom has a distraction-free mode for when you need to focus.
    8.  AutocompletionAtom can predict and complete the rest of a word or phrase you're typing.
    9.  Real time collaborationMultiple users can work together in Atom simultaneously.
    Discontinued

    Atom will be discontinued at the end of 2022: https://github.blog/2022-06-08-sunsetting-atom/

    Intro screen
    Command palette
    Atom vs Leafpad opinions
    Most users think Atom is a great alternative to Leafpad.
  5. Vim icon

    Vim

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    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Haiku
    • AmigaOS
    • OpenSolaris
    • MorphOS
    192 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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    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.  Support for MarkDownVim supports MarkDown for document formatting.
    5.  Command line interfaceVim either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
    6.  Spell CheckingVim can detect and correct all types of grammar and spelling mistakes.
    7.  Batch EditingVim allows you to select multiple items (tasks, files, images etc) and edit their properties all at once.
    Screenshot
    GVim with netrw+airlines+ctrlspace+xkb-switch+monokai theme+Source Pro font
    Plugin Gitgutter shows added lines as '+' and altere as '~'.
    Vim vs Leafpad opinions
    Some users think Vim is a great alternative to Leafpad, some don't.
    Guest

    Leafpad is GUI and very simple. Vim is a terminal based power tool. They are completely incomparable.

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    rescuezilla

    I love vim, but it has an extremely steep learning curve and is terminal-based. Leafpad is a grandma-friendly graphical application for viewing and editing plain text files (in other words notepad.exe for Linux).

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  6. VSCodium icon

    VSCodium

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    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Electron / Atom Shell
    • Code - OSS (vscode)
    175 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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    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.  No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in VSCodium without registration.
    6.  LightweightVSCodium consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
    7.  Syntax HighlightingVSCodium supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
    8.  Support for ThemesYou can use themes and templates to change the look and feel of VSCodium.
    9.  Support for MarkDownVSCodium supports MarkDown for document formatting.
    Screenshot
  8. Kate icon

    Kate

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    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • KDE
    128 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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    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.  Support for MarkDownKate supports MarkDown for document formatting.
    4.  LightweightKate consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
    Screenshot
    Screenshot
  9. GNU nano icon

    GNU nano

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    • Mac
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    • 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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    Features
    1.  Command line interfaceGNU nano either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
    Screenshot
    Screenshot
    Color syntax
    GNU nano vs Leafpad opinions
    pros, cons and recent comments
    rescuezilla

    Nano is not a drop-in Leafpad replacement, but definitely suitable for users willing to use a terminal to view and edit plain text. It's lightweight and provides clear explanation on how to save/exit files. Nano is a great application for newbie Linux users to editing configuration files on headless machines like routers and server, since they don't need the advanced features and learning curve of Vim/vi.

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  10. gedit icon

    gedit

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    • Mac
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    • Linux
    • Chrome OS
    • BSD
    • GNOME
    • OpenSolaris
    169 alternatives to gedit 

    Official text editor of the GNOME desktop environment. Has syntax highlighting and is suitable for programming, with support for several languages. It is extensible with plugins.

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    Features
    1.  Lightweightgedit consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
    2.  Syntax Highlightinggedit supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
    3.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensionsgedit can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
    4.  Autocompletiongedit can predict and complete the rest of a word or phrase you're typing.
    5.  Spell Checkinggedit can detect and correct all types of grammar and spelling mistakes.
    The Default look under GNOME with Adwaita
    Screenshot
  11. Neovim icon

    Neovim

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    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • BSD
    81 alternatives to Neovim 

    Neovim is Vim out of the box.

     Suggest and vote on features
    Features
    1.  Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsNeovim can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
    2.  LightweightNeovim consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
    3.  Syntax HighlightingNeovim supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
    Screenshot
  12. GNU Emacs icon

    GNU Emacs

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    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Haiku
    • Homebrew
    159 alternatives to GNU Emacs 

    GNU Emacs is an extensible, customizable text editor—and more. At its core is an interpreter for Emacs Lisp, a dialect of the Lisp programming language with extensions to support text editing. The features of GNU Emacs include:

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    Features
    1.  Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsGNU Emacs can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
    2.  Syntax HighlightingGNU Emacs supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
    3.  Support for scriptingGNU Emacs supports scripts and macros to automate or customize tasks.
    Emacs can compare two files and highlight their differences (M-x ediff)
    Screenshot
    Screenshot
    GNU Emacs vs Leafpad opinions
    pros, cons and recent comments
    Guest

    Leafpad is a simple GUI editor anyone can use. Emacs is a great power tool but is overkill for anything Leafpad would be appropriate for.

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Showing 10 of 44 alternatives
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