Best Code Editor for Windows
In this article, you will learn about the list of best code editor and also know about the differences between text editor, code editor and IDE briefly.
Best Code Editor for Windows Code Editor and Text Editor Code Editor and IDE List of Best Code Editors for Windows 1. Obsidian 2. Light Table 3. TextPad 4. UltraEdit 5. Notepad++ 6. Programmer’s Notepad 7. Atom 8. Vim 9. jEdit 10. GetDiz 11. Edit+ 12. Visual Studio Code 13. EmEditor 14. WeBuilder 15. BlueGriffon 16. QOwnNotes 17. Standard Notes 18. Apache NetBeans 19. Joplin 20. Syncplify.me Notepad! 21. PSPad 22. CodePen 23. Bluefish 24. Gedit 25. Geany 26. Brackets 27. EditPad Lite 28. Crimson Editor 29. NoteTab 30. Metapad Important Points to Note Before Selecting a Code Editor
Code Editor and Text Editor
Text editors have preceded code editors in that, they were used to write code by programmers. An example of a text editor is Notepad, which is a small software provided with Windows that was earlier used for writing code. However, writing and editing codes on earlier text editors like Notepad was very cumbersome due to a lack of functionalities like syntax highlighting, auto-completion, indentation, etc. The code editors that were developed later were having all these functionalities in addition to new ones that are being constantly added to make software programming an enriching experience.
Code Editor and IDE
Now that you are aware of the difference between a text editor and a code editor, let us talk about IDE. IDE stands for Integrated Development Environment and can be considered as code editor plus. Many times, both terms are used interchangeably, but IDE is much more than a code editor. While you can just write and edit code on a code editor, on an IDE, you can run your code. IDE is a coding software for PC that have many other tools essential for programming like compilers, debugging tools, etc. To summarise, while the code editor can be used to write and edit code, the IDE helps you through the entire cycle of software development right from writing code to distribution of the software product.
List of Best Code Editors for Windows
Following is the list of free coding software for PC.
1. Obsidian
Obsidian is one of best code editor for Windows that has been promoted by the developers as a second brain for the user. Obsidian has been designed in such a way that it helps connect your ideas and thus helps in analyzing information. Obsidian doesn’t track your work and allows you to work offline. Features:
Providing Wiki-style links connecting pages. Connects data using graph view, backlinks, and outgoing links. All data stored in a local folder. Provides access to plug-ins and API. Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Pros:
The user has full ownership of the data. Community support. No profile creation or sign up needed for personal use. The commercial version provides priority support.
Cons:
Many premium facilities are available with paid versions not provided in the free version.
Price Details: The code editor is 100% free for personal use while the Catalyst version will cost a one-time payment of $25+ applicable taxes and the Commercial version costs $50+ applicable taxes per user for every year. The Commercial version comes with a 14-day trial period. For further detail, you can check Obsidian pricing page.
2. Light Table
Light Table can be described as a next-generation code editor that can be used as an IDE. Light Table is unique coding software free that provides real-time feedback to the user for the alterations to codes. Features:
Open source. Comes with a plug-in manager. IDE can be easily modified according to the user’s convenience. In-line evaluation of code. Games, running visualizations and graphs can be embedded.
Pros:
Powerful editing facilities. Can be easily customized. Aesthetic interface. Helps understands the flow of data.
Cons: None Price Details: Free and open source. Also Read: How To Install Linux Bash Shell On Windows 10
3. TextPad
TextPad is the ideal coding software free that helps you save time in the learning curve while providing a useful tool for editing web pages and serves as a text editor or functions as a programming IDE. Features:
Works on both 64-bit and 32-bit editions of Windows 7, 8.1, 10, 11, and also from Server 2008 to 2022. Cut-and-paste facilities. Multiple document interface. Drag and drop facility of text between files. Visible bookmarks for lines. Spell-check in 10 languages. Up to a maximum of 16 active macros in the keystroke macro reader.
Pros:
Supports editing of big files. Easy-to-use design supported by Windows interface. Supports editing of multiple files simultaneously. Sorting is possible using only 3 keys.
