Plain Text Editor AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Code Editors

The best Code Editor alternative to Plain Text Editor is Vim, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to Plain Text Editor and many of them are Code Editors so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Code Editor alternatives to Plain Text Editor are gedit, GNU nano, TextMate and CudaText.

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Plain Text Editor 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 Plain Text Editor.
Plain Text Editor iconPlain Text Editor
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  • ...

Simple distraction-free text editor without any rich text nonsense. The simplicity is a feature.

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Plain Text Editor alternatives page was last updated Feb 15, 2023
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  1. Vim icon
    Vim icon

    Vim

     1304 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.

    209 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 '~'.

    Top Vim Features

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Keyboard focused
    3.  Customizable
    4.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    5.  Syntax Highlighting
    6.  Hackable
    7.  Command line interface
    8.  Works Offline
    9.  Support for MarkDown
    10.  No registration required
    11.  Portable
    12.  Batch Editing
    Vim iconPlain Text Editor Icon

    Vim VS Plain Text Editor

    Is Vim a good alternative to Plain Text Editor?
     

    • Vim is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Plain Text Editor.

    • Vim is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Plain Text Editor.

    • Vim is Free and Open SourcePlain Text Editor is Free and Proprietary
    • Vim is CustomizablePlain Text Editor is not according to our users
  2. gedit icon
    gedit icon

    gedit

     686 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.

    186 gedit alternatives
    The Default look under GNOME with Adwaita

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Chrome OS
    • BSD
    • GNOME
    • OpenSolaris
    • Flathub
    gedit screenshot 1
    gedit screenshot 2
    +2
    gedit screenshot 3

    Top gedit Features

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Syntax Highlighting
    3.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    4.  Customizable
    5.  Autocompletion
    6.  No Tracking
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  Spell Checking
    10.  Privacy focused
    11.  Support for Unicode
    gedit iconPlain Text Editor Icon

    gedit VS Plain Text Editor

    Is gedit a good alternative to Plain Text Editor?
     
  4. GNU nano icon
    GNU nano icon

    GNU nano

     283 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

    GNU nano Features

    1.  Command line interface
    2.  Terminal-based
    3.  Search and Replace
    4.  Lightweight
    5.  Automatic Indentation
    GNU nano iconPlain Text Editor Icon

    GNU nano VS Plain Text Editor

    Is GNU nano a good alternative to Plain Text Editor?
     
  5. TextMate icon
    TextMate icon

    TextMate

     268 likes
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    TextMate brings Apple's approach to operating systems into the world of text editors. By bridging UNIX underpinnings and GUI, TextMate cherry-picks the best of both worlds to the benefit of expert scripters and novice users alike.

    161 TextMate alternatives
    TextMate screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    TextMate screenshot 1

    Top TextMate Features

    1.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    2.  Support for Themes
    3.  Syntax Highlighting
    4.  Support for MarkDown
    5.  Lightweight
    6.  Search and Replace
    7.  No registration required
    8.  Dark Mode
    9.  Code Formatting
    10.  Ad-free
    11.  Works Offline
    12.  Automatic Indentation
    Discontinued

    Last commit and version is from 2021

    TextMate iconPlain Text Editor Icon

    TextMate VS Plain Text Editor

    Is TextMate a good alternative to Plain Text Editor?
     
  6. CudaText icon
    CudaText icon

    CudaText

     49 likes
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    CudaText is a cross-platform text editor, written in Lazarus / Free Pascal.

    193 CudaText alternatives
    Multi-selections, Replace dialog at bottom

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    Dark theme, Minimap
    2 groups shown, picture file opened, JavaScript fragment in HTML
    +3
    Code Tree for Pascal lexer

    Top CudaText Features

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    3.  Native application
    4.  Customizable
    5.  Minimap
    6.  Command palette
    7.  Autocompletion
    8.  Syntax Highlighting
    9.  Support for Themes
    10.  Ad-free
    11.  No registration required
    12.  Portable
    CudaText iconPlain Text Editor Icon

    CudaText VS Plain Text Editor

    Is CudaText a good alternative to Plain Text Editor?
     
  7. UltraEdit icon
    UltraEdit icon

    UltraEdit

     161 likes
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    UltraEdit is the ideal text, HTML and HEX editor, and an advanced PHP, Perl, Java and JavaScript editor for programmers. An industry-award winner, UltraEdit supports disk-based 64-bit file handling (standard) on 32-bit Windows platforms (Windows 2000 and later).

    213 UltraEdit alternatives
    UltraEdit features an integrated FTP browser and supports syntax highlighting for hundreds of languages, with more always in the works. And with an integrated SSH/telnet client, scripting, custom tools, macros and Smart Templates, UltraEdit's ready for any coding session.

    License model

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    UltraEdit Features

    1.  Column based text editing
    2.  Support for large files
    3.  Hex Editor
    From quick inline finds to massive replaces across your entire project, no one does search like UltraEdit. Find / replace across files, Perl regular expressions, column-based search, line filters, and more...when it comes to search, there's almost nothing UltraEdit can't do!
    UltraEdit's text editing features make editing lists and columns an intuitive experience, not the exercise in tedium it used to be. With features like multi-caret editing, column/block editing and multi-select, it's a simple text editor when you want it to be, and a multi-cursor power editor when you need it to be.
    +1
    The environment you work in is a personal thing. And with UltraEdit's deeply customizeable new menuing system, your perfect in-app menu awaits. Our brand new menu allows you to switch between a full ribbon, compact ribbon and menu/toolbar system, all with only the buttons you'd like.
    UltraEdit iconPlain Text Editor Icon

    UltraEdit VS Plain Text Editor

    Is UltraEdit a good alternative to Plain Text Editor?
     

