Best Text Editors in 2026
Updated
In short: Neovim is ranked #1 of 82 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Zed and Visual Studio Code. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Zed. The lowest first paid tier on this page is EmEditor at $0.42/mo.
Text editors cover different kinds of writing and editing, from focused changes to work that calls for customization or automation. Compared on column editing, multi-cursor editing, macro recording, extension support, and large-file handling, these entries also show supported platforms, free-plan availability, and paid starting prices. Consider which editing capabilities matter in your routine, and whether platform support and cost fit your setup. Neovim, Zed, and Visual Studio Code are among the named options to weigh. The listed criteria make it easier to compare practical features without assuming every editor serves the same purpose.
82 text editors ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
82ranked
14free plans on this page
$0.42/molowest paid tier
4 Oct 2026last checked
Input list Text Editors 25 channels on this page · 123 of 200 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromSupported platformsMulti-cursor editingMacro recordingColumn editingLarge-file handlingExtension support Spec sheet Score
01 Neovim Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsLinux, macOS, Windows, AndroidMulti-cursor editingYesMacro recordingYesColumn editingYesLarge-file handlingYesExtension supportYes 7/8spec lines stated 9.1
02 Zed Free planYesPaid from$10/yrSupported platformsmacOS, Windows, LinuxMulti-cursor editingYesMacro recordingYesColumn editingYesLarge-file handlingnot statedExtension supportYes 7/8spec lines stated 9.0
03 Visual Studio Code Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsweb, windows, macos, linuxMulti-cursor editingYesMacro recordingnot statedColumn editingYesLarge-file handlingYesExtension supportYes 6/8spec lines stated 8.9
04 EmEditor Free planYesPaid from$5/yrSupported platformsWindows 10, Windows 11, Windows Server 2019 or later; legacy support includes Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2Multi-cursor editingYesMacro recordingYesColumn editingYesLarge-file handlingYesExtension supportYes 8/8spec lines stated 8.7
05 BBEdit Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsmacOSMulti-cursor editingnot statedMacro recordingnot statedColumn editingYesLarge-file handlingYesExtension supportYes 5/8spec lines stated 8.6
06 Kate Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsLinux, BSD, Windows, macOSMulti-cursor editingYesMacro recordingYesColumn editingYesLarge-file handlingnot statedExtension supportYes 6/8spec lines stated 8.5
07 Sublime Text Free planNoPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsWindows, macOS, LinuxMulti-cursor editingYesMacro recordingYesColumn editingYesLarge-file handlingYesExtension supportYes 7/8spec lines stated 8.4
08 Calmly Writer Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsnot statedMulti-cursor editingnot statedMacro recordingnot statedColumn editingnot statedLarge-file handlingnot statedExtension supportnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 8.4
09 Bluefish Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsLinux, Mac OSX, Windows, FreeBSD, OpenBSDMulti-cursor editingnot statedMacro recordingnot statedColumn editingnot statedLarge-file handlingYesExtension supportYes 4/8spec lines stated 8.3
10 UltraEdit Free planNoPaid from$10,495/yrSupported platformsWindows, macOS, LinuxMulti-cursor editingYesMacro recordingYesColumn editingYesLarge-file handlingYesExtension supportYes 8/8spec lines stated 8.2
11 Lapce Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsWindows, Linux, macOSMulti-cursor editingYesMacro recordingnot statedColumn editingnot statedLarge-file handlingnot statedExtension supportYes 4/8spec lines stated 8.2
12 Notepad++ Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsWindowsMulti-cursor editingYesMacro recordingYesColumn editingYesLarge-file handlingYesExtension supportYes 7/8spec lines stated 8.1
13 SlickEdit Free planNoPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsWindows, macOS, Linux, Raspberry PiMulti-cursor editingnot statedMacro recordingnot statedColumn editingnot statedLarge-file handlingnot statedExtension supportnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 8.1
14 Micro Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsnot statedMulti-cursor editingYesMacro recordingnot statedColumn editingnot statedLarge-file handlingnot statedExtension supportYes 3/8spec lines stated 8.1
15 Vim Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsWindows, macOS, LinuxMulti-cursor editingnot statedMacro recordingYesColumn editingYesLarge-file handlingnot statedExtension supportYes 5/8spec lines stated 7.8
16 TeXworks Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsWindows, macOS, GNU/LinuxMulti-cursor editingnot statedMacro recordingnot statedColumn editingnot statedLarge-file handlingnot statedExtension supportnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 7.8
