BBEdit vs Microsoft Editor
BBEdit
barebones.comMicrosoft Editor
microsoft.comSide by side
| Figure | BBEdit | Microsoft Editor |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $59.99/mo | $0.83/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 5 | 16 |
| Spec score · Text Editors | 8.6 (#11) | 8.6 (#13) |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Privacy | Bare Bones says BBEdit worksheet queries and responses go directly to the ChatGPT API over HTTPS and are not received or retained by Bare Bones. | For Editor spelling and grammar checks in Edge, typed text is sent to a Microsoft cloud service, processed, and deleted after processing. |
| Support | Technical support is available by email or contact form; the company says it does not offer telephone or on-site support. | Microsoft's product page describes ongoing support as included with Microsoft 365 Personal. |
Plans
BBEdit
- Free ModeFree
- BBEdit license$59.99 a month
- Mac App Store subscriptionPrice not published
- BBEdit Free ModeFree
- BBEdit 16 Individual$59.99, paid once
Microsoft Editor
- Microsoft 365 Personal$9.99 a month
- Microsoft 365 PersonalPriced on request
- Microsoft 365 Family$12.99 a month
- Microsoft 365 FamilyPriced on request
- Microsoft 365 Business StandardPriced on request
- Microsoft 365 Business PremiumPriced on request
- Microsoft 365 Apps for businessPriced on request
- Microsoft 365 Business Standard (no Teams)Priced on request
- Microsoft 365 Business Premium (no Teams)Priced on request
- Microsoft 365 Apps for business$10 a year
In their own words
BBEdit
BBEdit is a text and HTML editor for writers, web authors, and software developers using macOS. Its tools include grep pattern matching, multi-file search and replace, syntax coloring, function navigation, code folding, and text completion. For web authoring, it provides HTML markup tools, standards-based syntax checking, and live previews of HTML and Markdown documents. A license adds Git and Subversion support, and licensed users can create in-app worksheets to converse with ChatGPT, Claude, and Ollama. Workflow options include AppleScript, macOS Unix scripting, Automator, Xcode as an external editor, and the Language Server Protocol. BBEdit can open and save text files on FTP and SFTP servers. Free Mode continues after the 30-day evaluation period, though some advanced features require a paid license. The listed BBEdit 16 Individual plan costs $59.99 as a one-time purchase. BBEdit 16 requires macOS 14.0 or later and supports Intel and Apple silicon Macs; Bare Bones says there are no Windows or Linux versions.
Microsoft Editor
Microsoft Editor checks spelling, grammar, capitalization, and punctuation, with additional suggestions for clarity, conciseness, and formality. It is available as a browser extension and in Word and Outlook, including Word for the web and the desktop app. Editor provides basic writing guidance in more than 20 languages and spelling suggestions in more than 80; users can spell-check up to three languages at once. Its similarity checker can find document content resembling online text and help cite the original source. A free grammar checker covers basic spelling and grammar, while premium features are included with Microsoft 365 and are not sold separately as Editor premium. Microsoft 365 Personal and Family offers on the Editor page include a free one-month trial. Personal costs $9.99 a month, billed monthly; Family costs $12.99 a month, billed monthly. For spelling and grammar checks in Edge, typed text is processed by a Microsoft cloud service and deleted afterward; Basic spellcheck in Edge checks locally instead.