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TextMate alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave TextMate: development has slowed for years, and no built-in language server support. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces TextMate, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Sublime Text currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1CotEditor logoCotEditorOpen sourceYesmacOS4 of 459.6
2Visual Studio Code logoVisual Studio CodeFreeYesWindows, macOS, Linux +13 of 357.5
  1. CotEditor logo

    1. CotEditorTop pick

    Best for: Mac users who want a quick, free, native editor for text and simple code

    Open sourcemacOS

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from TextMate

    Free, open source and actively maintained for plain-text work on the Mac.

    Pros

    • Free and open source
    • Truly native Mac app that launches instantly
    • Excellent encoding detection and CJK support

    Cons

    • macOS only, recent versions required
    • No language server, debugger or AI features
    • Not suited to managing large projects
    Visit CotEditor Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is CotEditor a good TextMate alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Price
    Free
    Checked Oct 25, 2026coteditor.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Open source
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026coteditor.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Syntax highlighting
    60+ languages
    Checked Oct 25, 2026coteditor.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Distribution
    Mac App Store and direct download
    Checked Oct 25, 2026coteditor.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Visual Studio Code logo

    2. Visual Studio Code

    Best for: Developers who want a free, extensible editor for any language

    FreeOpen sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, Web

    57.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from TextMate

    Free, actively developed, and still reads TextMate grammars.

    Pros

    • Free with a huge extension marketplace
    • Excellent remote development
    • Fast and lightweight for an IDE

    Cons

    • Microsoft builds include telemetry
    • Heavy extension use can slow it down
    Visit Visual Studio Code Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Visual Studio Code a good TextMate alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Price
    Free
    Checked Oct 24, 2026code.visualstudio.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Open source core
    Yes (Code - OSS, MIT)
    Checked Oct 24, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, Linux, web
    Checked Oct 24, 2026code.visualstudio.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best TextMate alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Sublime Text logo

Best TextMate alternative for most people

Sublime Text

Uses the same grammar ideas, actively developed and cross-platform.

CotEditor logo

Best TextMate alternative for a free option

CotEditor

Free, open source and actively maintained for plain-text work on the Mac.

Bb

Best TextMate alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

BBEdit

A long-running, actively developed Mac editor with a free mode.

Visual Studio Code logo

Best TextMate alternative for open source

Visual Studio Code

Free, actively developed, and still reads TextMate grammars.

Nova logo

Best TextMate alternative for Mac

Nova

A modern native Mac editor with language servers and Git built in.

Sublime Text logo

Best TextMate alternative for Windows

Sublime Text

Uses the same grammar ideas, actively developed and cross-platform.

Sublime Text logo

Best TextMate alternative for Linux

Sublime Text

Uses the same grammar ideas, actively developed and cross-platform.

Visual Studio Code logo

Best TextMate alternative for working in the browser

Visual Studio Code

Free, actively developed, and still reads TextMate grammars.

TextMate alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to TextMate?

Sublime Text ranks first right now. Uses the same grammar ideas, actively developed and cross-platform. Nova and CotEditor follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to TextMate?

Yes. CotEditor (open source), Visual Studio Code (free) and BBEdit (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to TextMate?

Yes: CotEditor and Visual Studio Code.

Which TextMate alternatives work on Linux?

Sublime Text and Visual Studio Code run on Linux.

Why do people switch from TextMate?

The complaints we hear most: development has slowed for years; no built-in language server support; macOS only.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces TextMate, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.