Cons:
No free version is available.
Price Details: TextPad is available in available single-user or multiuser licenses. A single-user license will cost you $16.50. The license with maximum number of permitted users license is 500 which will cost you $2250.
4. UltraEdit
UltraEdit is a text editor that works across multiple platforms and can handle files up to 4GB. This text editor is supported on Windows 7 and later versions of the OS. Features:
Provides HTML/Markdown live preview. Powerful search features. Intuitive column editing. Customizable interface. Editing of large files supported. The personal license can be run on 3 machines. File-sorting. Supports Unicode/UTF-8. File comparing. Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Project-support.
Pros:
Dynamic code-auto completion features. Doesn’t need any third-party plug-ins. Multi-caret and multi-selection facilities. User-contributed themes apart from core themes. The interface looks great on Retina.
Cons:
No free version is available. The interface can be challenging for first-time users.
Price Details: The UEStudio subscription will cost you $89.95 annually, while the IDM All Access subscription costs $99.95 for 1 year. Also Read: 18 Best Tools for Hacking
5. Notepad++
Notepad++ is one of best code editor for Windows. This is a coding software free that has been made available for download for use. Here are some of the features and other details of the software. Features:
Supports many languages. Written in C++ Runs on Windows. Employs pure Win32 API and STL. The current version is 8.4.7 GPL license.
Pros:
Requires less CPU processing power. Offers great execution speed. Contributes towards less carbon dioxide emissions.
Cons: Works only on the Windows platform. Price Details: Free
6. Programmer’s Notepad
Programmer’s Notepad is a code editor that can be ideal for beginners to learn the basics of programming. Features:
Word wrapping. Syntax highlighting. Regular expression support. Supports export to HTML and rich text format (RTF) Works on Windows. Supports XML and built-in schemes. Efficient keyword coloring.
Pros:
Requires less storage space. Clean interface. Support for unlimited schemes.
Cons: None Price Details: Free software Also Read: 31 Best Free PDF Editor for Windows 10
7. Atom
Atom is an open-source text and best code editor for Windows that works on many platforms. It is a preferred editing tool used by programmers to write code that works on Windows 7 or later. Features:
In-built package manager. Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms. Integrated package manager. Autocompletion.
Pros:
Multiple panes facility. Support for Command Palette. Cross-platform editing.
Cons: None Price Details: Free
8. Vim
Vim has been offered by its developer as a ubiquitous text editor. It is an advanced code editor that is also called the programmer’s editor. Features:
Highly configurable. GPL- compatible license. Code-editing. Composing of emails. Text editing.
Pros:
Efficient text editing.
Cons:
Has a learning curve for the user. Not a word processor.
Price Details: Freely available
9. jEdit
jEdit is called a mature programmer’s text editor with many people years of development behind it. A coding software for PC offered with full source code, jEdit is better than many paid text editors in the functionalities offered. Features:
Runs on Windows, Unix, Mac OS X, OS/2, and VMS. Written in Java. Supports syntax highlighting for more than 200 languages. Unlimited Undo/Redo. Word wrap. Runs on OS with Java 1.6 plus.
Pros:
Availability of innumerable macros and plug-ins. Supported on multiple platforms. Multiple selections of text.
Cons: None Price Details: Free
10. GetDiz
GetDiz is offered as a replacement for Notepad and offers a handy interface with incredible speed and ease of use. This is a coding software for PC that offers text-formatting features. Features:
Enables configuration of text fonts customized to different file types. Enables conversion of UNIX/Linux text files to Windows. Can accurately display ASCII art. Allows saving of text files in GIF format.
Pros:
Portable. Availability in English and 20 other languages. Clean user- interface. Ultrafast text editor.
Cons:
Absence of tabs for multiple open files.
Price Details: Free Also Read: 18 Best Wayback Machine Alternatives
11. Edit+
EditPlus is a text editor that can be a good substitute for Notepad. It is a source code editor that offers good support for Webpage authors as well as programmers. Features:
Built-in capabilities for FTP, SFTP, and FTPS. Powerful syntax highlighting features for many programming languages like JAVA, PHP, etc. Highlighting feature for URLs and emails in ordinary text files. Code-folding features based online indentation. Document selector.
