4 Free code editors worth trying

Are you still coding in notepad or are you looking for a new code editor? Then you might like this list of free editors. Try them out and check the plugin- and themes links to personalize your new favorite editor. If you’ve got your own favorite editor, share it in the comments below.

1. Brackets

Brackets is a great, free, lightweight, powerful and modern editor. It is an open-source editor and with the right amount of HTML, CSS and JavaScript knowledge, you are able to customize it to the way you like. Brackets has a nice build-in live preview. Every time you save your document it will refresh your browser (only Chrome for now) with the latest changes. Enable it by going to File > Live Preview or Ctrl + Alt + P.

Are you interested in Brackets? Then you might want to read this review from friend and colleague Thomasdebock.be  about Brackets and how to use it.

Available for Windows, OS X and Linux

Look for Brackets extensions (or File > Extension Manager)
Look for Brackets themes (or File > Extension Manager)

2. Notepad++

Notepad++ is around for a long time. It’s a free and lightweight code editor with support for simple things like syntax highlighting and folding. It may not be the prettiest around, but it does its job well! If you’re not sure exactly what you’re looking for in a code editor, then Notepad++ is a good place to start with coding.

Available for Windows only

Look for Notepad++ plugins (or Plugins > Plugin Manager > Show Plugin Manager)
Look for Notepad++ themes

3. Atom

Atom is a relatively new, nice looking, free, modern and hackable editor that calls itself a code editor “for the 21st century”. It’s an editor that is built by contributors on GitHub and you can customize it to do anything. It’s flexible, customizable, themeable, and it already has tons of plugins, thanks to its open API.

Available for Windows, OS X and Linux

Look for Atom packages
Look for Atom themes

4. Sublime Text

Sublime text is another free and powerful code editor with the ability to customize anything you like with simple JSON files, tons of keyboard commands and of course, like all the other editors, able to install plugins. Sublime Text is my favorite editor and if you are new to Sublime Text, don’t forget to install Emmet (tutorial) to code at high-speed.

Available for Windows, OS X and Linux

Look for Sublime Text packages (or Preferences > Package Control > Package Control: Install Package)
Look for Sublime Text themes

Still not convinced or are you looking for more editors?
Then check out this Wikipedia page to see a full list of all available code editors.