MacVim AlternativesText & Code Editors like MacVim

MacVim is described as 'Port of the text editor Vim to macOS. MacVim supports multiple windows with tabbed editing and a host of other features such as:' and is a Text Editor in the development category. There are more than 50 alternatives to MacVim for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Linux, Mac, BSD and Flathub apps. The best MacVim alternative is Notepad++, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like MacVim are Visual Studio Code, VSCodium, Vim and Zed Editor.

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MacVim alternatives are mainly Text Editors but may also be Code Editors or IDEs.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of MacVim.
MacVim iconMacVim
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MacVim is a port of the text editor Vim to macOS. MacVim supports multiple windows with tabbed editing and a host of other features such as:

More about MacVim
More about MacVim
MacVim alternatives page was last updated Mar 15, 2023
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  1. Notepad++ icon
    Notepad++ icon

    Notepad++

     4855 likes
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    Notepad++ is a free, open-source code editor supporting several languages, offering features like syntax highlighting, plugin support, dark mode, portability, privacy, and efficient resource usage, making it highly customizable and suitable for various programming needs.

    230 Notepad++ alternatives
    Notepad++ screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • PortableApps.com
    Notepad++ screenshot 1
    Notepad++ screenshot 2
    +9
    TextFX plugin menu

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Configurable

    Features

    1.  Code Formatting
    2.  Portable
    3.  Tabbed interface
    4.  Search and Replace
    5.  Text formatting
    6.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    7.  Multiple Open Tabs
    8.  Multiple languages
    9.  Color coding
    10.  Support for Javascript
    11.  Built-in themes
    12.  Auto-saving
    Notepad++ iconMacVim Icon

    Notepad++ VS MacVim

    Is Notepad++ a good alternative to MacVim?
     

    • Notepad++ is the most popular Windows alternative to MacVim.

    • Notepad++ is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to MacVim.

    • Notepad++ is Free and Open SourceMacVim is also Free and Open Source
    • Notepad++ is LightweightMacVim is not according to our users
  2. Visual Studio Code icon
    Visual Studio Code icon

    Visual Studio Code

     1306 likes
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    Free and extensible code editor with built-in Git support, smart IntelliSense, integrated debugger, 30,000+ extensions, works offline, supports markdown and syntax highlighting for numerous languages.

    204 Visual Studio Code alternatives
    Visual Studio Code screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Chrome OS
    Visual Studio Code screenshot 1
    Visual Studio Code screenshot 2
    +2
    Visual Studio Code screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Customizable
    2.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    2.  Autocompletion
    3.  Built-in terminal emulation
    4.  Syntax Highlighting
    5.  Code Completion
    6.  Multiple languages
    7. Git icon  Git Support
    8. GitHub icon  GitHub Integration
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  Supports Python
    11.  Multiple Cursors
    12.  C++
    Visual Studio Code iconMacVim Icon

    Visual Studio Code VS MacVim

    Is Visual Studio Code a good alternative to MacVim?
     

    • Visual Studio Code is the most popular Web-based, Mac & Linux alternative to MacVim.

    • Visual Studio Code is Free and ProprietaryMacVim is Free and Open Source
    • Visual Studio Code is CustomizableMacVim is not according to our users
  4. VSCodium icon
    VSCodium icon

    VSCodium

     336 likes
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    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.

    196 VSCodium alternatives
    VSCodium screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Electron

    Properties

    1.  Customizable
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  No Tracking
    2.  Prevent telemetry
    3.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    4.  Works Offline
    5.  No registration required
    6.  Autocompletion
    7.  MIT License
    8.  Dark Mode
    9. Git icon  Git integration
    10.  Syntax Highlighting
    11.  Ad-free
    12.  Minimap
    VSCodium iconMacVim Icon

    VSCodium VS MacVim

    Is VSCodium a good alternative to MacVim?
     
  5. Vim icon
    Vim icon

    Vim

     1313 likes
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    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.

    210 Vim alternatives
    Vim screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Haiku
    • AmigaOS
    • OpenSolaris
    • MorphOS
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    • Snapcraft
    GVim with netrw+airlines+ctrlspace+xkb-switch+monokai theme+Source Pro font
    Plugin Gitgutter shows added lines as '+' and altere as '~'.

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Keyboard focused
    3.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    2.  Syntax Highlighting
    3.  Hackable
    4.  Well documented
    5.  Modal editor
    6.  Command line interface
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  Support for MarkDown
    9.  No registration required
    10.  Portable
    11.  Batch Editing
    12.  Terminal-based
    Vim iconMacVim Icon

    Vim VS MacVim

    Is Vim a good alternative to MacVim?
     
  6. Zed Editor icon
    Zed Editor icon

    Zed Editor

     56 likes
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    Zed is a blazing fast, multi-user, productivity-focused text editor. From the creators of Atom, Electron and Tree-sitter, the editor features built-in Vim mode with tooltips for key-bindings, language-aware...

    75 Zed Editor alternatives
    Zed Editor screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    Zed Editor screenshot 1
    Zed Editor screenshot 2

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Optimal performance
    3.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Syntax Highlighting
    2.  Autocompletion
    3.  Dark Mode
    4.  Built-in terminal emulation
    5.  Rust
    6.  Team Collaboration
    7.  Real time collaboration
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  No registration required
    10.  Works Offline
    11.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    12.  Multiple Cursors
    Zed Editor iconMacVim Icon

    Zed Editor VS MacVim

    Is Zed Editor a good alternative to MacVim?
     
