if I were Programmer or web developer If you're a beginner, you'll certainly know about Code Editors. The evolution of various programming languages has necessitated the development of a better, more efficient Code Editor for Windows. Software developers use Code Editors to write code. These small programs play a crucial role in the operation of the World Wide Web, which has become an integral part of our lives. In this article, you'll learn about free coding software for PCs.
Best Code Editor for Windows
In this article, you will learn about the list of best code editors and also know the differences between text editor, code editor, and IDE in brief.
Code editor and text editor
Text editors preceded code editors in that they were used by programmers to write code. An example of a text editor is Notepad, a small program included with Windows that was previously used to write code. However, writing and editing code on earlier text editors like Notepad was extremely cumbersome due to the lack of features such as syntax highlighting, auto-completion, indentation, and so on. These features are constantly being added to make software programming a richer experience.
Code Editor and IDE
Now that you're familiar with the difference between a text editor and a code editor, let's talk about an IDE. An IDE stands for Integrated Development Environment and can be thought of as a code editor plus a code editor. Often times, the two terms are used interchangeably, but an IDE is much more than just a code editor. While you can only write and edit code in a code editor, you can run your code in an IDE. An IDE is a coding program on a personal computer that contains many other tools necessary for programming, such as compilers, debugging tools, etc. To summarize, while a code editor can be used to write and edit code, an IDE helps you through the entire software development cycle, from writing code to distributing the software product.
List of the Best Code Editors for Windows
Below is a list of free codecs for PC.
1. Obsidian
Prepare Obsidian One of the best code editors for Windows, Obsidian is promoted by its developers as a second brain for the user. It is designed to help connect your thoughts and thus aid in information analysis. Obsidian doesn't track your work and allows you to work offline.
Features:
- Provide wiki-style links that connect pages.
- Connects data using chart view, backlinks, and outbound links.
- All data stored in a local folder.
- Provides access to plugins and API.
- It works on Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems.
Positives:
- The user has full ownership of the data.
- Community support.
- No need to create a profile or sign up for personal use.
- The commercial version provides priority support.
Negatives:
- Many premium features are available with the paid versions that are not available in the free version.
Price details: The code editor is 100% free for personal use, while the Catalyst version costs a one-time fee of $25 + applicable taxes, and the commercial version costs $50 + applicable taxes per user per year. The commercial version comes with a 14-day trial period. For more details, you can check out Obsidian pricing page.
2. Light table
Can be described Light table As a next-generation code editor that can be used as an IDE, Light Table is a unique, free coding software that provides real-time feedback to the user as they make changes to their code.
Features:
- Open source.
- Comes with plugin manager.
- The IDE can be easily modified according to user convenience.
- Direct code evaluation.
- Games can be included, and visuals and graphics can be played.
Positives:
- Powerful editing facilities.
- It can be easily customized.
- Aesthetic interface.
- Helps understand data flow.
Negatives: nothing
Price details: Free and open source.
3.TextPad
TextPad It is the perfect free coding software that helps you save time on the learning curve while providing a useful tool for editing web pages and acts as a text editor or functions like an IDE for programming.
Features:
- It works on both 64-bit and 32-bit versions of Windows 7, 8.1, 10, 11 and also from Server 2008 to 2022.
- Cut and paste facilities.
- Multiple document interface.
- Ability to drag and drop text between files.
- Visual bookmarks for fonts.
- Spell check in 10 languages.
- Up to 16 active macros maximum in the keystroke macro reader.
Positives:
- Supports editing large files.
- User-friendly design powered by Windows interface.
- Supports editing multiple files at once.
- Sorting is possible using only 3 keys.
Negatives:
- There is no free version available.
Price details: TextPad is available in single-user and multi-user licenses. A single-user license will cost $16.50. A license with a maximum number of users allowed is 500, which will cost $2250.
4. UltraEdit
UltraEdit It's a cross-platform text editor that can handle files up to 4GB. This text editor is supported on Windows 7 and later operating systems.
Features:
- HTML/Markdown provides live preview.
- Powerful search features.
