Text editors are essential tools for anyone working with code or text files. They provide a simple and straightforward interface for editing and manipulating text, and are a must-have for any developer or writer. While there are many paid options available, there are also a number of excellent free text editors that can meet the needs of most users.
Freeware Text Editors for Windows and Mac
Here are the 15 best freeware text editors for Windows and Mac:
Notepad++: This popular text editor is a go-to choice for many Windows users. It supports a wide range of programming languages, has a clean and lightweight interface, and offers advanced features such as syntax highlighting and code folding.
Sublime Text: Sublime Text is a cross-platform text editor that is widely used by developers. It has a powerful feature set, including support for multiple selections, a customizable interface, and a built-in package manager.
Atom: Developed by GitHub, Atom is a feature-rich text editor that is built using web technologies. It has a customizable interface, a built-in package manager, and a wide range of plugins and themes.
Visual Studio Code: This text editor is developed by Microsoft and is widely used by developers. It offers a wide range of features, including syntax highlighting, code completion, and integrated debugging.
Brackets: Brackets is a text editor that is specifically designed for web development. It has a live preview feature that allows you to see your changes in real-time, and a range of plugins for adding extra functionality.
TextMate: This popular text editor for Mac has a powerful feature set, including support for code completion, folding, and snippets. It is often used by developers, but is also suitable for general text editing tasks.
Gedit: Gedit is a simple and lightweight text editor that is included with the GNOME desktop environment. It has a clean interface and support for a wide range of programming languages.
Kate: Kate is a feature-rich text editor that is included with the KDE desktop environment. It has support for code highlighting, folding, and snippets, and offers a customizable interface.
Geany: Geany is a lightweight text editor that is suitable for general text editing tasks as well as programming. It has a clean interface and support for a wide range of programming languages.
Bluefish: Bluefish is a powerful text editor that is designed for web development. It has support for multiple languages, code highlighting, and a wide range of plugins and themes.
Notepad3: This lightweight text editor is a fork of the default Windows Notepad application. It offers a number of enhancements over the original, including support for code highlighting and folding, and a customizable interface.
TextWrangler: TextWrangler is a simple and straightforward text editor for Mac that is suitable for general text editing tasks. It has a clean interface and support for a wide range of programming languages.
jEdit: jEdit is a Java-based text editor that is suitable for a wide range of tasks, including programming and general text editing. It has a customizable interface and a wide range of plugins and features.
UltraEdit: UltraEdit is a powerful text editor that is suitable for both general text editing and programming. It has a wide range of features, including support for code highlighting, folding, and snippets, and a customizable interface.
Code::Blocks: Code::Blocks is an open-source, cross-platform text editor that is specifically designed for C, C++, and Fortran development. It has a customizable interface and support for a wide range of languages.
Overall, these are some of the best freeware text editors available for Windows and Mac. Whether you are a developer or just need a simple tool for editing text, one of these options is sure to meet your needs.
5 Key Considerations When Choosing Code Editors
When choosing a text editor, there are a few key things to consider:
Supported languages: If you are a developer, it is important to choose a text editor that supports the programming languages you use. Many text editors offer support for a wide range of languages, but some are more specialized and may only support a limited set.
Features: Text editors come with a wide range of features, including syntax highlighting, code completion, and integrated debugging. Consider what features are important to you and choose a text editor that offers them.
Customizability: Some text editors offer a high degree of customizability, allowing you to tailor the interface and feature set to your specific needs. If you value flexibility, consider a text editor that offers a high level of customization.
Ease of use: Text editors vary in their complexity and learning curve. If you are new to text editors, you may want to choose one that is easy to use and has a straightforward interface.
Platform support: If you use both Windows and Mac, or work on multiple devices, it is important to choose a text editor that is available on all platforms. Many text editors are cross-platform, but some are only available for one operating system.
By considering these factors, you can choose a text editor that meets your needs and is well-suited to your workflow.
If you know any text editor we omitted, feel free to tell us about it in the comments below!