  7. Neovim icon
    Neovim icon

    Neovim

     173 likes
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    Refactored version of Vim, simplifying maintenance, improving developer contributions, and enabling new user interfaces. Features extensible plugin architecture, lightweight resource usage, syntax highlighting, no registration, ad-free, and distraction-free mode.

    98 Neovim alternatives
    Neovim screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Neovim screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Configurable
    3.  Distraction-free

    Features

    1.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    2.  Lua scripting
    3.  Terminal-based
    4.  Syntax Highlighting
    5.  Asynchronous
    6.  Sane defaults
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  No registration required
    9.  Autocompletion
    10.  Code Formatting
    Neovim iconMacVim Icon

    Neovim VS MacVim

    Is Neovim a good alternative to MacVim?
     
  9. Kate icon
    Kate icon

    Kate

     293 likes
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    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.

    140 Kate alternatives
    Kate screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • KDE Plasma
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    • Snapcraft
    Kate screenshot 1
    Kate with an ATOM color scheme using some RegEx to find and replace.

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Native application
    2.  Themes
    3.  Syntax Highlighting
    4.  Built-in terminal emulation
    5.  Editable text color schemes
    6.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    7.  Tabbed interface
    8.  Code Formatting
    9. Git icon  Git Support
    10.  Support for MarkDown
    11.  Spell Checking
    12.  Full-Text Search
    Kate iconMacVim Icon

    Kate VS MacVim

    Is Kate a good alternative to MacVim?
     
  10. GNU Emacs icon
    GNU Emacs icon

    GNU Emacs

     378 likes
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    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:

    172 GNU Emacs alternatives
    The GNU Emacs Manual calls Emacs the extensible, customizable, self-documenting real-time display editor

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • BSD
    • F-Droid
    • Haiku
    • Homebrew
    • Snapcraft
    • Debian
    • MacPorts
    Beyond just being able to edit plain text files, Emacs includes special features to help you write in many different human languages and programming/markup languages
    GNU Emacs screenshot 2
    +6
    GNU Emacs screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Extensibility
    2.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    3.  Org-mode
    4.  Self-documenting
    5.  Terminal-based
    6.  Syntax Highlighting
    7.  Support for scripting
    8.  Command line interface
    9.  No Tracking
    10.  Works Offline
    11.  Spell Checking
    12.  Ad-free
    GNU Emacs iconMacVim Icon

    GNU Emacs VS MacVim

    Is GNU Emacs a good alternative to MacVim?
     

    • GNU Emacs is the most popular Android alternative to MacVim.

    • GNU Emacs is Free and Open SourceMacVim is also Free and Open Source
    • GNU Emacs is CustomizableMacVim is not according to our users
  11. GNU nano icon
    GNU nano icon

    GNU nano

     285 likes
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    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.

    142 GNU nano alternatives
    GNU nano screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Haiku
    GNU nano screenshot 1
    Color syntax
    +1
    GNU nano screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Command line interface
    2.  Terminal-based
    3.  Search and Replace
    4.  No Tracking
    5.  Automatic Indentation
    GNU nano iconMacVim Icon

    GNU nano VS MacVim

    Is GNU nano a good alternative to MacVim?
     
  12. Pulsar Editor icon
    Pulsar Editor icon

    Pulsar Editor

     42 likes
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    A Community-led Hyper-Hackable Text Editor, built on Electron. and based on everything we love about our favorite editors.

    71 Pulsar Editor alternatives
    Welcome tab

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Chrome OS
    • BSD
    • Electron / Atom Shell

    Properties

    1.  Support for Themes
    2.  Distraction-free
    3.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    2.  Community-based
    3.  Hackable
    4.  Works Offline
    5.  No registration required
    6.  Multiple languages
    7.  Add-ons
    8.  Tabbed interface
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  Support for MarkDown
    11.  Dark Mode
    12. Git icon  Git Support
    Pulsar Editor iconMacVim Icon

    Pulsar Editor VS MacVim

    Is Pulsar Editor a good alternative to MacVim?
     
  13. Notepad3 icon
    Notepad3 icon

    Notepad3

     56 likes
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    Notepad3 is a fast and light-weight text editor with syntax highlighting for programming jobs. Auto-completion, Multi-language, Dark mode more.

    208 Notepad3 alternatives
    Supports RTL languages out of the box.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Select Syntax Scheme
    Notepad3 screenshot 2
    +1
    Notepad3 screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Support for Unicode
    2.  Small-footprint
    3.  Multiple languages
    4.  Search and Replace
    5.  Syntax Highlighting
    6.  Portable
    7.  Support for regular expressions
    8.  No registration required
    9.  Works Offline
    10.  Ad-free
    11.  No Tracking
    12.  Dark Mode
    Notepad3 iconMacVim Icon

    Notepad3 VS MacVim

    Is Notepad3 a good alternative to MacVim?
     
  14. Helix icon
    Helix icon

    Helix

     28 likes
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    Helix is a fast text editor for the terminal inspired by modal editors like Kakoune and Neovim. Built as a native app using .

    86 Helix alternatives
    Helix screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Support for Themes
    3.  Distraction-free

    Features

    1.  Syntax Highlighting
    2.  Command line interface
    3.  Autocompletion
    4.  Code Formatting
    5.  No Tracking
    6. Git icon  Git Support
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  Modal editor
    9.  Terminal-based
    Helix iconMacVim Icon

    Helix VS MacVim

    Is Helix a good alternative to MacVim?
     
12 of 88 MacVim alternatives