- Edit the intuitive column.
- Customizable interface.
- Editing large files supported.
- The personal license can be played on 3 devices.
- Sort files.
- Supports Unicode/UTF-8.
- Compare files.
- It works on Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems.
- Project support.
Positives:
- Dynamic code auto-completion features.
- It does not require any third-party plugins.
- Multi-input and multi-select facilities.
- Topics contributed by the user other than the core topics.
- The interface looks great on Retina.
Negatives:
- There is no free version available.
- The interface can be difficult for first time users.
Price details: A UEStudio subscription will cost you $89.95 per year, while an IDM All Access subscription costs $99.95 for one year.
5. Notepad++
Prepare Notepad + + One of the best code editors for Windows. This is a free codec available for download. Here are some of the program's features and other details.
Features:
- Supports multiple languages.
- Written in C++
- Works on Windows.
- Employs Win32 API and STL.
- The current version is 8.4.7.
- GPL license.
Positives:
- Requires less CPU processing power.
- It offers great execution speed.
- Contributes to reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
Negatives: Works only on Windows platform.
Price details: Complimentary
6. Programmer's Notepad
Programmer's Notepad It is a code editor that can be ideal for beginners to learn the basics of programming.
Features:
- Word wrap.
- Highlight the installation.
- Regular expression support.
- Supports export to HTML and Rich Text Format (RTF)
- Works on Windows.
- Supports XML and embedded schemas.
- Colorize keywords efficiently.
Positives:
- Requires less storage space.
- Clean interface.
- Support for unlimited charts.
Negatives: nothing
Price details: free software
7. Atom
Atom It is an open-source text editor and the best code editor for Windows that works across multiple platforms. It is a preferred editing tool used by programmers to write code that runs on Windows 7 or later.
Features:
- Built-in package manager.
- It works on Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems.
- Integrated package manager.
- Auto-complete.
Positives:
- Multi-part facility.
- Dashboard support.
- Cross-platform editing.
Negatives: nothing
Price details: Complimentary
8. Vim
Submitted Vim It is described by its developers as a universal text editor. It is an advanced code editor, also called a programmer's editor.
Features:
- Very formal.
- GPL compatible license.
- Edit the code.
- Compose emails.
- Edit text.
Positives:
- Edit text efficiently.
Negatives:
- It has a learning curve for the user.
- Not a word processor.
Price details: Available for free
9. jEdit
called I'm saying A text editor for mature programmers, jEdit has years of development behind it. A PC coding program with full source code, jEdit outperforms many paid text editors in its offered functionality.
Features:
- It runs on Windows, Unix, Mac OS X, OS/2, and VMS.
- Written in Java.
- Supports syntax highlighting for over 200 languages.
- Unlimited undo/redo.
- Text wrap.
- Runs on operating system with Java 1.6 plus.
Positives:
- Countless macros and plugins available.
- Supported on multiple platforms.
- Multiple text selections.
Negatives: nothing
Price details: Complimentary
10. GetDiz
Is served GetDiz An alternative to Notepad, it offers a user-friendly interface with incredible speed and ease of use. This is a PC markup program that offers text formatting features.
Features:
- To enable custom text fonts for different file types.
- Enables conversion of UNIX/Linux text files to Windows.
- ASCII art can be displayed accurately.
- Allows saving text files in GIF format.
Positives:
- Portable.
- Available in English and 20 other languages.
- Clean user interface.
- Ultra-fast text editor.
Negatives:
- No tabs for many open files.
Price details: Complimentary
11. EditPlus
Prepare EditPlus A text editor that can be a good alternative to Notepad. It's a source code editor that offers good support for web page authors as well as programmers.
Features:
- Built-in FTP, SFTP, and FTPS capabilities.
- Powerful syntax highlighting features for many programming languages like JAVA, PHP, etc.
- Feature to highlight URLs and emails in plain text files.
- Online indentation-based code folding features.
- Document locator.
Positives:
- Streamlined browser facilities for previewing HTML file content.
- HTML toolbar for inserting HTML tags.
- Search and replace.
- Line numbering.
