Neovim
Neovim is a free, Vim-based text editor designed for extensibility and usability. It retains Vim's editing model and Vimscript v1 support, while also supporting Lua plugins and a configuration file called `init.lua`. Its versioned, documented API and RPC allow extensions in different languages, and GUIs, IDEs, and web browsers can embed the editor. Tree-sitter supports syntax highlighting and text objects, while built-in language-server support provides semantic code inspection and refactoring. Neovim also includes multicursor editing, macro recording, column editing, large-file handling, and a built-in terminal with modern terminal features. It supports Vim 8.x plugins and more. Downloads are listed for Linux, macOS, and Windows, with x86_64 and arm64 builds for each. Windows 8 or newer is required; Windows 7 and older are unsupported. Neovim is licensed under Apache 2.0, except for parts contributed under the Vim license. Community support is available through GitHub Discussions and vi.stackexchange.com.
Who it is for
Neovim suits users who want a Vim-based editing model with extensibility through Lua, RPC, or plugins. Its API, language-server features, and embedding options may also suit developers integrating editor capabilities into other applications.
What is good
- Lua plugins and `init.lua` configuration
- Built-in language-server support for inspection and refactoring
- Tree-sitter supports syntax highlighting and text objects
- Includes multicursor, macro, and column editing
- Free under Apache 2.0 with Vim-licensed exceptions
What to know first
- Windows 8 or newer required
- Windows 7 and older are unsupported
- Some portions use the Vim license
Verdict
Neovim pairs Vim-style editing with a documented API, plugin options, and built-in language-server features. Windows users need version 8 or newer, and parts of the codebase have Vim-licensed exceptions.
Neovim plans and pricing
All plansCompared on text editors
- Free plan
- Yes
- Extension support
- Yes
- Language server support
- Yes
- Editor type
- Vim-based text editor