17 Fresh Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsnot statedMulti-cursor editingnot statedMacro recordingnot statedColumn editingnot statedLarge-file handlingnot statedExtension supportnot stated 0/8spec lines stated 7.8
18 jEdit Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsWindows, Unix/Linux, Mac OS X, VMS, OS/2Multi-cursor editingYesMacro recordingYesColumn editingYesLarge-file handlingnot statedExtension supportYes 6/8spec lines stated 7.7
19 SciTE Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsWindows, macOS, LinuxMulti-cursor editingYesMacro recordingYesColumn editingYesLarge-file handlingYesExtension supportYes 7/8spec lines stated 7.7
20 EditiX Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsWindows, macOS, LinuxMulti-cursor editingnot statedMacro recordingnot statedColumn editingnot statedLarge-file handlingYesExtension supportYes 4/8spec lines stated 7.7
21 Helix Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsLinux, macOS, WindowsMulti-cursor editingYesMacro recordingYesColumn editingnot statedLarge-file handlingnot statedExtension supportNo 5/8spec lines stated 7.6
22 Geany Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsWindows, macOS, LinuxMulti-cursor editingNoMacro recordingYesColumn editingYesLarge-file handlingnot statedExtension supportYes 6/8spec lines stated 7.6
23 KWrite Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsLinux, Windows, macOSMulti-cursor editingYesMacro recordingnot statedColumn editingYesLarge-file handlingnot statedExtension supportYes 5/8spec lines stated 7.5
24 Textadept Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsWindows, macOS, Linux, BSDMulti-cursor editingYesMacro recordingYesColumn editingYesLarge-file handlingYesExtension supportYes 7/8spec lines stated 7.5
25 010 Editor Free planNoPaid fromnot statedSupported platformsnot statedMulti-cursor editingnot statedMacro recordingnot statedColumn editingnot statedLarge-file handlingnot statedExtension supportnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 7.5
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | Tool | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Supported platforms | Multi-cursor editing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Neovim | 9.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Linux, macOS, Windows, Android | Yes |
| 2 | Zed | 9.0 | Free plan | $10/mo | Yes | $10/yr | macOS, Windows, Linux | Yes |
| 3 | Visual Studio Code | 8.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | web, windows, macos, linux | Yes |
| 4 | EmEditor | 8.7 | No | $0.42/mo | Yes | $5/yr | Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows Server 2019 or later; legacy support includes Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 | Yes |
| 5 | BBEdit | 8.6 | Free plan | $59.99/mo | Yes | — | macOS | — |
| 6 | Kate | 8.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Linux, BSD, Windows, macOS | Yes |
| 7 | Sublime Text | 8.4 | No | — | No | — | Windows, macOS, Linux | Yes |
| 8 | Calmly Writer | 8.4 | Free plan | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 9 | Bluefish | 8.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Linux, Mac OSX, Windows, FreeBSD, OpenBSD | — |
| 10 | UltraEdit | 8.2 | No | $7.91/mo | No | $10,495/yr | Windows, macOS, Linux | Yes |
| 11 | Lapce | 8.2 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Windows, Linux, macOS | Yes |
| 12 | Notepad++ | 8.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Windows | Yes |
| 13 | SlickEdit | 8.1 | No | $125/mo | No | — | Windows, macOS, Linux, Raspberry Pi | — |
| 14 | Micro | 8.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| 15 | Vim | 7.8 | No | — | Yes | — | Windows, macOS, Linux | — |
| 16 | TeXworks | 7.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Windows, macOS, GNU/Linux | — |
| 17 | Fresh | 7.8 | Free plan | Free | — | — | — | — |
| 18 | jEdit | 7.7 | No | — | Yes | — | Windows, Unix/Linux, Mac OS X, VMS, OS/2 | Yes |
| 19 | SciTE | 7.7 | No | — | Yes | — | Windows, macOS, Linux | Yes |
| 20 | EditiX | 7.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Windows, macOS, Linux | — |
| 21 | Helix | 7.6 | No | — | Yes | — | Linux, macOS, Windows | Yes |
| 22 | Geany | 7.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Windows, macOS, Linux | No |
| 23 | KWrite | 7.5 | No | — | Yes | — | Linux, Windows, macOS | Yes |
| 24 | Textadept | 7.5 | No | — | Yes | — | Windows, macOS, Linux, BSD | Yes |
| 25 | 010 Editor | 7.5 | No | $24.95/mo | No | — | — | — |
Is your tool on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which text editor is ranked first on Specifiction?
Neovim is ranked #1 of 82 with a score of 9.1. Zed is second and Visual Studio Code third.
How many of these have a free plan?
14 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, EmEditor has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.42/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing. Paid placements never change a rank.