Best Text Editors in 2026
Updated
82 text editors ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
82ranked
8free plans on this page
$0.58/molowest paid tier
8 Oct 2026last checked
8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | KWriteWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 6.6 |
| 27 | WriteMonkeyWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 28 | Microsoft EditorNo platforms listed | One bar | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 6.5 |
| 29 | GNU nanoWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 6.5 |
| 30 | FocusWriterWindows · Linux | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 31 | geditWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 6.4 |
| 32 | GNU GLOBALWindows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 33 | SlickEditWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | $125/mo | 6.3 |
| 34 | PoeWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | $0.58/mo | 6.3 | |
| 35 | CKEditor 4Web | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 6.2 |
| 36 | TextMateMac | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 6.2 |
| 37 | FulgurWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 6.2 |
| 38 | firstobject XML EditorWindows | One bar | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.2 | |
| 39 | PulsarWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 6.1 |
| 40 | TextasticMac · iPhone | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 6.1 |
| 41 | Lite XLWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android | Three bars | — | 5 of 6 | Free | 6.0 | |
| 42 | PSPadWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.9 |
| 43 | ExpressoMac | One bar | — | 1 of 6 | $0.99/mo | 5.9 | |
| 44 | ACTSWeb · Windows · Linux | Two bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 5.9 | |
| 45 | GNU TeXmacsWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.8 |
| 46 | MacVimMac | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.8 |
| 47 | Nextpad++Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.8 |
| 48 | KakouneMac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.8 |
| 49 | NovaMac | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | $4.08/mo | 5.7 |
| 50 | EditPad ProWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.7 |
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Supported platforms | Multi-cursor editing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | KWrite | 6.6 | No | — | Yes | — | Linux, Windows, macOS | Yes |
| 27 | WriteMonkey | 6.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 28 | Microsoft Editor | 6.5 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 29 | GNU nano | 6.5 | No | — | Yes | — | Linux, Windows, macOS | — |
| 30 | FocusWriter | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | — | — | — | — |
| 31 | gedit | 6.4 | No | — | Yes | — | Linux, macOS, Windows | — |
| 32 | GNU GLOBAL | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 33 | SlickEdit | 6.3 | No | $125/mo | No | — | Windows, macOS, Linux, Raspberry Pi | — |
| 34 | Poe | 6.3 | Free plan | $0.58/mo | Yes | $6.99/yr | — | — |
| 35 | CKEditor 4 | 6.2 | No | — | Yes | — | web | — |
| 36 | TextMate | 6.2 | No | — | — | — | macos | Yes |
| 37 | Fulgur | 6.2 | No | — | Yes | — | Windows, macOS, Linux | Yes |
| 38 | firstobject XML Editor | 6.2 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Windows | — |
| 39 | Pulsar | 6.1 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 40 | Textastic | 6.1 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 41 | Lite XL | 6.0 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Windows, Linux, macOS | Yes |
| 42 | PSPad | 5.9 | No | — | Yes | — | Windows | — |
| 43 | Expresso | 5.9 | Free plan | $0.99/mo | Yes | — | macOS | — |
| 44 | ACTS | 5.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 45 | GNU TeXmacs | 5.8 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 46 | MacVim | 5.8 | No | — | — | — | macOS | — |
| 47 | Nextpad++ | 5.8 | No | — | Yes | — | macOS, Linux | — |
| 48 | Kakoune | 5.8 | No | — | Yes | — | Linux, macOS | Yes |
| 49 | Nova | 5.7 | No | $4.08/mo | No | — | macOS | Yes |
| 50 | EditPad Pro | 5.7 | No | — | No | — | Windows | — |