Pros:
Seamless browser facility to preview the content of HTML files. HTML toolbar for insertion of HTML tags. Search and replace. Line numbering.
Cons: Paid software Price Details: $35 for a single user lifetime license
12. Visual Studio Code
If you were looking for a lightweight yet powerful best code editor for Windows, then you can stop to have a look at Visual Studio Code. This is a cross-platform coding software free that offers built-in support for multiple programming languages. Features:
Cross-platform coding software free. Portable-mode installation supported. Extensions enable add-ins third-party tools.
Pros:
Lightweight. Runs on most hardware and available OS. Regular update support from the developer. Works as an IDE and a source code editor.
Cons: Difficulty in managing plug-ins for multiple programming languages. Price Details: Free
13. EmEditor
EmEditor is a code editor for Windows that supports very large files, Macros, and Unicode. Further, both the 32-bit and 64-bit builds of this software are available. The software can also be a powerful substitute for a CSV editor. Features:
Various text-editing features like syntax highlighting, regular expressions, multiple selection editing, etc. Powerful CSV tools. Can easily handle large files up to 16 TB. Customizable interface.
Pros:
Fast and lightweight software. Easy-to-use. Extensible.
Cons: Not free Price Details: The software will cost you $40 for a 1-year license with each subsequent year costing $20. There is also a lifetime subscription that costs $260.
14. WeBuilder
If you are a web developer and are looking for an all-in-one source code editor then, WeBuilder is the code editor for you. Features:
Supports the editing of code in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and six other languages. Powerful syntax highlighting. Direct editing enabled on your web browser. In-built tools support validation, formatting, navigation, and reuse of code. Javascript and PHP editors with autocomplete feature.
Pros:
Clean interface. Fast startup. Unicode support.
Cons: No free version available Price Details: One-time license of $59.95 Also Read: 21 Best Pastebin Alternatives to Share Code and Text
15. BlueGriffon
BlueGriffon is an open-source coding software for pc that works across platforms. Features:
It is a Wysiwyg HTML editor. Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Responsive web-design enabled. Options for dark and light themes. Many useful add-ons like Eye-Dropper and Cross-Browsing.
Pros:
Easy interface. Many in-built templates for webpage designs. Multi-platform support.
Cons:
Lacks in the number of add-ons as compared to its competitors. Relatively expensive. The learning curve for beginners.
Price Details: The basic license will cost you €75.00 plus VAT inside the EU and the EPUB license will cost you €195.00 plus VAT inside the EU.
16. QOwnNotes
QOwnNotes is an open-source coding software free that works on multiple platforms and is intended to be used as a note-taking application. The software is unique as it also offers spell-checking features. Features:
Notes stored as plain text markdown files. Written in C++ Portable mode for USB-sticks. Allows import of Joplin and Evernote files. Supports sharing on OwnCloud and NextCloud. Existing text or markdown files can be imported. Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux/GNU Local storage of files.
Pros:
Utilizes less memory and processing power. Highly customizable and scriptable. Supports 60 different languages.
Cons: None Price Details: Free and open-source software.
17. Standard Notes
Standard Notes is a code editor for Windows that allows you to manage all your work by offering facilities for note-taking and editing. It also ensures regular backup of your data on various cloud-based storage services like Google Drive, OneDrive, etc. Features:
End-to-end encryption of user data. Two-factor authentication. Notes are in plain text. Data export facilities in plain text or encrypted formats.
Pros:
Community support. Individual notes can be password protected. Daily backup of encrypted emails. Infinite Undo-button.
Cons: None Price Details: Apart from the free version, there is a Productivity version that costs $26.55 per year and a Professional version that costs $44.55 per year. Also Read: 30 Best CSV Editors for Windows
18. Apache NetBeans
Apache NetBeans is not only a text editor but also a source code editor offering syntax highlighting features. It is one of best coding software for PC. NetBeans runs cross-platform, so you don’t need to worry about working with the same code on multiple systems with different operating systems. Features:
Powerful code-editor. Source-code highlighting. Requires Java support. Works on multiple platforms. Support for multiple languages like Java, Javascript, PHP, etc. Automatic insertion of matching pairs of brackets.
