CotEditor

Mac

Lightweight Open-Source Text Editor for macOS

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Overview

CotEditor is a free, open-source text editor tailored for macOS, blending simplicity with powerful utilities. It supports syntax highlighting for over 50 languages (Markdown, HTML, Python), code folding, auto-indentation, and real-time Markdown preview. Deeply integrated with macOS features like Dark Mode, Touch Bar, and iCloud sync, it feels native to the platform. Customizable themes, keyboard shortcuts, and a clean interface suit casual writers and developers alike. Lightweight yet robust, it’s actively maintained by a community, offering regular updates as a reliable free alternative to paid editors.

Key Features

  • Syntax highlighting for 50+ programming/language formats
  • Real-time Markdown preview
  • macOS-native integration (Dark Mode, Touch Bar, iCloud sync)
  • Customizable themes and keyboard shortcuts
  • Code folding and auto-indentation support

Top Alternatives

Visual Studio Code Compare
Sublime Text Compare
TextMate Compare

Tool Info

Pricing Free
Category Text Editors
Platform Mac

Pros

  • ⊕ Completely free and open-source
  • ⊕ Lightweight with fast load times and performance
  • ⊕ Seamless alignment with macOS design and features

Cons

  • ⊖ Limited plugin ecosystem compared to VS Code
  • ⊖ Lacks advanced IDE features like built-in terminal or debugging tools

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