The Best Vim AlternativesTop Code & Text Editors like Vim

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

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Alternatives list

  1. Notepad++ icon

    Notepad++

     4924 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.

    246 Notepad++ alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • PortableApps.com
    Notepad++ screenshot 1
     
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    37
    Comments about Notepad++ as an Alternative to Vim
    ph soft
    Negative
    1

    Not available on multiple platforms Not available in a terminal mode So not really an alternative in situations where vim is essential

    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Has lots of good features, including macros, search all open windows or all files in directories, syntax coloring for many programming languages, etc.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Vim Icon
    Notepad++ icon

    • Most users think Notepad++ is a great Vim alternative.

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

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

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

    Visual Studio Code

     1368 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.

    200 Visual Studio Code alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Chrome OS
    • Snapcraft
    Visual Studio Code screenshot 1
     
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    4
    45
    Comments about Visual Studio Code as an Alternative to Vim
    IndigoLily
    Negative
    6

    Can't be used from within terminal

    Aleksandr Dikov
    Positive
    2

    VSC has very good Vi extension what helps to mix Vi experience with well-integrated Microsoft solution.

    filiphanes
    Negative
    0

    Visual Studio Code is GUI only full IDE, not terminal based efficient text editor.

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    3 of 4 comments
    Vim Icon
    Visual Studio Code icon

    • Most users think Visual Studio Code is a great Vim alternative.

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

    • Visual Studio Code is Free and ProprietaryVim is Free and Open Source
  4. Sublime Text icon

    Sublime Text

     2038 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.

    190 Sublime Text alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Pay once)
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Sublime Text screenshot 1
     
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    20
  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. Neovim icon

    Neovim

     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.

    104 Neovim alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Chocolatey
    • Flathub
    • Snapcraft
    Neovim screenshot 1
     
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    8
    53
    Comments about Neovim as an Alternative to Vim
    Top Positive Comment
    benni347
    0

    A better more modern alternative to vim.

    daviwalle
    Positive
    -1

    Neovim it's like Vim, but without packages that aren't needed

    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Clean, faster than Vim but based on that.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
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    3 of 8 comments
    Vim Icon
    Neovim icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Neovim is a great Vim alternative.

    • Neovim is Free and Open SourceVim is also Free and Open Source
  7. VSCodium icon

    VSCodium

     391 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.

    194 VSCodium alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Electron
    • Snapcraft
    • Homebrew
    • Chocolatey
    VSCodium screenshot 1
     
  8. Zed Editor icon

    Zed Editor

     101 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.

    85 Zed Editor alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Zed Editor screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Comments about Zed Editor as an Alternative to Vim
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    it's blazing fast, has Elm support, and is the only tool that's not frustrating for remote pairing.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Vim Icon
    Zed Editor icon
    • Zed Editor is Freemium and Open SourceVim is Free and Open Source
  10. GNU Emacs icon

    GNU Emacs

     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:

    178 GNU Emacs alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    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
     
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    1
    25
    Comments about GNU Emacs as an Alternative to Vim
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Maybe much better than Vi? ;)

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Vim Icon
    GNU Emacs icon

    • Most users think GNU Emacs is a great Vim alternative.

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

    • GNU Emacs is Free and Open SourceVim is also Free and Open Source
    • GNU Emacs is Privacy focusedVim is not according to our users
  11. Kate icon

    Kate

     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.

    142 Kate alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • KDE Plasma
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    • Snapcraft
    Kate screenshot 1
     
  12. Geany icon

    Geany

     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.

    150 Geany alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

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

    gedit

     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.

    190 gedit alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Chrome OS
    • BSD
    • GNOME
    • OpenSolaris
    • Flathub
    The Default look under GNOME with Adwaita
     
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    6
  14. GNU nano icon

    GNU nano

     289 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.

    152 GNU nano alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Haiku
    GNU nano screenshot 1
     
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    1
    15
    Comments about GNU nano as an Alternative to Vim
    Guest
    Negative
    1

    No where near the shortcut capabilities, and also no built-in syntax highlighting!

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Vim Icon
    GNU nano icon

    • Almost everyone thinks GNU nano is a great Vim alternative.

    • GNU nano is Free and Open SourceVim is also Free and Open Source
  15. Micro icon

    Micro

     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
    Micro screenshot 1
     
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    2
    Comments about Micro as an Alternative to Vim
    Jala015
    Positive
    1

    Intuitive keybindings, easy to configure, powerful out of the box and extensible via plugins.

    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Micro is really easy to use and intuitive.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Vim Icon
    Micro icon
    • Micro is Free and Open SourceVim is also Free and Open Source
    • Micro is Privacy focusedVim is not according to our users
12 of 212 Vim alternatives