Pros:
Easy-to-use. Rich development features. Powerful code editor. Allows Code-formatting.
Cons: None Price Details: Free and open source
19. Joplin
Joplin is a note-taking application designed to handle multiple notes that are organized into different notebooks. Features:
Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Full-text search enabled across platforms. Notes are captured in Markdown format.
Pros:
Supports customization with themes and plug-ins End-to-end encryption.
Cons:
Limited support/collaboration. No email forwarding.
Price Details: Free and open-source software
20. Syncplify.me Notepad!
Syncplify.me Notepad! can be a good alternative to the default Windows Notepad. This freely available software can be utilized for text editing. Features:
Large documents up to 4GB can be edited. WYSIWYG print preview. Multi-tabbed text editor. Works on Windows. Word finder. Support for files from HTML, Python, CSS, and other programming languages.
Pros:
Easy-to-use interface. Good for advanced programmers.
Cons: None Price Details: Freely available Also Read: 20 Best ER Diagram Tools
21. PSPad
PSPad is a free text editor endowed with a wealth of editing functions and a web authoring editor. It doesn’t need any customization after installation and you can start working on your code right away. Features:
Works on Windows. Parses compiler output. Web-editing tools. Plain-text editing. Spell-checker. Supports files from C++, MS-DOS, Cobol, Java, and many other languages. Macro recording support.
Pros:
Easy installation. Multi-language support.
Cons: None Price Details: Freely available
22. CodePen
CodePen is one of the best editors to build, test, and showcase front-end code. This is a unique online code editor that allows you to view the results of your code. The best part of this code editor is, you can start coding immediately after opening a free account. Features:
Build test-cases. Show off amazing web designs. Test new technologies. Build components for later use. Embed Themes.
Pros:
It is a Social Development Environment. Supports code writing on the browser.
Cons:
Although a free account is available, you need to pay for better features. Doesn’t support back-end development.
Price Details: Available in both free and paid versions. The three paid versions are:
Annual Starter costing $8 per month billed as $96 annually. Annual Developer costing $12 per month billed as $144 annually. Annual Super costing $26 per month billed as $312 annually.
23. Bluefish
Bluefish is best code editor for Windows that helps you write code, websites, and scripts. It is also one of best coding software for PC. It is open-source software that supports multiple programming languages and is helpful whether you are a computer programmer or a web developer. Features:
Works on Windows, macOS-X, Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, and OpenBSD. Powerful search and replace function. Can open multiple documents. Integration of external programs supported by the software. Auto recovery of changes in case of shutdown or crash. Supports full-screen editing.
Pros:
Multi-platform support. Light software. Clean interface. Fast and can load many files in a short time. Consumes less space.
Cons:
No preview mode
Price Details: Free and open-source software. Also Read: How to Install NumPy on Windows 10
24. Gedit
If you were looking for best code editor for Windows, that is designed for general purpose with an easy-to-use and simple interface, then you can Gedit may be just fit for your use. The best part of the software is, if you enable the required plugins, you can have access to advanced features at no cost! Features:
Works on macOS, Windows, and Linux. Spell-checking facility. Integrated web browser on the side panel. Regular expressions support search and replace. Line numbers. Undo-Redo.
Pros:
Multiple platform support. Text-wrapping included. Backup files. Syntax highlighting for multiple languages.
Cons: Very basic and many features offered in other code editors are missing. Price Details: Free
25. Geany
The reason we are talking about the coding software Geany is, it offers a great, and simple GUI, is lightweight and simple and has cross-platform support. Features:
Supports multiple file types for many programming languages such as Python, Java, C etc. Color themes available. Code folding. Symbol lists. Syntax highlighting.
Pros:
Great community support. Provides a plug-in interface. Code navigation.
Cons: None Price Details: Free software
26. Brackets
Brackets is a modern and powerful software that can be used as coding software for PC. The software is made with JavaScript and can be downloaded, installed, and used for free. Features:
Inline editors facilitate opening separate windows for code editing. Live preview while editing code. Preprocessor support.
