Text editors, sometimes called code editors, are an essential tool when working with code.
- This is an ultra-fast text editor specifically for the Windows platform. It offers native 64- and 32-bit builds, and extensive documentation. EMEditor is often hailed as the fastest text editor software in the world. It supports an extensive list of powerful, functional macros, and even the largest file sizes.
- Best Text Editors for macOS. Notice: In this report, we are focusing on the ideal text editors for coding but if you are interested in finding a text editor for your writing purposes, you can check out our post on the best writing programs for Mac.
In conclusion, Write is an excellent text editor with many useful features. It is an excellent no-frills distraction-free text editor. OmmWriter (Mac, Basic: Free, Premium: Donationware) Known as OmmWriter Dana (Dana is Sanskrit and Pali for ‘giving’), this is a distraction free text editor for Mac users. It focuses on relaxation, with.
Modern text editors provide a host of tools and features to help you modify code such as syntax highlighting for multiple languages, built-in file uploads, error reporting, search and replace and more.
Whether you are a full time web developer, or a website owner that needs to make a few quick edits to a template, you will appreciate how useful text editors can be.
In this article, we would like to show you what we at Design Bombs consider to be the best text editors of 2020.
1. TextPad (FREE Evaluation / $27)
Platforms: Windows
TextPad is a flexible text editor for Windows that features a built-in file manager, a search and replace engine and a keystroke macro recorder.
It allows drag and drop editing between files and works well with large files too.
I have actively used TextPad since my University days in the 90s and it remains one of my favourite website applications. You can download TextPad free of charge for evaluation, but the developers ask that you upgrade for $27 if you decide to continue using it.
2. Atom (FREE)
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
Atom is an open source text editor that is available for multiple platforms. It is free to download.
Basic Text Editor Mac
It features a file system browser, find and replace and smart auto-completion. Atom also allows you to work with Git and GitHub directly within the editor.
New features and functionality can be added using its built-in package manager and it comes with eight dark and light themes.
3. Sublime Text (FREE Evaluation / $80)
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
Sublime Text is a gorgeous multi-platform text editor that has many useful shortcut commands to improve efficiency. It can be used to find code within files in seconds.
It has a dedicated package manager that helps you install thousands of community-created packages to add more features. Multi-window editing is supported too.
Sublime Text can be downloaded free of charge for evaluation. A premium license costs $80 and comes with three years of updates.
4. Espresso (FREE Trial / $99)
Platforms: Mac
Espresso is a versatile code editor for Mac that supports custom code snippets, multi-file editing and tabbed workspaces.
Dozens of plugin extensions and syntax themes are available to help you add functionality and improve the look and feel of the app. CSS editing tools are available too.
The application is available for $99.
5. Vim (FREE)
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux, Unix, iOS, Android
Evolved from the Atari ST’s popular ST Editor, Vim is flexible open source text editor that has 12 different editing modes. This includes a visual mode that highlights area of text, a command line mode and an easy mode.
Hundreds of programming languages are supported and there are a large number of plugin extensions available that add additional functionality.
Free Mac Text Editor
6. Visual Studio Code (FREE)
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
Microsoft’s Visual Studio Code editor is a stylish multi-platform text editor that is free to download.
It features auto-complete, syntax highlighting and debugging.
Git commands are built into the editor so that you can push and pull requests. A number of extensions are also available so that you can add new languages, themes and tools.
7. Brackets (FREE)
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
Brackets is an open source text editor that features inline editing, live previews, quick edits and live highlighting.
A host of extensions are available that add functionality such as indenting, Git integration, W3C validation and JavaScript, HTML and CSS formatting.
8. Coda ($99)
Platforms: Mac
Designed for Mac users, Coda is an useful text editor that has a built-in file and SSH manager.
It has colourful syntax highlighting, CSS overriding and advanced syncing between devices. MacBook Pro users can also switch between editor and preview mode using their laptop touch bar.
9. Code Editor ($24.99)
Platforms: iOS
Designed for iPad and iPhone, Code Editor is a beautiful text editing solution from Panic, the same company behind Coda.
It features a dual file browser, SSH terminal support and unique editing modes for Shell, SQL, Swift and more.
Code Editor is available from the Apple app store for $24.99.
10. UltraEdit (FREE Trial / $79.95 Per Year)
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
UltraEdit is a multi-platform text editor that has built-in FTP, SSH and Telnet managers.
A host of themes are included with UltraEdit and it boasts multi-code select and advanced file searching. It supports large files too and the editor has been designed to work with high resolution displays.
A 30 day free trial is available for UltraEdit. Once the trial has expired, it costs $79.95 per year.
11. BBEdit (FREE Trial / $49.99)
Platforms: Mac
Developed for Mac, BBEdit is a useful text editor that features an advanced search and replace engine and a built-in file manager and FTP manager.
A unix command-line tool is also available and there is integration support for Git, Subversion and AppleScript.
BBEdit retails at $49.99, however you can download it free of charge and test it for 30 days.
12. TextMate($56)
Mac Text Editor Built In
Platforms: Mac
Another text editor that Apple users should check out is TextMate.
