Five free but powerful text editors for MacOS. Office programs for Mac OS Text editor mac os x
Microsoft Word will not be on this list. Although Office 2016 looks and works well, it's still better suited for working with large documents. Because it has so many functions, they can be distracting from your work.
I also decided to exclude Pages. There are no complaints about the version for macOS, but editing text on iOS is extremely inconvenient because the pages are not optimized for the phone screen in any way.
Each editor on this list has apps for iOS, macOS, or a web version, Markdown support, and character counter support.
iA Writer
My personal favorite, and the opposite of Microsoft Office. A minimum of settings and a huge working window - this is how iA Writer can be briefly described.
The advantages of this editor include its simplicity, synchronization via iCloud or Dropbox, a beautiful and convenient standard font, and the presence of a dark theme. If you need an editor that doesn't have to distract you from anything, then iA Writer is the perfect choice.
Some may feel that it has too few settings. For example, you cannot change the font and other usual text parameters. But this is its main feature. The developers decided that the fewer settings, the more concentrated the work.
Good morning everyone! I'm often asked which text editor is best for laying out WordPress files?
Of course, you can use a standard text editor like Notepad, but there are plenty of other editors that offer features like syntax highlighting, advanced search and replace, FTP integration and much more, which is why I decided to review the 12 best text editors. which are suitable for Mac and Windows users.
Notepad++
Notepad++ is a free and open source text editor for Windows users. It is simple and understandable even for beginners, but at the same time functional enough for even the most advanced users. It has syntax highlighting with support for many languages, including PHP, JavaScript, HTML, CSS. The editor has a built-in FTP plugin that allows you to connect to the server and edit files directly without leaving the editor.
TextWrangler
TextWrangler is, one might say, a lightweight version of the very popular text editor BBEdit. This free editor is powerful and multifunctional. It has a fairly intuitive user interface, so viewing files and working on projects will not be a hassle. TextWrangler is equipped with an advanced search and replace tool, it can directly edit and save files to FTP and SFTP servers. Syntax highlighting for many programming languages is also available here; it fully supports UTF-8 and even allows you to convert the character encoding of text documents.
Coda is perhaps one of the most loved text editors for Mac by web developers. It is famous for its ridiculously beautiful interface and powerful, well-thought-out features. Through Coda you can edit local or remote files, manage projects, work with multiple files at once, easily switching between tabs. The editor comes with a terminal, debugger, preview and inspection suite, and many other amazing features.
The cost of one license for Coda is $99, but believe me, it's worth it.
Sublime Text is a cross-platform text editor suitable for Mac, Windows and Linux users. It has all the functions you expect from a powerful editor, and even many other additional and not entirely necessary ones.
Sublime Text has a very nice interface, however, you can customize it to suit your needs and tastes. There are advanced code editor features that allow you to do autocompletion, autocompletion, context menu calling, multiple selection, split editing and much more.
Three-user and single-user licenses are available for $70. I use it myself and recommend it, it’s very pleasant to work in this code editor. I recommend!
TextMate is something like Apple's operating system, but only in the world of text editors. This is a simple, feature-rich editor for Mac. It has an ergonomic interface, advanced search and replace functions, autocompletion, collapsible code blocks - and this is just a small part of the available functions. The editor costs $60, but you can also find a version for free download.
Atom is a professional open source cross-platform text editor. Just like WordPress, you can submit software packages and themes here. The editor has a nice interface, which, however, can be changed by installing the desired theme. Equipped with a built-in package manager, smart autocompletion, file browser, multi-window, find and replace function.
BBEdit is a great text and HTML editor for Mac. It has all the necessary features of a powerful editor. Syntax highlighting, Advanced search and replace, autocompletion, quick search, multiple tabs, split editing windows and much, much more.
The BBEdit editor costs $49.99, but you can download a trial version for free.
UltraEdit is a powerful text and HTML editor suitable for Mac, Windows, and Linux users. Some of the available functions are auto-completion, recording and playback of macros, bookmarks, block selection and text editing, syntax highlighting for the most popular programming languages.
