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 Mac, Windows, Linux, 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, Neovim, VSCodium and Sublime Text.

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Vim alternatives are mainly Text Editors, but if you're looking for Code Editors or IDEs you can filter on that. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Vim.
Vim iconVim
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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.

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Vim alternatives page was last updated Sep 5, 2024
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  1. Notepad++ icon

    Notepad++

     4874 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.

    227 Notepad++ alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • FR flagFrance
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • PortableApps.com
    Notepad++ screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Configurable
    3.  Distraction-free

    Features

    1.  Code Formatting
    2.  Portable
    3.  Tabbed interface
    4.  Search and Replace
    5.  Text formatting
    6.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    7.  Multiple Open Tabs
    8.  Multiple languages
    9.  Color coding
    10.  Support for Javascript
    11.  Built-in themes
    12.  Auto-saving

    Notepad++ VS Vim

     
    Comments about Notepad++ as an Alternative to Vim
    ph soft
    Negative Feb 17, 2024
    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 Jun 13, 2019
    0

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

    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 LightweightVim is not according to our users
  2. Visual Studio Code icon

    Visual Studio Code

     1326 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.

    199 Visual Studio Code alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Chrome OS
    • Snapcraft
    Visual Studio Code screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Customizable
    2.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    2.  Autocompletion
    3.  Built-in terminal emulation
    4.  Syntax Highlighting
    5.  Code Completion
    6.  Multiple languages
    7. Git icon  Git Support
    8. GitHub icon  GitHub Integration
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  Supports Python
    11.  Multiple Cursors
    12.  C++

    Visual Studio Code VS Vim

     
    Comments about Visual Studio Code as an Alternative to Vim
    Most Recent Comment
    IndigoLily
    Negative Sep 13, 2021
    6

    Can't be used from within terminal

    filiphanes
    Negative Jul 15, 2022
    0

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

    Aleksandr Dikov
    Positive Aug 10, 2018
    2

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

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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
    • Visual Studio Code is CustomizableVim is not according to our users
  4. Neovim icon

    Neovim

     179 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.

    96 Neovim alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Neovim screenshot 1

    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 VS Vim

     
    Comments about Neovim as an Alternative to Vim
    Top Positive Comment
    benni347
    Oct 27, 2023
    0

    A better more modern alternative to vim.

    Most Recent Comment
    daviwalle
    Positive May 13, 2020
    -1

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

    Guest
    Positive Mar 9, 2020
    0

    Clean, faster than Vim but based on that.

    Show more comments
    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
    • Neovim is LightweightVim is not according to our users
  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    EmEditor icon
    EmEditor

    EmEditor is a versatile text, code, and CSV editor designed for Windows. It offers lightweight, user-friendly, and extendable platform, with both 32-bit and 64-bit builds. The software also features AI-assisted writing.

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

    VSCodium

     354 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.

    192 VSCodium alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Electron
    VSCodium screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Customizable
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Support for Themes
    4.  Lightweight
    5.  Clean design

    Features

    1.  No Tracking
    2.  Prevent telemetry
    3.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    4.  Works Offline
    5.  No registration required
    6.  Autocompletion
    7.  Dark Mode
    8. Git icon  Git integration
    9.  Syntax Highlighting
    10.  MIT License
    11.  Ad-free
    12.  Minimap

    VSCodium VS Vim

     
  7. Sublime Text icon

    Sublime Text

     2022 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

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • AU flagAustralia

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Sublime Text screenshot 1

    Properties

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

    Features

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

    Sublime Text VS Vim

     
  8. GNU Emacs icon

    GNU Emacs

     379 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:

    168 GNU Emacs alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

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

    Properties

    1.  Customizable
    2.  Lightweight
    3.  Distraction-free

    Features

    1.  Extensibility
    2.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    3.  Org-mode
    4.  Self-documenting
    5.  Terminal-based
    6.  Syntax Highlighting
    7.  Support for scripting
    8.  Command line interface
    9.  No Tracking
    10.  Works Offline
    11.  Spell Checking
    12.  Ad-free

    GNU Emacs VS Vim

     
    Comments about GNU Emacs as an Alternative to Vim
    Guest
    Positive Mar 21, 2021
    0

    Maybe much better than Vi? ;)

    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 CustomizableVim is not according to our users
  10. Zed Editor icon

    Zed Editor

     72 likes
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    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

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Zed Editor screenshot 1

    Properties

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

    Features

    1.  Syntax Highlighting
    2.  Autocompletion
    3.  Dark Mode
    4.  Built-in terminal emulation
    5.  Team Collaboration
    6.  Rust
    7.  Real time collaboration
    8.  No registration required
    9. Git icon  Git Support
    10.  Ad-free
    11.  Works Offline
    12.  Multiple Cursors

    Zed Editor VS Vim

     
    Comments about Zed Editor as an Alternative to Vim
    Guest
    Positive Feb 13, 2024
    0

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

    Vim Icon
    Zed Editor icon
    • Zed Editor is Free and Open SourceVim is also Free and Open Source
    • Zed Editor is LightweightVim is not according to our users
  11. Geany icon

    Geany

     570 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.

    145 Geany alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Flatpak
    Geany screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Support for Themes
    3.  Minimalistic
    4.  Customizable
    5.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Multiplatform
    2.  Syntax Highlighting
    3.  Code navigation
    4.  Automatic Indentation
    5.  Shell integration
    6.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    7.  Ad-free
    8. LaTeX icon  Support for LaTeX
    9.  Hierarchical Structure
    10.  Live Preview
    11.  Debian package compatible
    12.  Shortcut keys

    Geany VS Vim

     
8 of 205 Vim alternatives