gedit
gedit: A free, open-source editor with practical features across Linux, macOS, and Windows. Ranked #24 of 82 in Text Editors by our editors (7.0/10); pricing: Free plan; best for users wanting a straightforward free editor.
At a glance
- Editor score7.0 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forUsers wanting a straightforward free editor
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Founded1998
- Facts checked22 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Free and open source across Linux, macOS, and Windows
- Regex search, syntax highlighting, tabs, and remote-file editing
- Plugins and a configurable large-file loading limit
Where it doesn't
- Multi-cursor editing is not currently verified
- Column editing is not currently verified
- Macro editing is not currently verified
Our verdict on gedit
gedit is a free, open-source general-purpose text editor for notes, documents, markup, and software development. It suits users who want a straightforward editor that works across Linux, macOS, and Windows without a paid plan. Its core workspace supports tabbed editing, syntax highlighting for many programming and markup languages, regular-expression search and replace, spell-checking, word auto-completion, automatic indentation, and text wrapping. An integrated file-browser side panel and remote-file editing add useful file-management and workflow support.
The feature set covers both everyday writing and code-oriented tasks. Configurable appearance settings let users adjust the editor, while the plugin system adds further capabilities beyond the core feature set. The configurable large-file loading limit is relevant for users who need to work with larger text files, and the published platform support gives gedit a broad desktop fit. Users working within the GNOME desktop environment may also value its integration with that environment.
gedit is a sensible choice for users who prioritize a free, open-source editor with tabs, language-aware highlighting, regex tools, and extensibility. Its focus is general-purpose editing rather than a specialized workflow, so users seeking verified multi-cursor, column, or macro editing should consider an alternative with those capabilities clearly available. Pick gedit for accessible cross-platform text editing and a practical plugin model; look elsewhere when advanced editing modes are central to the workflow.
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gedit pricing
gedit fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Supported platforms | Linux, macOS, Windows |
| Multi-cursor editing | Not verified |
| Macro recording | Not verified |
| Column editing | Not verified |
| Large-file handling | Not verified |
| Extension support | Yes |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Support | Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | gedit-text-editor.org |
| Facts checked | 22 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to gedit
- Visual Studio CodeA free, open-source editor with broad development features across desktop and web.9.4
- NeovimA free, open-source editor for keyboard-driven workflows and deep customization.9.3
- GNU EmacsA mature, highly customizable editor for users who value breadth and control.9.2
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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