The cost of the editor is $79.5. You can also find free trials.
Vim is one of the most powerful open source text editors; Suitable for Mac, Windows and Linux users. It is an improved and updated version of the Vi editor, has a huge number of functions. It is so powerful and multifunctional that it is rightly compared to an IDE, i.e. with a software system that is used to develop software.
Brackets was developed by Adobe to take word processing to the next level. It is positioned as an advanced text editor that understands web design. The editor opens PSD files, which simplifies and speeds up the coding process. It is a free, open-source, cross-platform editor suitable for Mac, Windows, and Linux users.
CoffeeCup HTML Editor
CoffeeCup HTML Editor is an easy-to-use HTML editor for Windows. It supports PHP, HTML, Markdown, CSS. It has features such as autocompletion, syntax checking, semantic code and much more. I’ll say right away that this is far from an ideal text editor for many programming languages, but if you want to master and become proficient in working with
PHP, HTML and CSS, then Coffee Cup HTML editor is what you need. Cost $69 with limited free trial download.
Espresso is a web developer software that runs on the Mac. It is equipped with a powerful text editor and CSSEdit. It has a very nice interface and many advanced features such as drag and drop, code folding, navigator, live editing and X-ray viewing. Cost $75.
Not everyone needs powerful text editors with support for complex formatting, tables, graphs and the like. But you need to have a convenient and lightweight editor at hand. Here's how to choose the one that's best for you.
Atom
AtomThis editor has a little bit of everything, and some are done better, and some are done worse. The development is carried out by the same people who are (were) behind GitHub. Therefore, the program code is open, and the editor itself is completely free.
For beginners, this is the most suitable tool. Immediately after installation, you will receive the minimum necessary to work with texts. And for additional functions you can install extensions.
The developers position Atom as one of the most customizable editors in the world. You can easily customize the interface to suit your needs. And the Teletype extension will add the function of collaborating on text.
Atom is also cross-platform.
TextWrangler
TextWrangler TextWrangler has a user-friendly interface that is easy for anyone to understand. If you are used to old editors without any "candy wrappers", then you have found it.
In addition to working with text, you can work with code here. For example, AppleScript, CSS and HTML.
To make working on text more convenient, it provides powerful autocorrect tools when searching through files, different themes, and syntax highlighting. Connection via FTP and SFTP is supported.
Basic features are expanded with paid features. For example, real-time preview of code changes.
Vim
Vim This editor is not suitable for everyone. Working with Vim is done from the command line, and the editor itself is already built into MacOs. So you can start working with it right now.
If you are still with me, then let's continue. The editor comes with a large stack of documentation that tells you how and what to do. And also a training session for 30 minutes. But to get to the documentation, you will have to learn how to work with the command line.
Did you cope with the task? Then Vim will offer you a rich range of services for working with text. Maybe even more than a regular editor. But you'll have to work hard and find out how to make it work.
Does not work? Then you can try MacVim. This is the same Vim, only with an interface and buttons.
GNU Emacs
GNU Emacs Another text editor for those who are not looking for easy ways. The first version of the program appeared in 1976.
Working with Emacs is based on the Emacs-Lisp programming language, which appeared even earlier (in 1958). Even for the simplest actions in the program you will have to write code. But it is precisely because of this that the editor can perform the most incredible tasks.
There is also: an email client, a news reader, a file manager and games such as Tetris and Snake. In general, everything you need to work on the text.
Visual Studio Code
Visual Studio Code A relatively new editor that has nothing to do with Visual Studio from Microsoft. This is a lightweight program with support for scripts and plugins.
You can find plugins for both text and code. There are so many plugins that a whole store has been created for them, such as the App Store or Google Play. Out of the box, Visual Studio Code has only a basic set of features and weighs next to nothing.
What text editor do you use?
