Best Text Editors in 2026 — page 2

Notepad++

BBEdit

BBEdit combines text editing, web authoring and development tools, with a continuing free mode and a paid license for advanced features.

Pulsar

Pulsar combines configurable editing, package support, language server features, and Git tools in a free desktop editor. Check the platform requirements, and note the unsigned Windows downloads.

Micro

Micro offers terminal editing with multiple cursors, plugins, language-server support, and broad configuration options.

GNU TeXmacs

Choose GNU TeXmacs if you need a free desktop editor for technical documents, with offline editing, multiple output formats, and extensibility through Scheme.

Helix

Choose Helix if you want a free terminal editor with multi-selection commands, syntax-aware navigation, and built-in language server support.

Fulgur

Fulgur offers broad desktop support, substantial editing tools and optional encrypted synchronization without a paid plan.

Textastic

Textastic combines broad syntax support with remote file and terminal connections on iOS. Check the platform differences and separate Mac purchase before choosing a plan.

CotEditor

CotEditor offers a broad set of text-editing tools at no cost, including language highlighting, scripting and encoding controls.

TextMate

TextMate combines flexible editing, project search, and version-control actions in a macOS editor. Its current binaries work without a license key, but the maker says that could change.

Mousepad

Mousepad focuses on quick text editing, with configurable settings and keybindings. Its Linux scope and listed dependencies are important to consider before choosing it.

WriteMonkey

Choose WriteMonkey 3 if you want a free, offline-capable desktop editor with tools for navigating and preparing longer Markdown documents.

GNU GLOBAL

GNU GLOBAL provides code tagging and navigation for several languages, with search options for larger source trees. Check that its language support and platform availability fit your environment.

GNOME Text Editor

GNOME Text Editor provides a focused Linux text-editing experience with syntax highlighting and open-source development. Flathub supplies the current installation route and architecture options.

PSPad

PSPad combines core code and text editing with web tools, macros, extensions and external compiler support at no listed price.

Nextpad++

Nextpad++ brings Notepad++-style editing to macOS and Linux without a paid plan. Platform-specific plugin availability and Linux requirements are the main considerations before switching.

Kakoune

Kakoune offers extensive selection-based editing and customization at no listed cost. Its steep learning curve is an important consideration for new users.

NoteTab

NoteTab offers a free basic editor and a fuller Pro and Standard package with web-development tools.

Microsoft Edit

Microsoft Edit provides a straightforward, free terminal editor across the three major desktop platforms.

Joe's Own Editor

JOE provides a broad set of terminal editing tools across Linux, macOS, and Windows without a paid plan.

Poe

Poe centers on private, individual writing with offline access and focused editing tools.

Microsoft DevSkim

DevSkim offers IDE, CLI, and library options for security linting, with custom rules and several result formats.

MacVim

MacVim combines Vim editing with a macOS-focused GUI and system integrations. Its free, open-source distribution offers several installation and file-opening routes for Mac users.

Text Editor Pro

Text Editor Pro offers a broad Windows editing and utility set at no cost.

Notepad2

Notepad2 offers a focused Windows editing environment with broad syntax and encoding support, including portable use.