Negatives: Paid programs
Price details: $35 for a lifetime license for one user
12 Visual Studio Code
If you are looking for the best lightweight yet powerful code editor for Windows, you can stop by to take a look at Visual Studio CodeThis is a free cross-platform codec that offers built-in support for multiple programming languages.
Features:
- Cross-platform encoding software is free.
- Support installation in portable mode.
- Plugins enable third-party tools for additional functionality.
Positives:
- lightweight.
- Works on most available devices and operating systems.
- Regular update support from the developer.
- It acts as an IDE source code editor.
Negatives:
- Difficulty managing plugins for multiple programming languages.
Price details: Complimentary
13. EmEditor
EmEditor It is a code editor for Windows that supports very large files, macros, and Unicode. Both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of this program are available. It can also be a powerful alternative to a CSV editor.
Features:
- Many text editing features like syntax highlighting, regular expressions, multi-select editing, etc.
- Powerful CSV tools.
- It can easily handle large files up to 16TB.
- Customizable interface.
Positives:
- Fast and lightweight software.
- easy to use.
- expansion.
Negatives:
- Not free
Price details: The program will cost $40 for a one-year license, with each subsequent year costing $20. There's also a lifetime subscription for $260.
14. WeBuilder
If you are a web developer and looking for an all-in-one source code editor, WeBuilder It's the right code editor for you.
Features:
- Supports code editing in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and six other languages.
- Highlight strong sentence structure.
- Direct editing is enabled on your web browser.
- Built-in tools support code validation, formatting, navigation, and reuse.
- JavaScript and PHP editors with auto-completion.
Positives:
- Clean interface.
- Quick start.
- Unicode support.
Negatives: There is no free version available.
Price details: One-time license for $59.95
15. BlueGriffon
BlueGriffon It is an open source, cross-platform encryption software for computers.
Features:
- It is a Wysiwyg HTML editor.
- It works on Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems.
- Responsive web design enabled.
- Options for dark and light themes.
- Many useful add-ons like Eye-Dropper and Cross-Browsing.
Positives:
- Easy interface.
- Many templates included for web page designs.
- Cross-platform support.
Negatives:
- Lacks a number of additional features compared to competitors.
- Relatively expensive.
- Learning curve for beginners.
Price details: The basic license will cost you €75.00 plus VAT within the EU and the EPUB license will cost you €195.00 plus VAT within the EU.
16. QOwnNotes
QOwnNotes It's a free, open-source, cross-platform encryption software intended to be used as a note-taking application. The program is unique in that it also offers spell-checking features.
Features:
- Notes are stored as plain text reduction files.
- Written in C++
- Portable mode for USB sticks.
- Allows import of Joplin and Evernote files.
- Supports sharing to OwnCloud and NextCloud.
- Existing texts or discount files can be imported.
- Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux/GNU operating systems.
- Local file storage.
Positives:
- Uses less memory and processing power.
- Highly customizable and writable.
- Supports 60 different languages.
Negatives: nothing
Price details: Free and open source software.
17. Standard Notes
Standard Notes It's a code editor for Windows that lets you manage all your work by offering note-taking and editing features. It also ensures regular backups of your data to various cloud-based storage services like Google Drive, OneDrive, and more.
Features:
- End-to-end encryption of user data.
- Two-factor authentication.
- Notes in plain text.
- Facilities for exporting data in plain text or encrypted formats.
Positives:
- Community support.
- Individual notes can be password protected.
- Daily backup of encrypted emails.
- Infinite undo button.
Negatives: nothing
Price details: Aside from the free version, there is a production version that costs $26.55 per year and a professional version that costs $44.55 per year.
18. Apache NetBeans
Apache NetBeans Not only a text editor, but also a source code editor that offers syntax highlighting features, it's one of the best coding programs for PCs. NetBeans is cross-platform, so you don't have to worry about working with the same code on multiple systems with different operating systems.
Features:
- Powerful code editor.
- Highlight source code.
- Requires Java support.
- Works on multiple platforms.
- Support multiple languages like Java, Javascript, PHP, etc.
