Best Text Editors in 2026
Updated
In short: Neovim is ranked #1 of 55 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of GNU Emacs and Visual Studio Code. The best-ranked option with a free plan is GNU Emacs. The lowest first paid tier on this page is EmEditor at $0.42/mo.
Text editors can support everything from drafting prose to changing code or working with sizeable files. Compare column and multi-cursor editing, macro recording, and extension support to see which editing approaches each entry lists. Large-file handling may matter for the documents you work with, while supported platforms can narrow the options to those that run where you do. Check free-plan availability and paid-from pricing alongside those capabilities. Neovim, Calmly Writer, and Visual Studio Code illustrate the range of names included here; Notepad++ and Zed are also represented. Use the criteria to weigh the tools against your editing habits, platform needs, and budget.
55 text editors ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
Recognised 40% · Phone app 26% · Documented 20% · Free plan 14% of the score
- 1 Neovim Android only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 9.7Free Supported platforms: Linux, macOS, Windows, AndroidMulti-cursor editing: YesMacro recording: Yes
- 2 GNU Emacs Android only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 9.6Free Supported platforms: GNU/Linux, Windows, macOS, Android, BSD, Haiku, Solaris, MS-DOS/FreeDOSMulti-cursor editing: YesMacro recording: Yes
- 3 Visual Studio Code No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.3Free Supported platforms: web, windows, macos, linuxMulti-cursor editing: Yes
- 4 Zed No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.2$10/mo Supported platforms: macOS, Windows, LinuxMulti-cursor editing: YesMacro recording: Yes
- 5 Textastic iPhone only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.1
- 6 Kate No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.0Free Supported platforms: Linux, BSD, Windows, macOSMulti-cursor editing: YesMacro recording: Yes
- 7 BBEdit No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.9$59.99/mo Supported platforms: macOS
- 8 EmEditor No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.9$0.42/mo Supported platforms: Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows Server 2019 or later; legacy support includes Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2Multi-cursor editing: YesMacro recording: Yes
- 9 Notepad++ No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.7Free Supported platforms: WindowsMulti-cursor editing: YesMacro recording: Yes
- 10 Lapce No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.4Free Supported platforms: Windows, Linux, macOSMulti-cursor editing: Yes
- 11 UltraEdit No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.3$7.91/mo Supported platforms: Windows, macOS, LinuxMulti-cursor editing: YesMacro recording: Yes
- 12 Geany No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.2Free Supported platforms: Windows, macOS, LinuxMulti-cursor editing: NoMacro recording: Yes
- 13 Froala Editor iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.1 Supported platforms: web, iOS, Android
- 14 Vim No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.0 Supported platforms: Windows, macOS, LinuxMacro recording: Yes
- 15 CudaText No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.9 Supported platforms: Windows, Linux, macOSMulti-cursor editing: Yes
- 16 EditPad Pro No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.8 Supported platforms: WindowsMacro recording: Yes
- 17 Textadept No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.8 Supported platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, BSDMulti-cursor editing: YesMacro recording: Yes
- 18 Nova No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.7$4.08/mo Supported platforms: macOSMulti-cursor editing: Yes
- 19 EditiX No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.7Free Supported platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
- 20 Helix No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.6 Supported platforms: Linux, macOS, WindowsMulti-cursor editing: YesMacro recording: Yes
- 21 jEdit No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.6 Supported platforms: Windows, Unix/Linux, Mac OS X, VMS, OS/2Multi-cursor editing: YesMacro recording: Yes
- 22 CotEditor No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.6 Supported platforms: macOSMulti-cursor editing: Yes
- 23 Jota Text Editor Android only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.6 Supported platforms: Android
- 24 MacVim No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.4 Supported platforms: macOSMacro recording: Yes
- 25 Lite XL No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.4 Supported platforms: Windows, Linux, macOSMulti-cursor editing: YesMacro recording: Yes
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Supported platforms | Multi-cursor editing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Neovim | 9.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Linux, macOS, Windows, Android | Yes |
| 2 | GNU Emacs | 9.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | GNU/Linux, Windows, macOS, Android, BSD, Haiku, Solaris, MS-DOS/FreeDOS | Yes |
| 3 | Visual Studio Code | 8.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | web, windows, macos, linux | Yes |
| 4 | Zed | 8.2 | Free plan | $10/mo | Yes | $10/yr | macOS, Windows, Linux | Yes |
| 5 | Textastic | 8.1 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 6 | Kate | 8.0 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Linux, BSD, Windows, macOS | Yes |
| 7 | BBEdit | 7.9 | Free plan | $59.99/mo | Yes | — | macOS | — |
| 8 | EmEditor | 7.9 | No | $0.42/mo | Yes | $5/yr | Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows Server 2019 or later; legacy support includes Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 | Yes |
| 9 | Notepad++ | 7.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Windows | Yes |
| 10 | Lapce | 7.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Windows, Linux, macOS | Yes |
| 11 | UltraEdit | 7.3 | No | $7.91/mo | No | $10,495/yr | Windows, macOS, Linux | Yes |
| 12 | Geany | 7.2 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Windows, macOS, Linux | No |
| 13 | Froala Editor | 7.1 | No | — | No | — | web, iOS, Android | — |
| 14 | Vim | 7.0 | No | — | Yes | — | Windows, macOS, Linux | — |
| 15 | CudaText | 6.9 | No | — | Yes | — | Windows, Linux, macOS | Yes |
| 16 | EditPad Pro | 6.8 | No | — | No | — | Windows | — |
| 17 | Textadept | 6.8 | No | — | Yes | — | Windows, macOS, Linux, BSD | Yes |
| 18 | Nova | 6.7 | No | $4.08/mo | No | — | macOS | Yes |
| 19 | EditiX | 6.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Windows, macOS, Linux | — |
| 20 | Helix | 6.6 | No | — | Yes | — | Linux, macOS, Windows | Yes |
| 21 | jEdit | 6.6 | No | — | Yes | — | Windows, Unix/Linux, Mac OS X, VMS, OS/2 | Yes |
| 22 | CotEditor | 6.6 | No | — | Yes | — | macOS | Yes |
| 23 | Jota Text Editor | 6.6 | No | — | Yes | — | Android | — |
| 24 | MacVim | 6.4 | No | — | — | — | macOS | — |
| 25 | Lite XL | 6.4 | No | — | Yes | — | Windows, Linux, macOS | Yes |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which text editor is ranked first on Samsung Mobile US Press?
Neovim is ranked #1 of 55 with a score of 9.7. GNU Emacs is second and Visual Studio Code third.
How many of these have a free plan?
10 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, EmEditor has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.42/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked mobile-first: a phone app alongside the web or desktop product, a free tier and the depth of its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.