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Head-to-head · Text Editors

Kate vs Vim

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Kate #5 in Text Editors 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 5 features Visit KDE
Vim #6 in Text Editors 8.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 5 features Visit Vim

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

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreKate · 9.0/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresKate · 4 of 5

Kate scores higher on our rubric for text editors: 9.0 against 8.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #5 and #6.

Kate is the better fit for free cross-platform coding and text editing. Vim is the better fit for vim users wanting a mature free editor.

  • Kate fits best

    Free cross-platform coding and text editing

  • Vim fits best

    Vim users wanting a mature free editor

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Side by side

Feature Kate 9.0/10 Visit ↗ Vim 8.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.0 8.9
Ranking #5 in Text Editors #6 in Text Editors
Best for Free cross-platform coding and text editing Vim users wanting a mature free editor
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop Desktop
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Windows, macOS, Linux
Support Community, Docs Community, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Kate 4/5 · Vim 3/5
Multi-cursor editing ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Macro recording ✓ ✓
Column editing ✓ ✓
Large-file handling Not checked yet Not checked yet
Extension support ✓ ✓
Specs
Supported platforms Linux, BSD, Windows, macOS Windows, macOS, Linux
Our review
Pros
  • Supports syntax highlighting for more than 300 languages
  • Combines multi-cursor editing, macros, projects, and split views
  • Includes terminal, Git, LSP, DAP, plugins, and scripting
  • Free and open source across Windows, macOS, and Linux
  • Macros, blockwise editing, windows, and buffers support precise workflows
  • Plugins, scripting, syntax highlighting, and filetype tools extend its scope
Cons
  • Its documented integration surface is narrower than broader editor ecosystems
  • Its programming features may exceed the needs of basic text editing
  • Language and debugging workflows center on LSP and DAP support
  • Modal editing can be less suitable for users who prefer conventional editors
  • Multi-cursor editing is not a built-in feature
  • Terminal and GUI options may appeal to different workflows unevenly
Our verdict

Kate is a free, open-source, multi-document text editor developed by KDE for programmers and others working with text files. It runs on Linux, Windows, and macOS, and supports tabs, horizontal or vertical split views, syntax highlighting…

Read the review →

Vim is a highly configurable, modal text editor for creating and changing text. It suits programmers and other users working with source code, configuration files, email, and general text. The editor runs in terminals and also offers…

Read the review →
  1. KateText Editors 9.0Free plan
  2. VimText Editors 8.9Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Kate — where it wins

    • Supports syntax highlighting for more than 300 languages
    • Combines multi-cursor editing, macros, projects, and split views
    • Includes terminal, Git, LSP, DAP, plugins, and scripting

    Where it doesn't

    • Its documented integration surface is narrower than broader editor ecosystems
    • Its programming features may exceed the needs of basic text editing
    • Language and debugging workflows center on LSP and DAP support

  • Vim — where it wins

    • Free and open source across Windows, macOS, and Linux
    • Macros, blockwise editing, windows, and buffers support precise workflows
    • Plugins, scripting, syntax highlighting, and filetype tools extend its scope

    Where it doesn't

    • Modal editing can be less suitable for users who prefer conventional editors
    • Multi-cursor editing is not a built-in feature
    • Terminal and GUI options may appeal to different workflows unevenly
  • Kate9.0/10 · Free plan

    A free, open-source editor with broad coding features across Linux, Windows, and macOS.

    Visit KDEFull verdict →
  • Vim8.9/10 · Free plan

    A mature, free, open-source editor for users who prefer modal workflows.

    Visit VimFull verdict →

More comparisons

All text editors comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update