CotEditor
CotEditor is a free plain-text editor made for macOS.
What CotEditor is
CotEditor is a free plain-text editor made for macOS. It supports source code, notes, Markdown, web content, and other text, with syntax highlighting for more than 70 preset languages. Regular-expression find and replace helps locate and change text. Live character, word, and line counts, multi-cursor editing, column editing, and a syntax-based outline menu support detailed editing. CotEditor can handle large files and works with text encodings, line endings, Unicode normalization, CJK text, vertical text, and right-to-left layouts. Extensions, scripting in a preferred language, and a command-line tool add ways to adapt workflows. The App Store version integrates with Dark Mode, Versions, iCloud, and VoiceOver. The project says settings stay on the device and personal data recorded in the editor is not accessed. The listed 7.1.1 release requires macOS 26 or later. The Free plan costs nothing, with all features available.
Good
- Syntax highlighting for over 70 languages
- Regular-expression find and replace
- Multi-cursor and column editing
- Handles large files
- All features available free
Watch out
- macOS only
- Listed 7.1.1 release requires macOS 26 or later
- Earlier archived macOS versions are unsupported
Who it suits
CotEditor suits Mac users editing code, notes, Markdown, web content, or other plain text. It is intended for everyday macOS editing, including users who need multilingual text handling or scripting.
Verdict
CotEditor combines broad plain-text handling with scripting, extensions, and macOS integration. Its current system requirement and Mac-only availability are the main points to check before choosing it.
Plans and prices
From CotEditor's own pricing page, checked 7 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | All features available for free · Optional in-app purchases support the project |
The facts
Each one read from CotEditor's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Column editing
- Yeschecked 22 Sep 2026
- Current system requirement
- The listed CotEditor 7.1.1 release requires macOS 26 or later.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Distribution and security
- The App Store and non-App-Store versions are sandboxed, and the non-App-Store version is notarized by Apple.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Editing tools
- Features include live character, word, and line counts, multi-cursor editing, and a syntax-based outline menu.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Extension support
- Yeschecked 22 Sep 2026
- Find and replace
- It provides find and replace with regular expressions.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Large-file handling
- Yeschecked 22 Sep 2026
- Multi-cursor editing
- Yeschecked 22 Sep 2026
- Privacy
- The project says it does not collect, use, save, or access personal data recorded in CotEditor, and app settings are stored only on the device.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Scripting
- CotEditor is scriptable in the user's preferred language and includes a command-line tool.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Support
- Users can consult guides in the app's Help menu, report issues on GitHub, or contact the project by email.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Syntax highlighting
- It includes syntax highlighting for more than 70 preset languages.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Text handling
- It supports text encodings, line endings, Unicode normalization, CJK text, vertical text layout, and right-to-left text.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Updater
- The non-App-Store version includes Sparkle to notify users of and install new releases; the App Store version is updated by macOS.checked 7 Oct 2026
- What it does
- CotEditor is a lightweight plain-text editor for source code, notes, Markdown, web content, and more.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Who it is for
- CotEditor is made exclusively for Mac and is presented for everyday plain-text editing, including code, notes, Markdown, and web content.checked 7 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Earlier macOS support
- The project says it does not provide support for earlier macOS versions listed in its archive.checked 7 Oct 2026
- macOS integration
- The App Store listing says CotEditor integrates with Dark Mode, Versions, iCloud, and VoiceOver.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Supported platforms
- macOSchecked 22 Sep 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 22 Sep 2026
Alternatives to CotEditor
- 1
Calmly Writer
Free planAndroidWebLinuxmacOS8.6Free plan - 2
Zed
Free planLinuxmacOSWindows8.3From $10 a month - 3
Visual Studio Code
Free planWebLinuxmacOSWindows8.2Free plan - 4
Neovim
Free planAndroidAPILinuxmacOS8.1Free plan - 5
Geany
Free planOpen sourceLinuxmacOSWindows8.1Free plan - 6
GNU Emacs
Free planAndroidLinuxmacOSWindows8.0Free plan