Instead of Kate
Kate alternatives
Kate is a free editor for viewing and editing text files across Linux, macOS and Windows, with BSD support. It opens multiple documents in horizontal or vertical splits and highlights syntax for more than 400 languages. Bracket matching, spell checking, regular-expression and multiline search, remote files, varied encodings and crash-recovery files cover everyday editing. Programming support includes argument hints, scriptable indentation, Vi input mode and Language Server Protocol completion. Extensions include an embedded terminal plus SQL, build, GDB and Replace in Files plugins.
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Visual Studio Code
Free plan LinuxMacWeb+1Web access and AI-agent development — Visual Studio Code adds web access, large-file handling and multi-agent development, while requiring a GitHub account for AI agents.
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Neovim
Free plan AndroidAPILinux+3Lua-configured Vim-based editing — Neovim is a hyperextensible Vim-based editor with Lua plugins and an init.lua configuration file.
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Notepad++
by Notepad++Free plan WindowsWindows editing and large files — Notepad++ is Windows-only and adds large-file handling, while Kate runs on Linux, macOS and Windows.
Free plan Visit site - 6
BBEdit
by BBEditFree plan MacMac-only editing with a trial — BBEdit is macOS-only and offers a 30-day trial, while Kate supports Linux, macOS and Windows without a trial.
Free plan · 30-day trial Visit site - 7
EmEditor
by EmEditorFree trial WindowsWindows editing with paid plans — EmEditor targets Windows and offers paid plans from $5 monthly annually with a seven-day trial, unlike Kate’s free plan.
Free plan · paid from $5/mo (annual) · 7-day trial Visit site - 8
Lapce
Free plan Open source ExtensionLinuxMac+1 - 9
Geany
Free plan Open source LinuxMacWindows - 10
FocusWriter
Free plan Open source LinuxMacWindows - 11
Avidemux
Free plan Open source LinuxMacWeb+1 - 12
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Microsoft Editor
Free plan ExtensionMacWeb+1 - 14
jEdit
Free plan LinuxMacWindows - 15
SciTE
Free plan LinuxMacWindows - 16
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Fresh
Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+1 - 20
CudaText
Free plan LinuxMacWindows - 21
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TeXworks
Free plan LinuxMacWindows - 24
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Lite XL
Free plan AndroidLinuxMac+2 - 27
Calmly Writer
Free plan AndroidLinuxMac+2
Readers may compare alternatives because Kate has no free trial and no web, Android or self-hosted platform option. Other editors may focus on Vim-style configuration, large files, Lua plugins, AI-agent work or a single operating system. Check whether you need those platforms, workflows or capabilities, and whether a paid tier or account requirement fits. Extension support, multi-cursor and column editing overlap across several choices, so the deciding factors are usually platform reach, editor style, pricing and specialized functions.