GNU nano AlternativesTop Text & Code Editors like GNU nano

GNU nano is described as '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' and is a very popular Code Editor in the development category. There are more than 100 alternatives to GNU nano for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Linux, Mac, BSD and Flathub apps. The best GNU nano alternative is Notepad++, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like GNU nano are Sublime Text, VSCodium, Vim and Zed Editor.

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Alternatives list

  1. Notepad++ icon
     4926 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.

    245 Notepad++ alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • PortableApps.com
     
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    1
    Comments about Notepad++ as an Alternative to GNU nano
    SecurityChecker
    Negative
    9

    Notepad++ is a GUI text editor not a command line Text editor.

    GNU nano Icon
    Notepad++ icon
    • This alternative is disputed. Notepad++ is a legitimate GNU nano alternative, but it might have issues that some users think are important.

    • Notepad++ is the most popular Windows alternative to GNU nano.

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

    • Notepad++ is Free and Open SourceGNU nano is also Free and Open Source
    • Notepad++ is Privacy focusedGNU nano is not according to our users
  2. Sublime Text icon
     2037 likes
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    Powerful editor blending code, markup, and prose editing with enhanced features like multi-tab selection, side-by-side definition viewing, and multiple selection tools for swift code navigation.

    189 Sublime Text alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Pay once)
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
     
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    1
    6
    Comments about Sublime Text as an Alternative to GNU nano
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    Sublime Text is not a command line text editor.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    GNU nano Icon
    Sublime Text icon
    • Some users think Sublime Text is a great GNU nano alternative, some don't.

    • Sublime Text is the most popular Mac & Linux alternative to GNU nano.

    • Sublime Text is Freemium and ProprietaryGNU nano is Free and Open Source
    • Sublime Text is CustomizableGNU nano is not according to our users
  3. VSCodium icon
     390 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.

    193 VSCodium alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Electron
    • Snapcraft
    • Homebrew
    • Chocolatey
     
  4. Vim icon
     1340 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.

    211 Vim alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Haiku
    • AmigaOS
    • OpenSolaris
    • MorphOS
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    • Snapcraft
     
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    1
    9
    Comments about Vim as an Alternative to GNU nano
    Guest
    Positive
    1

    Even better editing/navigating experience, good memory footprint and minimal startup time.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    GNU nano Icon
    Vim icon
    • Most users think Vim is a great GNU nano alternative.

    • Vim is Free and Open SourceGNU nano is also Free and Open Source
    • Vim is CustomizableGNU nano is not according to our users
  5. Zed Editor icon
     100 likes
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    Blazing fast code editor offering real-time multi-user collaboration, language-aware syntax highlighting, integrated terminal, multi-buffers for tab-free editing, built-in Vim mode, searchable outline, AI coding assistance, advanced keyboard commands, and cross-platform support.

    84 Zed Editor alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
     
  6. Kate icon
     310 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.

    141 Kate alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • KDE Plasma
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    • Snapcraft
     
  7. Geany icon
     575 likes
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    Geany is a powerful, stable and lightweight programmer's text editor that provides tons of useful features without bogging down your workflow.

    149 Geany alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Flatpak
    • Haiku
     
  8. Neovim icon
     186 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.

    103 Neovim alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Chocolatey
    • Flathub
    • Snapcraft
     
  9. gedit icon
     693 likes
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    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.

    189 gedit alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Chrome OS
    • BSD
    • GNOME
    • OpenSolaris
    • Flathub
     
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    7
  10. GNU Emacs icon
     387 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:

    177 GNU Emacs alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • BSD
    • Snapcraft
    • F-Droid
    • Haiku
    • Debian
    • MacPorts
    • Homebrew
     
    • GNU Emacs is the most popular Android alternative to GNU nano.

    • GNU Emacs is Free and Open SourceGNU nano is also Free and Open Source
    • GNU Emacs is Customizable and Privacy focusedGNU nano is not according to our users
  11. Micro icon
     85 likes
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    Micro is a terminal-based text editor that aims to be easy to use and intuitive, while also taking advantage of the full capabilities of modern terminals.

    43 Micro alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • FreeBSD
    • OpenBSD
     
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    2
    15
    Comments about Micro as an Alternative to GNU nano
    surehand53
    Positive
    4
    • beginner friendly
    • uses very sane keymap defaults (Ctrl-x, Ctrl-c, Ctrl-v)
    • short cut cheat sheet
    • excellent help build in
    • very capable text editor
    helgeph
    Positive
    0

    As simple as nano but more modern with syntax highlighting, modifiable keybindings, integrated help, etc.

    GNU nano Icon
    Micro icon
    • Almost everyone thinks Micro is a great GNU nano alternative.

    • Micro is Free and Open SourceGNU nano is also Free and Open Source
    • Micro is Privacy focused and CustomizableGNU nano is not according to our users
  12. Edit icon
     19 likes
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    Open-source command-line text editor for Windows with a modern interface inspired by MS-DOS Editor, featuring key bindings, lightweight build under 250KB, multi-file handling with ctrl + P, keyboard-optimized navigation, and direct file editing for developers.

    58 Edit alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
12 of 151 GNU nano alternatives