Mac is without a doubt good for web surfing, multimedia and image work. But you may need to purchase office software to create documents, work with spreadsheets, presentations and databases. I wrote "purchase" because the Mac doesn't have built-in software for this purpose. The only exception is TextEdit. In this “fishless situation” it will pass for a text editor, but for full-fledged work you will have to install additional programs. Almost all of them are paid, but there are exceptions.
Mac Office Suites
If you need multitasking office applications, you can save some money by purchasing an office suite that includes two or more programs. Most often this is a text editor and a program for working with spreadsheets, but programs for working with presentations and databases are also not uncommon.
Microsoft Office 2011 for Mac
Office 2011 for Mac includes the word processor Word, the spreadsheet program Excel, and the presentation program PowerPoint. The Home & Student version costs $149.95; Home & Business version is 279.95 and includes Outlook. You can view the programs and download a free trial version at
OpenOffice
This package includes a text editor, spreadsheet program, vector editor, and database management system. For such a number of programs, it would seem that you would have to pay a hefty amount. However, this is not at all true. OpenOffice() is completely free.
Papyrus Office
The package includes a word processor, spreadsheet program, publishing application, and database management system. It costs $99, but you can download a trial version from the website
Text editors
Most Mac fans use either Microsoft Word or Apple Pages. But if you need a text editor, and TextEdit’s capabilities are not enough, then you can choose one of the following programs:
Spreadsheets
If you work a lot with numbers, choose Microsoft Excel or Apple Numbers. But if you don’t want to purchase the entire package just for one program, then pay attention to the individual applications:
Database
It’s not that it’s impossible to find programs for working with databases on Mac, but there isn’t an abundance of them either. None of the leading office packages supports working with databases, and of the others, only OpenOffice and Papyrus Office can do this. If you have datasets and need to work with them, try using the following programs.
Still looking for the perfect text editor for your Mac? Then read our review dedicated to the best known text editors with text markup support.
If you are asked, “Why do you love Mac?”, you will most likely be taken aback and never give a comprehensive answer. In addition to the general characteristics that attract potential Mac owners, there are certain programs and applications, in the absence of which any computer, laptop or tablet turns into a banal means of accessing the network.
One of these “vital” programs for most users, regardless of age and field of activity, is a text editor. We'll talk about them today.
Let's start with this, perhaps the most famous text editor. The team of creators promises users advanced publishing capabilities, namely: management of layers of text, images, SmartArt objects and diagrams; the ability to quickly format, compare styles and document contents. In addition, you can work with the document by turning on focus mode, which blocks all other windows, menus, etc.
WordOnline makes it possible to access documents anywhere and from any computer. You can process files together with colleagues, relatives and friends. At first glance, everything looks pretty good, and this could be enough. However, more and more users are complaining about Microsoft Word for Mac due to the fact that the latter turns out to be quite slow and freezing. Therefore, if you need a powerful editor for regular use, it is better not to opt for Microsoft Word. Price $139 – Home&Student, $219 – Home&Business.
We know that Apple has a love for practical minimalism. The text editor iA Writer, the brainchild of Information Architects, can also fall under their credo of “simpler and better.” So, if you decide to choose iA Writer Pro (improved and latest version) as your “employee”, you can:
- Enjoy focus mode in its entirety - just you and the text. The last sentence you are working on will remain contrasting;
- take advantage of the simplest and most intuitive interface, easy navigation and a pleasant cursor;
- divide your work on the text step by step (Note, Write, Edit and Read). Such professional scrupulousness is provided by Workflows, while also highlighting each of the modes in a different color;
- in the Structure block you can select the header level and one of two list types;
- in the Statistics block you can see the predicted reading time of your text, the number of characters, words and sentences.
There are only two real disadvantages: the cost of iA Writer Pro ($19.99 for Mac) and the lack of Cyrillic support in the Syntax block. But these shortcomings will in no way affect users of the regular iA Writer. Yes, you won't have Workflows. Sentences will not be illuminated with an incomprehensible light (this is exactly what happens with the Cyrillic alphabet). But focus mode, statistics and a nice minimalistic interface will be available.