It offers multiple caret editing, version control, code snippets, macro recording, folding sections and shell integration. Custom actions, custom themes and extensible bundles are also available.
Although TextMate is open source, the product is sold commercially for $56.
13. Codeshare (FREE)
Platforms: Online
Codeshare is a free online text editor that lets you write, edit and share code with friends and colleagues.
It can be used to teach code to others and share code. Many companies also use the tool to set coding tasks for interviewees.
14. CoffeeCup (FREE / $29)
Platforms: Windows
CoffeeCup is a popular HTML editor for Windows that has a large components library and a built-in W3C markup validation tool.
A split-screen preview pane allows you to see what your HTML and CSS code will generate. There is also a tags tab that has references for (X)HTML, PHP, and CSS tags.
A free version of CoffeeCup is available with less features, with the full version retailing at $29.
15. Komodo Edit & Komodo IDE (FREE)
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
Komodo Edit is a free text editor that features auto-complete, skins and icon sets and a change tracker.
Komodo IDE is a superior alternative from the same developers that has a visual debugger, version control, workflow management, syntax highlighting and a host of add-ons to extend functionality.
16. CodePen (FREE / $8 Per Month)
Platforms: Online
One of the largest coding communities online, CodePen is a free online code tool that allows users to share and test HTML, CSS and JavaScript code snippets.
The CodePen text editor looks great, highlighting syntax code with many colours.
The majority of CodePen features are free to use, however premium plans are available from $8 per month that remove advertisements and add features such as live view and unrestricted theme embedding with custom CSS.
17. Codeanywhere (FREE Trial / $2.50 Per Month)
Platforms: Online
Codeanywhere is a cloud code editing and sharing solution that lets you edit code remotely and move and copy files and folders across FTP, Google Drive, Dropbox and more.
Its text editor has syntax highlighting for over 75 programming languages and features split panes, grid mode, multiple cursors and custom themes. It also supports file revisions and has a built-in terminal console.
A 7 day free trial is available to help you test the service, with premium plans starting from $2.50 per month.
18. Notepad++ (FREE)
Platforms: Windows
Notepad++ is an open source Windows text editor that offers syntax highlighting, scripting, auto-complete, macro recording and split screen editing.
Over 140 plugin extensions are available that let you add functionality such as W3C validation, text sorting and quote handling.
The application is free to download.
19. WeBuilder ($59.95)
Platforms: Windows
Creators for Windows users, WeBuilder is a versatile code editing application that has syntax highlighting for many popular programming languages.
It features several themes, advanced search and replace, macro recording, split editing, shortcuts for code snippets and code templates, a built-in file upload manager and many code validation tools.
WeBuilder retails from $59.95. The developers are behind other text editors that are also worth checking out such as Rapid CSS Editor, HTMLPad and Rapid PHP Editor.
20. Spacemacs (FREE)
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux, Unix
Despite its name, Spacemacs is not just for Apple users. It is a multi-platform text editing solution that brings Emacs and Vim tools together.
The application features graphical and command line user-interfaces and boasts key bindings. There are many community created plugin extensions too that add functionality.
As Spacemacs is open source, it is free to download.
21. PhpStorm (FREE Trial / $199 Per Year)
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
PhpStorm is a premium text editor that provides code analysis and error prevention for programming languages such as PHP, HTML, CSS, JavaScript and other languages.
It works well with modern content management systems such as Drupal, WordPress, Magento and Joomla, and offers features such as version control, remote deployment, command line tools and advanced debugging.
PhpStorm retails at $199 for the first year, $159 for the second year and $119 for subsequent years. A 30 day free trial is available to help you test the application.
22. GNU Emacs (FREE)
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
GNU Emacs is an open source multi-platform text editor that offers syntax highlighting and a customisable graphical user-interface.
A large number of plugin packages are available that add additional functionality such as code snippets, custom themes and HTML5 schemas.
You can download GNU Emacs free of charge.
23. Bluefish (FREE)
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
Our final recommendation is Bluefish. This lightweight editor offers search and replace, file uploads via FTP and SFTP, a snippets sidebar and code block folding.
An unlimited amount of undos and redos are permitted and Bluefish will show any mistakes you have in your code.
Bluefish is an open source application, so is free to download on Windows, Mac and Linux.
Final Thoughts
I hope you have enjoyed this look at the best text editors of 2020. If so, I encourage you to subscribe to Design Bombs. You can also get updates of our latest articles by subscribing by RSS or by following us on Facebook or Twitter.
What’s your favorite text editor?
Let us know in the comment area below 🙂
Kevin
Text editing tools are required for every computer user to avail the universal functionality. Text editor is the basic need of every user while using computer. Most of the computer comes with some built in text editor utility such as Notepad in Windows, Text Edit in MacOS, Notes in iOS etc and they all always try to serve some form of text editing needs. If you are using Mac and want to use any advanced text editor tool on your Mac, you may install third party text editor tool on your system. Here, we will provide you a list of the 10 best and latest text editor tools that you may use on your Mac.