    • UltraEdit is the most popular commercial alternative to Plain Text Editor.

    • UltraEdit is Paid and ProprietaryPlain Text Editor is Free and Proprietary
  9. PSPad icon
    PSPad icon

    PSPad

     203 likes
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    PSPad is a freeware programmers editor in 8 languages for Microsoft Windows operating systems. Some features are highlighted syntax, ftp, projects and so on. Code explorer for Pascal, C/C++, INI, HTML, XML, PHP and more in development, internal web browser with APACHE support.

    168 PSPad alternatives
    Main Window - Project Settings

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    PSPad with project window, clips list template and LOG window...
    PSPad with all toolbars closed (F2 and Ctrl+F2)
    +3
    Integrated full HEX editor

    Top PSPad Features

    1.  Syntax Highlighting
    2.  Support for MarkDown
    3.  Support for scripting
    4.  No registration required
    5.  Portable
    6.  WYSIWYG Support
    7.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    8.  Code Formatting
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  Lightweight
    11.  Works Offline
    12.  Hex Editor
    PSPad iconPlain Text Editor Icon

    PSPad VS Plain Text Editor

    Is PSPad a good alternative to Plain Text Editor?
     
  10. SciTE icon
    SciTE icon

    SciTE

     147 likes
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    SciTE is a SCIntilla based Text Editor. Originally built to demonstrate Scintilla, it has grown to be a generally useful editor with facilities for building and running programs. It is best used for jobs with simple configurations - I use it for building test and demonstration...

    152 SciTE alternatives
    SciTE screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Xfce
    Screenshot of SciTE
    SciTE iconPlain Text Editor Icon

    SciTE VS Plain Text Editor

    Is SciTE a good alternative to Plain Text Editor?
     
  11. CotEditor icon
    CotEditor icon

    CotEditor

     38 likes
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    Syntax Highlighting: Colorize more than 50 pre-installed major languages like HTML, PHP, Python, Ruby or Markdown. You can also create your own settings.

    157 CotEditor alternatives
    version 4 released 2020-11-14

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    version 4 released 2020-11-14 ,
    version 4 released 2020-11-14
    +2
    version 4 released 2020-11-14

    Top CotEditor Features

    1.  macOS-like
    2.  Colored Text
    3.  File Versioning
    4.  Support for Themes
    5.  Lightweight
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  No registration required
    8.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  No Coding Required
    11.  Syntax Highlighting
    12.  Works Offline
    CotEditor iconPlain Text Editor Icon

    CotEditor VS Plain Text Editor

    Is CotEditor a good alternative to Plain Text Editor?
     
  12. BBEdit icon
    BBEdit icon

    BBEdit

     47 likes
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    BBEdit is a professional HTML and text editor for the Macintosh. Specifically crafted in response to the needs of Web authors and software developers, this award-winning product provides an abundance of high-performance features for editing, searching, and manipulation of text.

    121 BBEdit alternatives
    BBEdit screenshot 1

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac

    BBEdit Features

    1.  Syntax Highlighting
    2.  Works Offline
    3.  Live Preview
    4.  Code Completion
    5.  Multiple languages
    BBEdit iconPlain Text Editor Icon

    BBEdit VS Plain Text Editor

    Is BBEdit a good alternative to Plain Text Editor?
     
  13. jEdit icon
    jEdit icon

    jEdit

     115 likes
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    jEdit is a mature programmer's text editor with hundreds (counting the time developing plugins) of person-years of development behind it. jEdit beats many expensive development tools for features and ease of use AND it is released as free software with full source code...

    139 jEdit alternatives
    jEdit on Windows

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    jEdit Features

    1.  Java based
    jEdit on Linux
    jEdit on Linux
    jEdit iconPlain Text Editor Icon

    jEdit VS Plain Text Editor

    Is jEdit a good alternative to Plain Text Editor?
     
  14. TextWrangler icon
    TextWrangler icon

    TextWrangler

     152 likes
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    TextWrangler is the powerful general purpose text editor, and Unix and server administrator’s tool.

    94 TextWrangler alternatives
    TextWrangler screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac

    TextWrangler Features

    1.  Support for Unicode
    2.  Search and Replace
    3.  Coding
    TextWrangler screenshot 1
    TextWrangler screenshot 2
    +1
    Compare Files with Text Wrangler
    Discontinued

    The developers announced that development of TextWrangler has stopped, in favor of concentrating their efforts on the development of BBEdit.Quoted from the TextWrangler webpage, "We are sunsetting TextWrangler, and we encourage anyone interested in TextWrangler to download and use BBEdit instead."

    TextWrangler iconPlain Text Editor Icon

    TextWrangler VS Plain Text Editor

    Is TextWrangler a good alternative to Plain Text Editor?
     
12 of 27 Plain Text Editor alternatives