The developers tried to create a beautiful, efficient and enjoyable editor. And we must admit, they succeeded. The most convenient and easy interface promotes productive, fast and fruitful work. Of course, in many ways (application design, font, etc.) MacDown is similar to iA Writer. But this can also be justified by the fact that all creators of text editors strive for some kind of “golden mean”. Obvious advantages include the presence of synchronization and its excellent work. MacDown has a focus mode, a preview mode, and hotkeys. Weaknesses include the paucity of settings and the paid version for iOS ($4.99). Overall, a pretty decent text editor, in no way inferior to its brothers.
Another text editor that can adequately compete with MacDown and iA Writer. Its creators tried to ensure that the product is not inferior to its counterparts in either its appearance or functionality. Byword settings have a minimal set of options most often used in text editors: day or night theme, 3 side indent options, 5 font templates, full visual formatting (centering, bold/italic, lists). In addition to the much-loved focus mode, Byword has a “typewriter” mode, in which the entered line is in the center of the screen. Byword can be purchased for $11.99.
Here is another tool for writing. This application will appeal to lovers of lightness and minimalism. The presence of basic functions, the ability to change the theme, sounds and font display - this editor has all the prerequisites to become your favorite. Just like iA Writer, WriteRoom diligently keeps a word count and displays the time it takes to read your literary work. But, in addition, WriteRoom tracks the time spent writing a document. This feature can be extremely useful for authors who need to produce multiple submissions per day. WriteRoom will cost $9.99 (the version for iPhone and iPad is free).
The developers of UlyssesIII were pleasantly surprised by the fact that they worked hard on a new version that compares favorably with the previous ones. If you are working with a multi-page document (article or book), UlyssesIII is your salvation. You can create projects, save drafts to the Inbox folder, and use full-screen mode. All work takes place on three panels: on the left - projects and filters, in the center - a list of documents, on the right - text. The main difference from Byword and iA Writer is the ability to work with different texts from a single window. By activating synchronization via iCloud upon first launch, you will be able to “collect” documents into your own database (the way iTunes works). The only thing you will have to “sweat” on is familiarization with all the settings and further customization “for yourself.” Oh, and one more thing - the price of $44.99 is a little disappointing.
Another text editor that was supposed to be an “all-in-one editor.” Whether its creators managed to achieve this goal is up to you to judge, since all editors, in general, are similar to each other. The difference is clearly visible only in the little things, thanks to which we give our verdict on the program.
The main MarkDrop window is divided into 2 blocks: the text area and the preview area. If any of the blocks is not needed at the moment, you can hide it. A standard set of functions, the ability to create files with markdown markup and then view and export them to HTML and PDF. MarkDrop is exactly the editor that has every reason to get a solid “B”, but at the same time lacks some zest, something that contrasts favorably with the capabilities of other text editors. Price: $7.99.
The very name of this application speaks for itself. Clean Writer Pro has the full functionality required for the average user: focus on the current paragraph (and not on the sentence), several theme options, font settings, Markdown support. Clean Writer Pro has some configuration issues and won't replace iAWriter or Byword. But this application is perfect for those who are looking for a regular text editor, not equipped with unnecessary “tricks”. The price pleases and surprises ($5.99, on sale – $0.99).
A program designed specifically for authors. Therefore, there is no point in downloading it if you only need the basic functions of a text editor. But if you are planning to write a script or a scientific paper, you will like Scrivener. Standard interface options allow you to select a design theme, color options, etc. Features include a "corkboard" for notes on which you can drag cards, a full-screen mode, a planner, a multi-window mode that allows you to edit multiple documents at once, tracking words and characters until you reach a certain goal (important when writing a novel or dissertation, for example) , support Markdown, MLA, APA, etc. The price of this indispensable tool for a writer ranges from $40 to $45 (depending on the version).
And finally, a review of the most basic text editor - Simple Writer. The minimum set of tools and functions of this editor gives you the ability to quickly and easily create small and simple documents, reports and notes. You can also add images to the text, print in PDF format, format the text and not worry about the safety of your work thanks to the automatic update function and iCloud support. Free.