1. Brackets
Brackets are the latest and modern open source text editor that makes it easy to design in the browser. It is mainly designed for web designers and front-end developers. With this tool, you may combine visual tools into the editor to get the right assistance when you want it without getting in the way of your creative process. It provides the best way to write code. Brackets has some amazing features like “Extract” that basically allows you to get font, measurements, colors, gradients from a PSD file into a clean CSS ready for web usage. Other features are extension support, inline editors, previews etc.
You may download Brackets from here.
2. Sublime Text
Sublime Text is the most popular and widely used text editor tool that supports code, markup and prose. With the Sublime Text, you may get the fastest search engines that offer shortcuts for every part and feature of the software. Moreover, it has a very effective plugin API that makes it highly customizable to fulfill your needs. Additionally, you need to pay for the full version of Sublime Text but it also offers free observation period which is virtually unlimited, so you may continue using it with limited features for as long as you want.
You may download Sublime Text from here.
3. Atom
Being a computer user, if you want to teach or share your knowledge, you may have Atom on your Mac that helps you to collaborate on code just as easy as it is to code alone and share your workspace and edit code together in real time. Atom is a free and open source maintained by github with a huge user-submitted package library. With Atom, you may access features like file system browser, fuzzy search, code folding, multiple panes for editing, multi-selection for quick edits, support for TextMate themes, extension library and more.
You may download Atom from here.
4. Textastic
Textastic is the most advanced and perfect text editor tool that supports syntax highlighting, FTP and Dropbox. It is the universal tool to highlight more than 80 different types of files while typing in HTML, XML, Objective-C, C++, PHP, Perl, Python, SQL, JavaScript, CSS, Tex, shell scripts and many more. The text editor is quick and responsive. Additionally, you may use virtual keyboard to enter code with an ease and bring up a cursor navigation wheel by tapping on text editor with two fingers to select the text editor easily. Moreover, you may connect it to FTP, SFTP, WebDAV servers and your Dropbox account for easy transfer of files from your Mac or PC.
You may download Textastic from here.
5. UltraEdit
If you are looking for the best and advanced text editor tool for your Mac, UltraEdit is the perfect tool that you may have on your Mac. UltraEdit’s text editing features helps you to edit lists and columns in an impulsive way. This tool provides features like multi-caret editing, column/block editing and multi-select; it’s an easy to use and a multi-cursor power editor when you need it to be. It has an integrated FTP browser that supports syntax highlighting for hundreds of languages. Moreover, you may use UltraEdit for coding session with integrated SSH/telnet client, scripting, custom tools, macros and Smart Templates and more.
You may download UltraEdit from here.
6. CodeRunner 2
CodeRunner 2 is an advanced, highly flexible and easy-to-use coding editor for your Mac. It supports a large number of languages and delivers big IDE features. This editor tool supports full-blown IDE-level code completion for most languages, including fuzzy-search, tab-selectable placeholders and documentation snippets. Moreover, it also provides full TextMate theme support, making it one of the most customizable options out there. With this editor, you may access other features such as symbol navigation, bracket matching, auto complete for words, argument execution with input sets, an interactive console and many more.
You may download CodeRunner 2 from here.
7. BBEdit 12
BBEdit is an all-purpose text, HTML and code editor for your Mac. This best editor tool product is mainly designed to serve the needs of writers, Web authors and software developers and provides an abundance of features for editing, searching and manipulation of text. This tool has an intelligent UI that provides an easy access to BBEdit’s best-of-class features such as grep pattern matching, search and replace across multiple files, project definition tools, function navigation and syntax coloring for various source code languages, code folding, FTP and SFTP open and save, AppleScript, macOS Unix scripting support, text and code completion, and of course a complete set of robust HTML markup tools.
You may download BBEdit 12 from here.
8. TextMate
TextMate is the perfect and free text editor that provides a best text editing platform to your Mac. This tool basically puts the large powerful of UNIX command console in a neat and easy-to-use GUI. With this application, you may use integrated features like search and replace within project, auto-indentation, column selection, word completion from current document, dynamic outlines, regular expression support etc. Apart from that you get full Xcode support and build Xcode projects within TextMate. You may also get theme support to make the software visually more like you want.
You may download TextMate from here.
9. MacVim
MacVim is the latest version of the popular Vim text editor for your Mac that is available at free of cost. It has very facile interface that makes it easy to use. The best thing about this tool is it has a set of standard OS X keyboard shortcuts that makes it more convenient to use. With this editor, you may use transparent backgrounds and full screen mode for distraction-free coding. MacVim also supports tabs and multiple windows and has a built in fully-featured ODB editor.
You may download MacVim from here.
10. Text Edit
If you want to create and edit plain text, rich text, and HTML documents on your Mac, Text Edit is the perfect text editor that you may have on your Mac. With this tool, you may open and edit rich text documents created in other word processing apps, including Microsoft and Open Office. Apart from that, you may also save your documents in a different format, so they can be used with other apps. Once your document is edited or created, you may save it in a new format by selecting File > Save, then clicking the File Format pop-up menu and selecting a file format.
You may download Text Edit from here.