Please help me choose a plain text editor
Hello! I always write my drafts in Drafts and my longer texts in iA Writer. Every now and then, I need to open the .txt files I create in the project folders in Finder (supporting materials and task descriptions). I’d like something more visually appealing than the native TextEdit. I found an app by Sindre Sorhus, whose SuperCharge helps me create text files in Finder, called Plain Text Editor. Description from the website: How is the macOS version better than TextEdit? - Editor padding - Optimal line spacing and length - Word count - Hide the title bar - Translucent background - Window can stay on top - Force dark/light mode - Brain dump mode Will this app settle the matter of a plain text editor? I really like the programs from the esteemed Sindre and really want to support him with a purchase. At any other time, I would buy it without hesitation, but things are a bit tight right now, so I’ve decided to play it safe. P.S. If the esteemed Amerpie has tested this app and could provide a brief comparison with TextEdit and, for example, Drafts—which I’m already quite familiar with—I’d be doubly grateful. Please help me decide. Thank you! Update from May 13, 2026 I’m not sure if it’s customary here to share the decision I’ve made, but below are the results of my research and thoughts. I bought Plain Text Editor, but I also installed CotEditor and I like it! I haven’t really dug into it yet (I set up the visual layout and have edited text a couple of times), but I’m ready to use it for one simple reason: if I select a word or a chunk of text, the app automatically highlights the same section in the document. I’m thrilled. Here’s how I’ve divided things up: if I create a file in Finder using Option+N (with Supercharge), it automatically opens in Plain Text Editor. If I need to open a .txt file for edits or significant changes, by default they open in CotEditor. Writing descriptions for tasks and projects from scratch—Plain Text Editor. Thanks to this thread, I installed three more apps to try out: Antinote (an inbox for my inbox, which i have in Drafts—thoughts that are even too much clutter for Drafts), Verso (an attempt to replace Word), and Zed (a snappy alternative to VS Code, which I’m still getting the hang of). Thanks for the help!
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CotEditor ! It is simply awesome
thank you! went to read about him)
I have 16 of Sindre’s apps installed, but unfortunately, not this one. I do most of my writing in Drafts and Obsidian . Obsidian will work with text files, if you change the extension from .txt to .md. You can use any of the many plugins to customize setup.
Thank you for your reply! I really appreciate being able to quickly edit a file that was created on the spot and is stored in a folder with my other documents, rather than in my Obsidian vault. While working on documents (docx, xslx and pdf), I can open the .txt file, view the information I need right then, close the file, and get back to work. I use Obsidian for “creative” writing and finding connections. In my mind, it’s too big and cumbersome for this specific task of mine.
You might like Bean (free), a simple, easy-to-use word processor. Principally it is meant to make .rtf files, but it also does plain text. If you open a new blank document, press the option key and you will get a plain text one. Bean is not meant for code though. For that you could have a look at (the free version of) BBEdit.
Thanks. I'll check it out and maybe give it a try. I haven't looked for an app for the code yet (I only use VS Code occasionally), but thanks for the info.
Plain Text Editor (https://apps.apple.com/no/app/plain-text-editor/id1572202501) Just go for it :)
I'm actually asking about this app. What do you think of it? What won you over, and have you compared it to the built-in TextEdit?
Surprised no one mentioned Antinote. It is my go to for all things. It is the best scratchpad for Mac hands down. Add “count” to the top of your doc and it provides word count stats. Add “math” and it will can do some heavy math lifting. “paste” acts like a continuous pasteboard allowing you to grab text from all sorts of other docs into one. Customizable and clean. When you are ready just hit save and you can save to a text file or into whatever program you use to store your thoughts. I literally use it 100 times a day. iPhone app is on the way to sync notes. I would suggest installing the beta which has the latest features. Give it a try. It’s only $5 for lifetime.
Thanks. I downloaded it now. I'll definitely give it a try.
This app is similar to Raycast Notes and the quick capture window in Drafts. I don’t plan on subscribing to Raycast (I’d like to support the developers, but now isn’t the right time for me), but I really like the idea. Antinote might stick around for quick notes and information that I need to have right in front of me at a glance. A wonderful app that I found thanks to you, even though I was looking for something completely different. It might also work for my original purpose, but I haven’t had enough time yet to set it up and get familiar with it.
I’m not sure if it’s customary here to share the decision I’ve made, but below are the results of my research and thoughts. I bought Plain Text Editor, but I also installed CotEditor and I like it! I haven’t really dug into it yet (I set up the visual layout and have edited text a couple of times), but I’m ready to use it for one simple reason: if I select a word or a chunk of text, the app automatically highlights the same section in the document. I’m thrilled. Here’s how I’ve divided things up: if I create a file in Finder using Option+N (with Supercharge), it automatically opens in Plain Text Editor. If I need to open a .txt file for edits or significant changes, by default they open in CotEditor. Writing descriptions for tasks and projects from scratch—Plain Text Editor. Thanks to this thread, I installed three more apps to try out: Antinote (an inbox for my inbox, which i have in Drafts—thoughts that are even too much clutter for Drafts), Verso (an attempt to replace Word), and Zed (a snappy alternative to VS Code, which I’m still getting the hang of). Thanks for the help!
So … I get it’s a personal preference thing… but I love TextEdit because of how it looks and its features! I tried Plain Text Editor and my opinion was… blah. For opening and editing RTF and TXT files, TextEdit really is the perfect app. For any serious plain text work I happen to do… I just use Zed.
talk to claude it made me a perfect text edit clone with my custom minimal markup
To be honest, I hadn't even thought about that. Thanks.
I built markjason.sh for pretty much this exact itch. It's mac-only and intentionally tiny, just .md/.json/.env, but it starts fast and stays light, which is nice when VS Code feels like overkill for a plain text file.
Sorry, but lately I’ve been getting a bit fed up with recommendations that start with “I built” or “I felt this was missing from app X, so I created (name it)”… Three out of three apps I installed after such recommendations consumed RAM without any limits and were buggy, constantly lagging and crashing. The last one was an Alt-Tab app alternative (Switcher, I think). Thank you for your reply, but unfortunately, I won’t be trying it for now. Sorry
I might be missing something, but why not use IA Writer?
BBEdit ; it doesn’t suck. I’ve been using it since ‘94.
CodEditor +1
TextEdit can actually do plain text mode if you flip it in Preferences (Format, Plain Text as default). Ugly, but works. For free and prettier, CotEditor. Open source, themeable, opens .txt files without fuss. Pitched as a code editor but it's basically the prettiest free plain editor on the platform. Sindre's stuff is good and a few bucks isn't much. CotEditor's just the free version of the same vibe.
I realize that TextEdit is quite functional, but it’s not really my cup of tea. I installed CotEditor, and I actually kind of like it. I commented on this a bit below (or above) - I’d like to change a few things in CotEditor (make the editor even cleaner and more minimalist, and be able to see text that doesn’t stick to the edges). I get that a few dollars for an app from Sindre is a small price to pay and his work is worth it, but sometimes even these expenses come at the wrong time. I get the gist - I’ll have to go for it:) Thanks!
I like the use bearapp for quick notes
the main benefit of a plain text file is, it is NOT and never tied to any particular program. So you can play around, use this, use that, try find something what you really like, but in the end, all learning is an investment, and I would advise to find something which is in there allready for a longer time, not just the fancy new tool on the block. Something you can use in 5, in 10 years from now. That being said, I still use VIM (besides others), started with vi in 1986 ;)
CotEditor