- Automatic insertion of matching pairs of brackets.
Positives:
- easy to use.
- Rich development features.
- Powerful code editor.
- Allows code formatting.
Negatives: nothing
Price details: Free and open source
19. Joplin
Joplin It is a note-taking application designed to handle multiple notes organized in different notebooks.
Features:
- It works on Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems.
- Enable full-text search across platforms.
- Notes are recorded in Markdown format.
Positives:
- Supports customization with themes and plugins.
- End-to-end encryption.
Negatives:
- Limited support/cooperation.
- No email forwarding.
Price details: Free and open source software
20. Syncplify.me Notepad!
Syncplify.me Notepad! It can be a good alternative to the default Windows Notepad. This free program can be used for text editing.
Features:
- Large documents up to 4GB can be edited.
- WYSIWYG print preview.
- Multi-tasking text editor.
- Works on Windows.
- Word finder.
- Supports files from HTML, Python, CSS and other programming languages.
Positives:
- User-friendly interface.
- Good for advanced programmers.
Negatives: nothing
Price details: Available for free
21.PSPad
PSPad It's a free text editor with a wide range of editing functions and a web authoring editor. It requires no customization after installation, and you can start working on your code immediately.
Features:
- Works on Windows.
- Distributes the translated output.
- Web editing tools.
- Edit plain text.
- Spell checker.
- Supports files from C++, MS-DOS, Cobol, Java and many other languages.
- Macro recording support.
Positives:
- Easy to install.
- Multilingual support.
Negatives: nothing
Price details: Available for free
22. CodePen
Prepare CodePen One of the best editors for building, testing, and viewing front-end code. This is a unique online code editor that allows you to view the results of your code. The best part about this code editor is that you can start coding immediately after opening a free account.
Features:
- Building test cases.
- Showcase stunning web designs.
- Test new technologies.
- Building components for later use.
- Include topics.
Positives:
- It is a social development environment.
- Supports writing code on the browser.
Negatives:
- Although a free account is available, you need to pay for better features.
- Does not support back-end development.
Price details: Available in both free and paid versions. The three paid versions are:
- Annual subscription starts at $8 per month and goes up to $96 per year.
- The annual developer cost is $12 per month and is billed at $144 per year.
- Your $26 per month annual premium cost is $312 per year.
23.Bluefish
Bluefish It's the best code editor for Windows that helps you write code, websites, and scripts. It's also one of the best coding programs for PCs. It's open source, supports multiple programming languages, and is useful whether you're a computer programmer or a web developer.
Features:
- It runs on Windows, macOS-X, Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, and OpenBSD.
- Powerful search and replace functionality.
- Multiple documents can be opened.
- Integration of external programs supported by the program.
- Automatic recovery of changes in case of shutdown or crash.
- Supports full screen editing.
Positives:
- Cross-platform support.
- Light software.
- Clean interface.
- Fast and can download many files in a short time.
- Consumes less space.
Negatives:
- No preview mode
Price details: Free and open source software.
24. Gedit
If you are looking for the best code editor for Windows, which is designed for general purposes with an easy to use and simple interface, then you can Gedit Perfectly suited for your use. The best part is, if you enable the required plugins, you can access advanced features at no cost!
Features:
- Works on macOS, Windows, and Linux.
- Spell check attachment.
- Integrated web browser on the side panel.
- Regular expressions support search and replace.
- Line numbers.
- Undo it.
Positives:
- Multi-platform support.
- Text wrap included.
- Backup files.
- Highlight syntax for multiple languages.
Negatives: Very basic and many features offered in other code editors are missing.
Price details: Complimentary
Geany
The reason we're talking about the codec geany It offers a great, simple, lightweight, intuitive GUI and has cross-platform support.
Features:
- Supports multiple file types for many programming languages like Python, Java, C, etc.
- Color themes are available.
- Fold the code.
- Symbol lists.
- Highlight the installation.
Positives:
- Great support from the community.
- Provides a plugin interface.
- Navigate the code.
