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Head-to-head · Text Editors

EmEditor vs UltraEdit

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 6 checks side by side
Higher score EmEditor #10 in Text Editors 8.5/10 Free plan · 7-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 5 of 5 features Visit EmEditor
UltraEdit #11 in Text Editors 8.4/10 7-day trial Free trial✓ 5 of 5 features Visit UltraEdit

EmEditor leads on 1 check, UltraEdit on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreEmEditor · 8.5/10
  • Free planonly EmEditor
  • Free trialboth

EmEditor scores higher on our rubric for text editors: 8.5 against 8.4 out of 10; our editors rank them #10 and #11.

EmEditor offers free plan; UltraEdit doesn't.

EmEditor is the better fit for windows users working with extreme file sizes. UltraEdit is the better fit for professionals handling very large files.

  • EmEditor fits best

    Windows users working with extreme file sizes

  • UltraEdit fits best

    Professionals handling very large files

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Side by side

Feature EmEditor 8.5/10 Visit ↗ UltraEdit 8.4/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.5 8.4
Ranking #10 in Text Editors #11 in Text Editors
Best for Windows users working with extreme file sizes Professionals handling very large files
Pricing model Free plan + paid Paid
Starting price $5/device/mo $94.96/user/yr
Free plan ✓ (best) —
Free trial 7 days 7 days
Free trial length 7 days · no card needed 7 days · no card needed
Deployment Desktop Desktop
Platforms Windows Windows, macOS, Linux
Support Email, Docs Community, Docs · 24/7
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features EmEditor 5/5 · UltraEdit 5/5
Multi-cursor editing ✓ ✓
Macro recording ✓ ✓
Column editing ✓ ✓
Large-file handling ✓ ✓
Extension support ✓ ✓
Specs
Supported platforms Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows Server 2019 or later; legacy support includes Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 Windows, macOS, Linux
Our review
Pros
  • Handles files up to 16 TB, with a controller for larger files
  • Supports column editing, multi-selection, macros, and regex replacement
  • Free edition includes plugins, external tools, and advanced editing features
  • Handles large files with disk-based file processing
  • Combines macros, JavaScript scripting, and advanced search
  • Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux with FTP and SSH connectivity
Cons
  • Windows-only support limits use across other operating systems
  • Free edition is restricted to personal home or school use
  • Professional annual pricing starts at $60 per computer per year
  • No free plan is available
  • Starting price is $94.96 per year with annual billing
  • Advanced features may exceed the needs of basic text editing
Our verdict

EmEditor is a Windows text editor for programmers, editors, database administrators, and server administrators. Its feature set covers ordinary text editing, syntax highlighting, regular expressions, CSV processing, macros, plug-ins,…

Read the review →

UltraEdit is a commercial text, code, and hex editor for developers, data professionals, IT teams, system administrators, and power users. Its focus is broad but technically deep: large-file editing, multi-caret and column-based editing,…

Read the review →
  1. EmEditorText Editors 8.5Free plan · 7-day trial
  2. UltraEditText Editors 8.47-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • EmEditor — where it wins

    • Handles files up to 16 TB, with a controller for larger files
    • Supports column editing, multi-selection, macros, and regex replacement
    • Free edition includes plugins, external tools, and advanced editing features

    Where it doesn't

    • Windows-only support limits use across other operating systems
    • Free edition is restricted to personal home or school use
    • Professional annual pricing starts at $60 per computer per year

  • UltraEdit — where it wins

    • Handles large files with disk-based file processing
    • Combines macros, JavaScript scripting, and advanced search
    • Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux with FTP and SSH connectivity

    Where it doesn't

    • No free plan is available
    • Starting price is $94.96 per year with annual billing
    • Advanced features may exceed the needs of basic text editing
  • EmEditor8.5/10 · Free plan · 7-day trial

    A capable Windows editor for extreme file sizes, with useful free features and costly paid tiers.

    Visit EmEditorFull verdict →
  • UltraEdit8.4/10 · 7-day trial

    A deep, large-file editor for professionals who need automation and remote connectivity.

    Visit UltraEditFull verdict →

All text editors comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update