GNU nano Alternatives for Linux

There are many alternatives to GNU nano for Linux if you are looking for a replacement. The best Linux alternative is VSCodium, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to GNU nano and loads of them are available for Linux so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Linux alternatives to GNU nano are Sublime Text, Vim, Neovim and Kate.

filter to find the best alternatives

GNU nano 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 GNU nano.
GNU nano iconGNU nano
  285
  • ...

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,...

More about GNU nano
GNU nano alternatives page was last updated Mar 15, 2023
  1. VSCodium icon
     328 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.

    197 VSCodium alternatives
    VSCodium screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen 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.  MIT License
    7.  Autocompletion
    8. Git icon  Git integration
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  Syntax Highlighting
    11.  Ad-free
    12.  Minimap
    VSCodium iconGNU nano Icon

    VSCodium VS GNU nano

    Is VSCodium a good alternative to GNU nano?
     
    • VSCodium is the most popular Mac & Linux alternative to GNU nano.

    • VSCodium is Free and Open SourceGNU nano is also Free and Open Source
    • VSCodium is Customizable and Privacy focusedGNU nano is not according to our users
  2. Sublime Text icon
     2009 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.

    195 Sublime Text alternatives
    Sublime Text screenshot 1

    License model

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Customizable
    3.  Clean design
    4.  Distraction-free

    Features

    1.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    2.  Package Control
    3.  Syntax Highlighting
    4.  Multiple Cursors
    5.  Text editing
    6.  No Tracking
    7.  Dark Mode
    8.  Simple text editor
    9.  Tabbed interface
    10.  Support for MarkDown
    11.  Works Offline
    12. Git icon  Git Support
    Sublime Text iconGNU nano Icon

    Sublime Text VS GNU nano

    Is Sublime Text a good alternative to GNU nano?
     
    • Some users think Sublime Text is a great GNU nano alternative, some don't.

    • Sublime Text is the most popular commercial alternative to GNU nano.

    • Sublime Text is Paid and ProprietaryGNU nano is Free and Open Source
    • Sublime Text is Lightweight and CustomizableGNU nano is not according to our users
  3. Vim icon
     1310 likes

    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.

    207 Vim alternatives
    Vim screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Haiku
    • AmigaOS
    • OpenSolaris
    • MorphOS
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    • Snapcraft

    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 iconGNU nano Icon

    Vim VS GNU nano

    Is Vim a good alternative to GNU nano?
     
    Comments about Vim as an Alternative to GNU nano
     
    Guest

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

    Positive commentSep 7, 2018
    1
    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 Lightweight and CustomizableGNU nano is not according to our users
  4. Neovim icon
     169 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.

    101 Neovim alternatives
    Neovim screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    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 iconGNU nano Icon

    Neovim VS GNU nano

    Is Neovim a good alternative to GNU nano?
     
  5. Kate icon
     290 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.

    141 Kate alternatives
    Kate screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • KDE Plasma
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    • Snapcraft

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

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

    Kate VS GNU nano

    Is Kate a good alternative to GNU nano?
     
  6. Geany icon
     561 likes

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

    148 Geany alternatives
    Geany screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Flatpak

    Properties

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

    Features

    1.  Multiplatform
    2.  Syntax Highlighting
    3.  Code navigation
    4.  Automatic Indentation
    5.  Shell integration
    6.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    7. LaTeX icon  Support for LaTeX
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  Autocompletion
    10.  Code Formatting
    11.  Batch Editing
    12.  Debian package compatible
    Geany iconGNU nano Icon

    Geany VS GNU nano

    Is Geany a good alternative to GNU nano?
     
  7. Zed Editor icon
     50 likes

    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

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux

    Properties

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

    Features

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

    Zed Editor VS GNU nano

    Is Zed Editor a good alternative to GNU nano?
     
  8. gedit icon
     686 likes

    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.

    184 gedit alternatives
    The Default look under GNOME with Adwaita

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Chrome OS
    • BSD
    • GNOME
    • OpenSolaris
    • Flathub

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Syntax Highlighting
    2.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    3.  Autocompletion
    4.  No Tracking
    5.  Works Offline
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Spell Checking
    8.  Support for Unicode
    gedit iconGNU nano Icon

    gedit VS GNU nano

    Is gedit a good alternative to GNU nano?
     
  9. GNU Emacs icon
     379 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:

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

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • BSD
    • F-Droid
    • Haiku
    • Homebrew
    • Snapcraft
    • Debian
    • MacPorts

    Properties

    1.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Extensibility
    2.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    3.  Org-mode
    4.  Self-documenting
    5.  Terminal-based
    6.  Multi OS
    7.  Syntax Highlighting
    8.  Support for scripting
    9.  Command line interface
    10.  No Tracking
    11.  IDE All Languages
    12.  Works Offline
    GNU Emacs iconGNU nano Icon

    GNU Emacs VS GNU nano

    Is GNU Emacs a good alternative to GNU nano?
     
    • 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 CustomizableGNU nano is not according to our users
  10. Micro icon
     72 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.

    39 Micro alternatives
    Micro screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • FreeBSD
    • OpenBSD

    Properties

    1.  User friendly
    2.  Intuitive Interface
    3.  Lightweight
    4.  Distraction-free
    5.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Terminal-based
    2.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    3.  Zero configuration
    4.  Syntax Highlighting
    5.  Works Offline
    6.  No registration required
    7.  Command line interface
    8.  Plugin system
    9.  Lua scripting
    10.  Support for Keyboard Shortcuts
    11.  Multiple Cursors
    12.  Color Palette
    Micro iconGNU nano Icon

    Micro VS GNU nano

    Is Micro a good alternative to GNU nano?
     
    Comments about Micro as an Alternative to GNU nano
     
    surehand53
    • 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
    Positive commentJun 3, 2018
    3
    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 LightweightGNU nano is not according to our users
  11. Pulsar Editor icon
     41 likes

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

    72 Pulsar Editor alternatives
    Welcome tab

    License model

    • FreeOpen 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 iconGNU nano Icon

    Pulsar Editor VS GNU nano

    Is Pulsar Editor a good alternative to GNU nano?
     
  12. Lite XL icon
     48 likes

    Lite XL is a lightweight text editor written mostly in Lua — it aims to provide something practical, pretty, small and fast, implemented as simply as possible; easy to modify and extend, or to use without doing either.

    53 Lite XL alternatives
    Lite XL screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    Properties

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

    Features

    1.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    2.  Dark Mode
    3.  Syntax Highlighting
    4.  Works Offline
    5.  Multiple Cursors
    6.  Portable
    7.  Hackable
    8.  Support for scripting
    9.  Full-Text Search
    10.  Community-based
    11.  Autocompletion
    12.  Code Completion
    Lite XL iconGNU nano Icon

    Lite XL VS GNU nano

    Is Lite XL a good alternative to GNU nano?
     
12 of 78 GNU nano alternatives