# CotEditor Published January 1, 2026 · Updated August 10, 2026 Plain-text editor for web pages, program source codes and more Category: Developer Tools · Free · Version 7.0.7 · [Official website](https://coteditor.com/) ## Install with Homebrew `brew install --cask coteditor` ## Quick take Start with CotEditor when you want a free Mac text editor before paying for BBEdit or Nova. The August 2026 7.0.8 line is healthy if you meet Tahoe 26 plus. It is strong for configs, Markdown, and logs. It is not the place for AI-heavy coding on large codebases. Best for: Writers of Markdown and configs, Developers wanting a fast free Mac editor, CJK text workers ## What is CotEditor? CotEditor is a free open source plain text editor made only for macOS. It sits between TextEdit and heavier tools like Xcode and VS Code. You get syntax highlighting for more than 60 languages, strong regex find and replace, split views, outline menus, character inspection, and scripting hooks, without Electron weight. August 2026 status is active. CotEditor 7.0.8 landed 7 August 2026. The summer saw steady 7.0.x maintenance and 7.1 beta builds. The current 7.x line targets macOS Tahoe 26 or newer. The project only supports the latest two major macOS releases, and the README lists Tahoe 26 plus as the floor. If you stay on Sequoia 15 or Sonoma 14, grab an archived build such as 5.2.x from coteditor.com/archives instead of forcing the newest store build. The app costs nothing on the Mac App Store and via direct download including Homebrew, licensed Apache 2.0. Development is volunteer led by Mineko Imanishi and the CotEditor Project with issues on GitHub. It has no built-in Copilot, by design. Rivals include BBEdit with paid power features, Nova, Sublime Text, VS Code, and TextMate successors. CotEditor's space is native speed, strong CJK typography including vertical text, and a zero-cost Mac-first editor. On Apple Silicon launches stay quick and memory stays low even for multi-megabyte logs. For LSP-grade intelligence use Nova or VS Code. For a dependable free Mac text tool that respects the platform, CotEditor remains a top pick if your OS meets Tahoe 26 plus for current builds. For Macs in August 2026, take the build from the vendor or Homebrew, clear Gatekeeper on first launch, and check autosave and encoding settings after a major macOS upgrade. Apple Silicon is the assumed path now. Intel work still happens but verify the exact build if you keep legacy hardware. The two-major OS policy is the detail people miss. Volunteers keep the test matrix small so the app can adopt new AppKit work quickly. That is why Tahoe 26 is the floor for 7.x, and why the archives page is the real support path for older Macs rather than an afterthought. If Homebrew would pull 7.x onto a Sequoia machine, pin an older cask or install from archives instead. ## Features - **Native macOS text engine.** Built with AppKit so launch is quick and Dark Mode and system text behave as expected. It is not an Electron wrapper, which shows when you open large logs. - **Syntax highlighting (60+ languages).** Covers HTML, Markdown, Python, Ruby, PHP, Swift, and more. You can add your own syntax definitions for specialty formats you see often. - **ICU regex find & replace.** Use strong find patterns for refactors and log edits across files without opening a full IDE. History of recent patterns helps with repeated cleanups. - **Split editor & outline menu.** View two regions of a document at once and jump through an outline built from your syntax rules. Handy for long Markdown or config files. - **Character inspector & encodings.** Inspect Unicode scalars and spot characters that will not survive a target encoding. Vertical text and CJK handling stay first class. - **Auto backup & scriptability.** Edits keep automatic backups. Run macros through Python, Ruby, shell, AppleScript, or JavaScript to reshape selections. - **File browser sidebar.** Browse files in a sidebar for multi-file plain text work when a full IDE would be overkill. ## How to Install CotEditor on Mac Current 7.x needs Tahoe 26 or newer. Older macOS must use archived builds. Launch once to clear Gatekeeper, then adjust file associations if you want CotEditor as the default for plain text. 1. **Check your macOS version.** Apple menu → About This Mac. If you are not on Tahoe 26+, use coteditor.com/archives for a compatible build. 2. **Install current build.