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

    Notepad++

     4999 likes

    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.

    271 Notepad++ alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • PortableApps.com
    Notepad++ screenshot 1
     
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    2
    Notepad++ vs GNU nano Comments
    SecurityChecker
    Negative
    10

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

    1victor
    Negative
    0

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

    • Notepad++ is Free and Open SourceGNU nano is also Free and Open Source
    • Notepad++ is a Code Editor GNU nano is a Text Editor
    • Notepad++ is Privacy focusedGNU nano is not according to our users
  2. Sublime Text icon

    Sublime Text

     2073 likes

    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.

    220 Sublime Text alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Sublime Text screenshot 1
     
    |
    1
    Sublime Text vs GNU nano Comments
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    Sublime Text is not a command line text editor.

    • Sublime Text is Freemium and ProprietaryGNU nano is Free and Open Source
    • Sublime Text is a Code Editor GNU nano is a Text Editor
    • Sublime Text is CustomizableGNU nano is not according to our users
  4. VSCodium icon

    VSCodium

     445 likes

    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.

    220 VSCodium alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Electron
    • Snapcraft
    • Homebrew
    • Chocolatey
    VSCodium screenshot 1
     
  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    EmEditor icon
    EmEditor

    Versatile Windows editor offering lightweight, ultra-fast performance with robust support for text, code, and CSV files, AI-assisted writing, macros, Unicode, plugins, syntax highlighting, advanced search, column editing, split v...

    https://www.emeditor.com
    Learn More
  6. Vim icon

    Vim

     1369 likes

    Advanced text editor with syntax highlighting, word completion, multiple editing modes for efficiency, plugin and script extensibility, GUI and command-line operation, a thorough help system, and cross-platform support across various operating systems.

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • Haiku
    • Flatpak
    • AmigaOS
    • OpenSolaris
    • MorphOS
    Vim screenshot 1
     
    |
    1
    Vim vs GNU nano Comments
    Guest
    Positive
    1

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

    • Vim is Free and Open SourceGNU nano is also Free and Open Source
    • Vim is a Code Editor GNU nano is a Text Editor
    • Vim is CustomizableGNU nano is not according to our users
  8. Zed Editor icon

    Zed Editor

     146 likes

    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.

    117 Zed Editor alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Zed Editor screenshot 1
     
  9. Kate icon

    Kate

     334 likes

    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.

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • KDE Plasma
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    • Snapcraft
    Kate screenshot 1
     
  10. Neovim icon

    Neovim

     205 likes

    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.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Chocolatey
    • Flathub
    • Snapcraft
    Neovim screenshot 1
     
  11. Geany icon

    Geany

     583 likes

    Geany is a powerful, stable and lightweight programmer's text editor that provides tons of useful features without bogging down your workflow.

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Flatpak
    • Haiku
    Geany screenshot 1
     
  12. gedit icon

    gedit

     701 likes

    Extensible text editor with UTF-8 support, syntax highlighting for several programming and markup languages, remote editing, file reverting, print preview, clipboard operations, powerful search, customizable fonts and colors, line numbering, and plugin support.

    211 gedit alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Chrome OS
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • GNOME
    • OpenSolaris
    The Default look under GNOME with Adwaita
     
  13. Micro icon

    Micro

     90 likes

    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.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • FreeBSD
    • OpenBSD
    Micro screenshot 1
     
    |
    3
    Micro vs GNU nano Comments
    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.

    1victor
    Positive
    0

    True nano's spiritual successor

    • 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
  14. GNU Emacs icon

    GNU Emacs

     391 likes

    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:

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • BSD
    • Snapcraft
    • F-Droid
    • Haiku
    • Debian
    • MacPorts
    • Homebrew
    The GNU Emacs Manual calls Emacs the extensible, customizable, self-documenting real-time display editor
     
  15. Pulsar Editor icon

    Pulsar Editor

     50 likes

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

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Chrome OS
    • BSD
    • Electron
    Welcome tab
     
12 of 167 GNU nano alternatives