Pros:
Active community support. Powerful editor with modern features. Free software.
Cons:
Sometimes live preview may shut down. May have performance issues for editing large files. Requires installation, unlike many editors that are available to work online.
Price Details: Free and open source
27. EditPad Lite
If the software that can work on any type of plain text files can be used for general-purpose editing, then, EditPad Lite just fits the bill. It is one of best coding software for PC. Moreover, this best code editor for windows is free if you just want it for personal use. Features:
Unicode support. Files can be opened in multiple tabs. Undo/Redo opened files unlimited times. Regular expressions and powerful search/replace facility work on multiple files. Available in multiple spoken languages including English.
Pros:
Can work on complex scripts. Undo/Redo works even after saving the file. Automatic backup prevents data loss. An easy-to-use tool compared to many available powerful text editors.
Cons: None Price Details: Free for personal use. There are several options available for business and office use. There are many licenses plans available for a single user ($29.95) and multiple users up to a maximum of 100 users-license available for $1099.00 (unit price $10.99)
28. Crimson Editor
If you were looking for a replacement for Notepad coupled with powerful editing features for programming languages such as C/C++, Java, HTML, etc., then Crimson Editor may work for you. This is best code editor for Windows that is available for free. Features:
Syntax highlighting for different programming languages. Editing of multiple documents. Multi-level Redo/Undo. Column mode editing is possible. Regular expression support for search and replace.
Pros:
Fast loading time. Innovative word-wrapping features. Free
Cons: None Price Details: Freely available
29. NoteTab
NoteTab is a source code editor that fulfills a host of roles: a fast HTML editor for webmasters and a text-processing powerhouse for general users. It is another one of best coding software for PC. Features:
Efficient search and replace function for text. The Paste Board function allows you to copy the text into the clipboard and paste wherever needed. The Clipbook feature can be used to store text snippets. Clip libraries. Multilanguage spellchecker. Works on Windows and Linux through Wine.
Pros:
Support for mathematical expressions inside texts. Dual-Pane Outliner helps in organizing notes. Instant word count. Ease of portability of the software. Fast and reliable.
Cons:
Many of the premium features are available only in paid versions. The editing feature of the software is limited to Unicode files having symbols and special characters. The interface is not as attractive as many other editors. Syntax highlighting for files of a limited number of programming languages.
Price Details: Following versions of the software are available:
NoteTab Lite is free of cost NoteTab 7 (NoteTab Std+NoteTab Pro) is available for $39.95
Also Read: Fix Could Not Create the Java Virtual Machine in Windows 10
30. Metapad
Metapad is a simple and fast text editor designed for Windows. It is also one of best coding software for PC. It can be stated to be a superset of Windows Notepad as it includes all its features with many additional ones. Features:
External viewer support. Recent files can be viewed/displayed. Esc key can be used for quick exit. Go-to function for Line/Column. Intuitive find and replace function.
Pros:
Large files can be edited. Equipped with a portability mode. Free
Cons: None Price Details: Free text editor
Important Points to Note Before Selecting a Code Editor
A source code editor can be considered one of the most important tools in the arsenal of programmers and web developers. This is the reason the choice of this software can either make or break your performance. Here are some of the factors you need to consider while selecting best code editor for Windows:
Interface – An easy-to-use interface is good for efficiency at work. Speed – Important if you wish to complete projects on time. Multi-platform support – for multiple team members working on different operating systems. Ease of portability – Space occupied by the computer matters if you want portability. Community/developer support – Important if you plan to use the editor for a long period. Support for multiple programming languages – If you plan to work on different languages. Cost- Free software is always welcome, however, paid ones provide more features and support many a time.
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Now that you have read about the many best code editors for Windows, you should be able to choose the one that is most useful to you. Many code editors are open source and thus freely available. While it does make economic sense to go for a free editor, there may be quite a few limitations to going with open-source software. As code editors quickly become lifelong companions of programmers, it is always advisable to choose wisely!
