The 4 Best Free Text Editors

A list of freeware text editors for Windows & Mac

Windows and macOS come pre-installed with a program that can open and edit text files. It’s called TextEdit on Macs and Notepad on Windows, but neither are quite as advanced as some of the third-party applications that are available today.

Below is a list of the best free text editors. Use them to edit everything from TXT files to HTML, CSS, JAVA, VBS, PHP, BAT files, and more.

If you just need a super quick way to strip the formatting from some text or to make a .TXT file without downloading a program, try Edit Pad.

Notepad++

Automatically restores recently opened, unsaved files

Auto-completes as you write

Includes tons of really helpful features like macros, syntax highlighting, and plugins

Opens basically any file as a text document

There’s a portable version available

Runs on Windows only

Notepad++ is an excellent alternative notepad application for Windows computers. It’s really easy to use for beginners who just need a text file opener or editor but also includes some really advanced features.

This program uses tabbed browsing, which means several documents remain open at a time and they’ll display at the top of Notepad++ as tabs. While each tab represents its own file, Notepad++ can interact with all of them at once to do things like compare files for differences and search for or replace text.

Probably the easiest way to edit files with Notepad++ is to right-click the file and choose Edit with Notepad++ from the context menu.

This program can open nearly any file as a text document and supports lots of helpful plugins. It also includes a really handy text search-and-replace function, automatic syntax highlighting, word auto-completion, offline text-file conversion.

The Notepad++ Find option searches for words with criteria like backward direction, match whole word only, match case, and wrap around.

Also supported: bookmarking, macros, auto-backup, multi-page searching, resumed sessions, read-only mode, encoding conversions, searching for words on Wikipedia, and opening the document in your web browser.

Notepad++ also supports plugins to do things like auto-save open documents, merge all the text from open documents into one main file, align programming code, monitor open documents to refresh them as they change, copy and paste more than one item from the clipboard at once, and lots more.

Notepad++ saves text documents to a huge variety of formats like TXT, CSS, ASM, AU3, BASH, BAT, HPP, CC, DIFF, HTML, REG, HEX, JAVA, SQL, and VBS.

Notepad++ works with Windows only, both 32-bit and 64-bit versions. You can also grab a portable version of Notepad++ from the download page; one is in the ZIP format and the other is a 7Z file.

Brackets

Perfect for an uncluttered, minimal working space

Supports split-screen editing

Includes code-specific syntax highlighting

Can view updates for some files live in your web browser

Lets you use keyboard shortcuts

Works on Windows, Linux, and macOS

Plugins are supported to add extra features

Built mainly for people with code development in mind, so most of the features are centered around project files, displaying code, etc.

Brackets is a free text editor that’s primarily meant for web designers, but can of course be used by anyone to view or edit a text document.

The interface is clean and modern and feels really easy to use despite all of its advanced settings. In fact, nearly all of the options are hidden away from plain site so that it’s easy for anyone to use, which also provides an extremely open UI for editing.

Code writers might like that Brackets highlights syntax, can split the screen to edit more than one document simultaneously, lets you click one button for a really simple distraction-free interface, and supports lots of keyboard shortcuts so that you can quickly indent, duplicate, move between lines, toggle line and block comments, show or hide code hints, and more.

You can quickly change the file type you’re working with to instantly change syntax highlighting rules, as well as change the encoding of the file if you need to.

If you’re editing a CSS or HTML file, you can enable the Live Preview option to watch the page update in real time in your web browser as you make changes to the file.

The Working Files area is where you can open all of the files that belong to a single project, and quickly move between them without leaving Brackets.

Some examples of plugins you can use in Brackets include one to support W3C validation, Ungit to make it easier to use Git, an HTML tag menu, and Python tools.

Brackets comes installed with both a dark and a light theme that you can change at any time, but there are dozens of others that you can install through the Extensions Manager.

It’s available as a DEB, MSI, and DMG file for use in Linux, Windows, and macOS, respectively.

Komodo Edit

Very attractive and modern interface

You can make virtual projects to bring together files from various locations

Supports unique features not found in similar text editors

Changing the interface setup is easy with one click

The tabbed interface is easy to work with

Runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows

It’s a bit complex—even with its minimal UI—for people who want just a simple text editor

Komodo Edit is another free text editor with a clear and minimal design that still manages to pack some awesome features.

Various view modes are included so that you can quickly open or close specific windows. One is a focus mode to hide all of the open windows and just display the editor, and the others show or hide things like folders, the syntax checker results, and notifications.

This program simplifies the management of all open text documents. At the very top of the program is the path to the currently opened file, and you can select the arrow next to any folder to get a list of files, any of which will open as a new tab in Komodo Edit if you select it.

The folder views off to the side of Komodo Edit are also really useful since they let you browse through the file system as well as create virtual projects that link folders and files together to better organize what you need to work on.

A unique feature in Komodo Edit is the area at the upper-left side of the program that lets you not only undo and redo like most programs but also go back to the previous cursor location, as well as go forward to return to where you just were.

Here are some other Komodo Edit features worth noting: you can connect to a remote FTP server to open or save files, supports bookmarking specific areas of the document, lets you switch to a huge number of file types to highlight syntax differently and to save under that format, the «Go to Anything» search box lets you search for files to open, install add-ons, run scripts and commands, open menus, install other languages, change the color scheme, etc., recently closed tabs and files are easy to re-open, preview files in a web browser, build templates from existing files, the «Watch File» option can open a document in a new window for reference without being added to the tabbed list of files you’re editing, and it records macros that can be played back to repeat things.

