Side by side
Helix vs TextMate
Both stand on text editors. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
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 Helix Free plan Mac
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.
Visit TextMateThe facts
| Helix | TextMate | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac, Windows | Mac |
| Lowest paid plan | Not published | Free or on request |
| Plans published | None | 5 |
| Maker | Not published | TextMate |
| Website | helix-editor.com | macromates.com |
| On text editors | #31 of 82 | #35 of 82 |
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.
TextMate: what it does well
- Multiple insertion points and column editing
- Project search supports regular expressions
- Detects four version-control project types
- Customizable with language and workflow bundles
- Live HTML and Markdown previews
What to know first
- Listed download requires OS X 10.12
- Large-file handling is not supported
- A license key may be required in the future
Alternatives to Helix Alternatives to TextMate The whole list