Side by side
BBEdit vs Helix
Both stand on editor software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan Mac
BBEdit combines text editing, web authoring and development tools, with a continuing free mode and a paid license for advanced features. Check the macOS requirement and platform limitation before selecting it.
Visit BBEdit
Free plan LinuxMacWindows
Choose Helix if you want a free terminal editor with multi-selection commands, syntax-aware navigation, and built-in language server support. Look elsewhere if you need a plugin system today or depend on indentation definitions for a language that is not covered.
Visit HelixThe facts
| BBEdit | Helix | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Mac | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | See the plans | Not published |
| Plans published | 5 | None |
| Maker | BBEdit | Not published |
| Website | barebones.com | helix-editor.com |
| On editor software | #9 of 32 | #17 of 32 |
BBEdit: what it does well
- Free Mode continues after the evaluation period.
- Includes multi-file search and replace.
- Provides live HTML and Markdown previews.
- Licensed version integrates Git and Subversion.
- Supports FTP and SFTP text files.
What to know first
- Available only for macOS.
- BBEdit 16 requires macOS 14.0 or later.
- Some advanced features require a paid license.
- Individual license costs 59.99 USD one time.
Helix: what it does well
- Free to use on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
- Commands can operate on multiple selections concurrently.
- Includes built-in language server support.
- Provides project-wide search and a fuzzy finder.
- Supports configuration by project, including keybindings and themes.
What to know first
- There is no plugin system currently.
- Users must install language servers for their preferred languages.
- Indentation definitions cover only certain languages.