Open Source Vim Alternatives for Linux

There are many alternatives to Vim for Linux if you are looking for a replacement. The best open source Linux alternative is Neovim. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Vim and loads of them are open source and available for Linux so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting open source Linux alternatives to Vim are VSCodium, Zed Editor, Kate and GNU Emacs.

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Alternatives list

  1. Neovim icon

    Neovim

     203 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.

    120 Neovim alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Chocolatey
    • Flathub
    • Snapcraft
    Neovim screenshot 1
     
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    8
    Neovim vs Vim Comments
    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.

    3 of 8 comments
    • Neovim is Free and Open SourceVim is also Free and Open Source
    • Neovim is Privacy focusedVim is not according to our users
  2. VSCodium icon

    VSCodium

     443 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.

    219 VSCodium alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application types

    Platforms

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

    Zed Editor

     144 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.

    116 Zed Editor alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Zed Editor screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Zed Editor vs Vim Comments
    Guest
    Positive
    0

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

    • Zed Editor is Freemium and Open SourceVim is Free and Open Source
    • Zed Editor is Privacy focusedVim is not according to our users
  5. 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.

    165 Kate alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • KDE Plasma
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    • Snapcraft
    Kate screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Kate vs Vim Comments
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    A normal UI. Not the insane way, VIM still works. (I say that as an old fart who has programmed since before VIM even existed!) So its features are actually usable, and not hidden behind arcane key sequences. Also, and much more powerful than people think. (E.g. easily fully extensible too, with arbitrary executables, scripts, and language servers, plus an easy to understand syntax highlighting file syntax.)

    • Kate is Free and Open SourceVim is also Free and Open Source
  7. 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:

    201 GNU Emacs alternatives

    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
     
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    1
    GNU Emacs vs Vim Comments
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Maybe much better than Vi? ;)

    • GNU Emacs is Free and Open SourceVim is also Free and Open Source
    • GNU Emacs is a Text Editor Vim is a Code Editor
    • GNU Emacs is Privacy focusedVim is not according to our users
  8. 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.

    170 Geany alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Flatpak
    • Haiku
    Geany screenshot 1
     
  9. GNU nano icon

    GNU nano

     297 likes

    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.

    166 GNU nano alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Haiku
    GNU nano screenshot 1
     
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    1
    GNU nano vs Vim Comments
    Guest
    Negative
    1

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

    • GNU nano is Free and Open SourceVim is also Free and Open Source
    • GNU nano is a Text Editor Vim is a Code Editor
  10. gedit icon

    gedit

     700 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.

    210 gedit alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Chrome OS
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • GNOME
    • OpenSolaris
    The Default look under GNOME with Adwaita
     
  11. 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.

    56 Micro alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • FreeBSD
    • OpenBSD
    Micro screenshot 1
     
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    2
    Micro vs Vim Comments
    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.

    • Micro is Free and Open SourceVim is also Free and Open Source
    • Micro is a Text Editor Vim is a Code Editor
    • Micro is Privacy focusedVim is not according to our users
  13. Edit icon

    Edit

     21 likes

    Open-source command-line text editor for Windows with a modern interface inspired by MS-DOS Editor, featuring key bindings, lightweight build under 250KB, multi-file handling with ctrl + P, keyboard-optimized navigation, and direct file editing for developers.

    75 Edit alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Mac
    Edit screenshot 1
     
12 of 95 Vim alternatives