Negatives: nothing
Price details: free software
26. brackets
brackets It is a modern and powerful program that can be used as an encryption program for personal computers. It is composed of JavaScript and is free to download, install, and use.
Features:
- Built-in editors make it easy to open separate windows for editing code.
- Live preview while editing code.
- Processor support.
Positives:
- Support an active community.
- Powerful editor with modern features.
- Free software.
Negatives:
- Live preview may be closed at times.
- There may be performance issues editing large files.
- It requires installation, unlike many online editors.
Price details: Free and open source
27. EditPad Lite
If a program that can work on any type of plain text file can be used for general purpose editing, then EditPad Lite It just fits the bill. It's one of the best coding programs for PC. What's more, it's the best code editor for Windows that's free if you only want it for personal use.
Features:
- Unicode support.
- Files can be opened in multiple tabs.
- Undo/reopen files unlimited times.
- Regular expressions and powerful search/replace capabilities work across multiple files.
- Available in several spoken languages including English.
Positives:
- Can work on complex texts.
- Undo/redo works even after the file is saved.
- Automatic backup prevents data loss.
- Easy to use tool compared to many powerful text editors available.
Negatives: nothing
Price details: Free for personal use. Several options are available for commercial and office use. Several licensing plans are available for a single user ($29.95) and multiple users with a maximum of 100 users. A license is available for $1099.00 (unit price $10.99).
28. Crimson Editor
If you are looking for an alternative to Notepad along with powerful editing features for programming languages like C/C++, Java, HTML, etc., then it might work. crimson editor For you. This is the best code editor for Windows, and it's available for free.
Features:
- Highlighting the syntax of different programming languages.
- Edit multiple documents.
- Multi-level redo/undo.
- Edit column position is possible.
- Regular expression support for search and replace.
Positives:
- Fast loading time.
- Innovative word wrapping features.
- free
Negatives: nothing
Price details: Available for free
29. NoteTab
NoteTab It's a source code editor that serves a variety of roles: a fast HTML editor for webmasters and a powerful word processor for general users. It's one of the best coding programs for PCs.
Features:
- Powerful search and replace function for text.
- The Paste Board function allows you to copy text to the clipboard and paste it wherever needed.
- The Clipbook feature can be used to store text snippets.
- Scrapbook libraries.
- Multilingual spell checker.
- Works on Windows and Linux via Wine.
Positives:
- Support for mathematical expressions within texts.
- The dual-panel outer line helps organize notes.
- Instant word count.
- Easy to port the program.
- Fast and reliable.
Negatives:
- Many premium features are only available in paid versions.
- The editing feature of the program is limited to Unicode files that contain 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: The following versions of the software are available:
- NoteTab Lite is free
- NoteTab 7 (NoteTab Std + NoteTab Pro) is available for $39.95
30. Metapad
Metapad It's a simple and fast text editor designed for Windows. It's also one of the best coding programs for PCs. It can be said to be a complete Windows Notepad suite because it includes all of its features, plus many additional ones.
Features:
- External viewer support.
- Recent files can be viewed/displayed.
- The Esc key can be used for quick exit.
- Go to the line/column function.
- Intuitive search and replace functionality.
Positives:
- Large files can be edited.
- Equipped with portability mode.
- free
Negatives: nothing
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. That's why choosing this software can make or break performance. Here are some factors to consider when choosing the best code editor for Windows:
- Interface - The user-friendly interface is helpful for achieving work efficiency.
- the speed - Important if you want to complete projects on time.
- Multi-platform support – For multiple team members working on different operating systems.
- Ease of transportation – The space your computer takes up is important if you want portability.
- Community/Developer Support – Important if you plan to use the editor for a long time.
- Support for multiple programming languages – If you plan to work in different languages.
- Free software in terms of the cost Always welcome, however, paid software offers more features and supports many times.
Now that you've read about the best code editors for Windows, you should be able to choose the one that's most useful to you. Many code editors are open source and therefore available for free. While it may make economic sense to opt for a free editor, there may be quite a few limitations to using open source software. Since code editors quickly become lifelong companions for programmers, it's always a good idea to choose wisely!
