Free alternatives to Sublime Text
3 free programs that can replace Sublime Text, each pairing checked by Radar's AI reviewer or by Radar.
Sublime Text is a fast text and code editor used by programmers, web developers and writers who want a light tool for editing many kinds of files. It is commercial software that works with a paid licence.
Before switching, check what you have built around it. Packages and plugins, snippets, colour schemes, build systems and project files do not carry over, so list the ones you use and look for equivalents. Keyboard shortcuts matter a lot in an editor, and many tools can load familiar key bindings, but test that your multiple-cursor and search habits still work. Try opening your largest files and projects, since speed and memory use differ widely. If your team shares editor settings, think about how to share them again. Also look at how actively each project is maintained, because some editors in the list may no longer receive updates.
Visual Studio Code and Zed are options to test for a few days before you decide.
| Program | Ease | You need | Risk signals | Stars | Downloads this week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visual Studio CodeA free code editor from Microsoft for writing, running and fixing programs, with thousands of add-ons. | Ease Adownload and open · Windows | Nothing extra | Few signals | 194,427+75 in 5 days | — |
| ZedA fast code editor for Windows, Mac and Linux with built-in AI help and live editing with other people. | Ease Adownload and open · Windows | Nothing extra | Attention · 2 | 92,466+220 in 5 days | 467,905 |
| AtomA customizable text and code editor from GitHub that was discontinued in 2022 and gets no more updates. | Ease Binstaller plus one simple step · Windows | Other tools | Attention · 4 | 60,708— | 15,773 |
Frequently asked questions
Which free alternative to Sublime Text is the easiest to install?
Visual Studio Code has the highest ease rating among the 3 options: A (download and open · Windows).
Is there a free alternative to Sublime Text for Windows, Mac and Linux?
Windows: Visual Studio Code, Zed, Atom. macOS: Visual Studio Code, Zed, Atom. Linux: Visual Studio Code, Zed, Atom.
Are the alternatives to Sublime Text really free?
2 of the 3 are completely free; 1 depends on a paid service or key for some features.
How can I tell whether an alternative is trustworthy?
Each card shows the risk signals found, with the evidence. 1 of the 3 has no signal rated attention or high. See also the guide How to find a GitHub project's official repository and avoid fake copies.