This text editor works with Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Learn About Text Editors In Five Minutes Or Less

September 2nd, 2014 | Get awesome (and free) stuff here

As a coder, finding a text editor that works for you is critical. You’ll be spending tons of time working in it, so get cozy.

For those just getting started and wondering about text editors, why they’re important and which to use – keep reading.

What is a text editor?

The formal definition is: “A text editor is a type of program used for editing plain text files.”

Essentially, a text editor is a program on you computer that allows you to create and edit a range of programming language files. AKA this is the place where you write your code!

Text editors handle “hand coding” many different languages, i.e.: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, Ruby, Python, and so forth.

Side note: Why Word Processors Won’t Work

Word Processors include Microsoft Word, Pages and even Google Docs. And they don’t work for coding.

The reason why is that word processors have formatted text: like fonts, indentation, as well as font decoration like boldness. This pre-formatted text doesn’t translate well to the internet (or anywhere that code will be read). So when writing code, you want your files to be in plain text .

Features to Look for in a Text Editor

When it comes to text editors, there are common features that they all share. It’s what makes a text editor a text editor. Here are a few:

• Easy to use and navigate (similar to a good word processor)
• Find and replace feature (so you can change a single word in the whole file with a few clicks)
• Cut, Copy, Paste (again, similar to word processors)
• Ability to handle UTF-8 encoded text (also unlike a word processor)
• Syntax highlighting (unlike your word processor, this makes it easier to read code and pick up any errors)
• Customizable appearance (such as modifying font size, color schemes, etc., of your editor which optimizes your work zone)
• Extensibility – (provide some plugin mechanism, or is scriptable, so a programmer can customize the editor with additional features – this is more advanced)

Side note: Text editors != IDE

Text editors are not the same as IDEs (integrated development environment). While almost every IDE has the capability of creating and editing plain text documents, they also include an abundance of other features.

IDEs have different panels and widgets, taking a lot more space. An everyday text editor is much more lightweight and flexible.

(A side note to the side note: the “!=” means “not equal” in Python, Ruby, JavaScript and other programming languages.)

Best Text Editors for Beginners

There are lots of text editors to choose from. However, I’m going to look at what’s best for beginners by taking into consideration what is most popular, easy to use and free (or affordable).

Keep in mind, the best text editor for you is ultimately what makes you most efficient. So dabble around and experiment with a few to see what works for you.

1. Sublime Text

OS Compatibility: Mac, Windows and Linux

Cost: $70*

The Sublime Text editor is not free, but there is a free trial. I’ll let you in on a little secret, though: this “trial” lasts indefinitely. (At least at the time of this writing.) BUT if you enjoy the Sublime editor, and use it frequently, you should register it.

I’ve done lots of online tutorials and in-person classes where Sublime Text is the recommended text editor for beginners. At the same time, lots of professionals and more experienced programmers use it. So it’s basically awesome for all skill levels.

Aside from working on Mac, Windows, and Linux machines, Sublime has wonderful syntax highlighting, a slough of attractive color schemes, the ability to add packages and more.

The Sublime Text editor is currently in its second version. However, Sublime Text 3 is in beta. Below is a screenshot from my computer of working in a Ruby on Rails app in Sublime Text 2.

2. Notepad ++

OS Compatibility: Windows only

Cost: Free

I’ve never used Notepad++ because I don’t have a Windows computer. BUT that doesn’t mean I can’t pull together some resources from the web.

Notepad ++ features syntax highlighting, tabbed files, split screen editing and synchronized scrolling, auto-completion, smart highlighting, etc. Basically everything a good text editor needs.

After watching lots of online coding tutorials, it’s definitely a popular option for Windows users.

3. TextWrangler

OS Compatibility: Mac only

Cost: Free

The TextWrangler code editor is the little brother to BBEdit and part of Bare Bones Software. But, unlike BBEdit, TextWrangler is free.

It has everything a good text editor should: syntax highlighting, easy navigation and so forth.

This was the text editor recommended and used in the book “Learn Python the Hard Way” by Zed Shaw and the Coursera Python class I recently finished.

Below is a screenshot below taken from my computer of a Ruby on Rails file in TextWrangler. (Same file as the Sublime editor photo above.)

4. gedit

OS Compatibility: Linux (and now Windows and Mac)

Cost: Free

Gedit is another text editor I have not personally used. It’s been around for fifteen years. It’s free, open source and built for ease of use. Also, I believe more recently, it is available on Windows and Mac.

What’s my favorite text editor?!

I LOVE Sublime Text 2. It’s the first text editor I ever downloaded and I’m not looking back.

I’ve played with TextWrangler, but there’s something about the Sublime Editor. It’s attractive, easy to use … plus all my friends use it. Oh, peer pressure!

But, truly, Sublime is a great editor – that’s why so many use it.

Ultimately, the best text editor is the one you work most efficiently with. As a beginner, test out a few to see which you enjoy most.

In the end, all text editors help you accomplish the same end-goal. You just have to find the editor that gets you there the quickest.

What’s your favorite text editor? (Tell me in the comment section below.)

About Laurence Bradford

Hey! I’m the creator of Learn to Code With Me, a blog for beginners teaching themselves how to code. Once upon a time, I was digitally unsavvy. But not anymore. Find out how I changed my life by teaching myself digital skills here.