CotEditor

Free plan Mac

What CotEditor is

CotEditor is a free plain-text editor for macOS, designed for source code, notes, Markdown, web content and other text. It provides syntax highlighting for more than 70 preset languages, regular-expression find and replace, and live character, word and line counts. Editing tools include multi-cursor and column editing, plus an outline menu based on document syntax. CotEditor can handle large files and supports text encodings, line endings, Unicode normalization, CJK text, vertical layout and right-to-left text. It also supports extensions, scripting in the user's preferred language and a command-line tool. The App Store version integrates with Dark Mode, Versions, iCloud and VoiceOver. The project says personal data recorded in the editor is not collected, used, saved or accessed, and settings stay on the device. App Store and direct-download versions are sandboxed. The listed CotEditor 7.1.1 release requires macOS 26 or later; the project does not support earlier macOS versions listed in its archive.

Who it suits

CotEditor suits Mac users who want a plain-text editor for code, notes, Markdown or web content. It is made exclusively for Mac.

What it does well

Free, with all features available
Syntax highlighting for more than 70 languages
Supports large files and column editing
Includes scripting and a command-line tool

What to know first

Available only for macOS
Listed 7.1.1 release requires macOS 26 or later

Limits

All CotEditor features are available free, with optional in-app purchases supporting the project. The listed CotEditor 7.1.1 release requires macOS 26 or later, and the project does not support earlier macOS versions listed in its archive.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Free	All features available for free · Optional in-app purchases support the project	Free

As coteditor.com lists them, read 7 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Visit https://coteditor.com/ and choose an App Store or non-App-Store version.
Install the chosen macOS edition.
Open the app and consult guides in its Help menu.
Use the built-in command-line tool or scripting options if they suit your workflow.
Report issues on GitHub or contact the project by email if you need support.

Verdict

CotEditor offers a broad set of text-editing tools at no cost, including language highlighting, scripting and encoding controls. Check the macOS 26 requirement for the listed current release before choosing it.

Questions

How much does CotEditor cost?

CotEditor is free. Optional in-app purchases support the project.

Is there a free plan?

Yes. All features are available for free.

Which platforms does CotEditor support?

CotEditor is made exclusively for macOS. The listed CotEditor 7.1.1 release requires macOS 26 or later.

Can CotEditor be extended or scripted?

Yes. It supports extensions, scripting in the user's preferred language, and a command-line tool.

What does CotEditor do?

It is a plain-text editor for source code, notes, Markdown, web content, and more. It includes syntax highlighting, regular-expression find and replace, and tools such as multi-cursor editing.

How can users get help?

Users can consult guides in the app's Help menu, report issues on GitHub, or contact the project by email.

Facts from CotEditor's own pages

Column editing: Yes · coteditor.com, 22 Sept 2026
Current system requirement: The listed CotEditor 7.1.1 release requires macOS 26 or later. · coteditor.com, 7 Oct 2026
Distribution and security: The App Store and non-App-Store versions are sandboxed, and the non-App-Store version is notarized by Apple. · coteditor.com, 7 Oct 2026
Earlier macOS support: The project says it does not provide support for earlier macOS versions listed in its archive. · coteditor.com, 7 Oct 2026
Editing tools: Features include live character, word, and line counts, multi-cursor editing, and a syntax-based outline menu. · apps.apple.com, 7 Oct 2026
Extension support: Yes · coteditor.com, 22 Sept 2026
Find and replace: It provides find and replace with regular expressions. · apps.apple.com, 7 Oct 2026
Free plan: Yes · coteditor.com, 22 Sept 2026
Large-file handling: Yes · coteditor.com, 22 Sept 2026
macOS integration: The App Store listing says CotEditor integrates with Dark Mode, Versions, iCloud, and VoiceOver. · apps.apple.com, 7 Oct 2026
Multi-cursor editing: Yes · coteditor.com, 22 Sept 2026
Privacy: The project says it does not collect, use, save, or access personal data recorded in CotEditor, and app settings are stored only on the device. · coteditor.com, 7 Oct 2026
Scripting: CotEditor is scriptable in the user's preferred language and includes a command-line tool. · apps.apple.com, 7 Oct 2026
Support: Users can consult guides in the app's Help menu, report issues on GitHub, or contact the project by email. · coteditor.com, 7 Oct 2026
Supported platforms: macOS · coteditor.com, 22 Sept 2026
Syntax highlighting: It includes syntax highlighting for more than 70 preset languages. · apps.apple.com, 7 Oct 2026
Text handling: It supports text encodings, line endings, Unicode normalization, CJK text, vertical text layout, and right-to-left text. · apps.apple.com, 7 Oct 2026
Updater: The non-App-Store version includes Sparkle to notify users of and install new releases; the App Store version is updated by macOS. · coteditor.com, 7 Oct 2026
What it does: CotEditor is a lightweight plain-text editor for source code, notes, Markdown, web content, and more. · apps.apple.com, 7 Oct 2026
Who it is for: CotEditor is made exclusively for Mac and is presented for everyday plain-text editing, including code, notes, Markdown, and web content. · apps.apple.com, 7 Oct 2026

Where CotEditor stands on Freedom251

Editor Software#12 of 32
Text Editors#34 of 82
Code editors#31 of 45