Best Text Editors in 2026
Updated
In short: Visual Studio Code is ranked #1 of 82 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Neovim and Kate. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Neovim. The lowest first paid tier on this page is EmEditor at $0.42/mo.
Text editors can support anything from focused changes to configurable editing workflows. Compare column editing and multi-cursor editing with macro recording, extension support, and large-file handling to see which capabilities fit your work. Supported platforms, free-plan availability, and paid-from pricing add practical points of comparison. Visual Studio Code, Neovim, and Zed are among the options shown by name. Consider whether you need extensions or automation, how you handle larger files, and where you want to edit. The listed features make it easier to weigh editors with different approaches against your workflow and the devices or systems you use.
82 text editors ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
15 of the 25 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visual Studio CodeWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 8.2 | |
| 2 | NeovimWindows · Mac · Linux · Android · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 8.2 | |
| 3 | KateWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 8.0 | |
| 4 | ZedWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | $10/mo | 8.0 | |
| 5 | Notepad++Windows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 7.9 | |
| 6 | BBEditMac | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $59.99/mo | 7.8 | |
| 7 | EmEditorWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $0.42/mo | 7.8 | |
| 8 | LapceWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 7.7 | |
| 9 | BluefishWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 7.7 | |
| 10 | TeXworksWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 7.5 | |
| 11 | MicroWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 7.4 | |
| 12 | EditiXWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 7.3 | |
| 13 | FreshWindows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 7.3 | |
| 14 | Calmly WriterWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android | Three bars | — | 5 of 6 | Free | 7.2 | |
| 15 | VimWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 6.9 |
| 16 | jEditWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 6.8 |
| 17 | HelixWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 6.7 |
| 18 | GeanyWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 6.7 |
| 19 | SciTEWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 6.7 |
| 20 | Sublime TextWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 6.6 |
| 21 | UltraEditWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | $7.91/mo | 6.6 |
| 22 | KWriteWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 6.6 |
| 23 | WriteMonkeyWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 24 | Microsoft EditorNo platforms listed | One bar | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 6.5 |
| 25 | GNU nanoWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 6.5 |
Is your app 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 Freedom251?
Visual Studio Code is ranked #1 of 82 with a score of 8.2. Neovim is second and Kate 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 free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.