** Mac App Store, `brew install --cask coteditor`, or DMG from coteditor.com. 3. **Set as default for plain text (optional).** Get Info on a .txt/.md file → Open with → CotEditor → Change All. ## Pros - Completely free native macOS editor - Actively shipped 7.0.x releases into August 2026 - Excellent encoding/CJK and character inspection tools - Fast launch and low overhead vs Electron editors - Scriptable without forcing a plugin marketplace ## Cons - Current 7.x requires macOS Tahoe 26+ only (two-major policy) - Not an AI/LSP IDE, no Copilot-class intelligence built in - Fewer package/ecosystem features than VS Code or Nova - Power users may outgrow it for large software projects ## Analysis: CotEditor's two-major macOS policy The project stays on the newest two macOS releases on purpose. That keeps the test matrix small for volunteers and lets the app adopt fresh AppKit work right away, which explains the Tahoe 26 baseline for 7.x. The archives page is not abandoned. It is the supported route for older Macs. If you keep a Sequoia machine long term, pin CotEditor and update deliberately rather than letting Homebrew pull the newest build without reading notes. Feature-wise CotEditor is a plain text specialist. Syntax highlighting for 60+ languages, ICU regex, split views, and the character inspector cover the work TextEdit cannot. Scripting through Python, Ruby, shell, AppleScript, or JavaScript covers repetitive transforms without a plugin marketplace. What you do not get is LSP intelligence or a built-in AI pair programmer. That is intentional scope, not a missing checkbox. Compared with BBEdit and Nova, CotEditor wins on price and light weight. Compared with VS Code and Zed, it wins on native feel and launch speed for single files. Teams that standardize on free tools for log triage and config edits often keep CotEditor next to a heavier IDE rather than forcing one app to do every job. Version 7.0.8 from 7 August 2026 sits in a quiet maintenance cadence rather than a marketing splash. That is typical for CotEditor: small fixes, occasional beta line (7.1 at the time of writing), and a hard line on OS support. If you maintain Macs for a team, treat archives as first-class documentation. Send the archives URL when someone is still on Sequoia 15 or Sonoma 14 instead of telling them the App Store link, which may only offer the Tahoe-only 7.x build. ## FAQ ### Is CotEditor free? Yes. Free and open source under Apache 2.0 via the App Store and direct download. Check the site later if you want sponsorship info. ### What macOS versions work with the latest CotEditor? Version 7.x needs Tahoe 26 or newer. Older systems use archived builds from the official archives page. Verify the matrix before you install. ### What is the latest version? Build 7.0.8 shipped 2026-08-07. See coteditor.com or GitHub releases for anything newer and for 7.1 betas. ### Does CotEditor include AI coding? No built-in assistant. Use an external tool when you need AI, and keep CotEditor for fast native editing. ### CotEditor vs TextEdit? TextEdit handles notes. CotEditor adds highlighting, stronger regex, split views, encoding tools, and scripting for regular text work. ### Apple Silicon support? Yes. Present-day builds are Apple Silicon native. Check release notes for Universal details. ### Where do I get builds for older macOS? Use coteditor.com/archives. Current 7.x needs Tahoe 26 or later under the two-major policy. Archived lines such as 5.2.x cover older systems. Confirm the matrix on the archives page before you download. ### Is CotEditor good for large software projects? It is fine for single files, configs, and logs. For large codebases with language servers, debug adapters, and AI pair programming, Nova, VS Code, or Xcode are better fits. Many developers keep CotEditor for quick surgery and a heavier IDE for feature work. ## Sources - [CotEditor official site](https://coteditor.com/) - [CotEditor archives](https://coteditor.com/archives) - [coteditor/CotEditor GitHub](https://github.com/coteditor/CotEditor) - [CotEditor Mac App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/coteditor/id1024640650) - [CotEditor beta page](https://coteditor.com/beta) - [CotEditor GitHub releases](https://github.com/coteditor/CotEditor/releases) ## Related - [Cursor](https://bundl.run/apps/cursor) - [Claude Code](https://bundl.run/apps/claude-code) - [ChatGPT](https://bundl.run/apps/chatgpt) - [Claude](https://bundl.run/apps/claude) - [Codex](https://bundl.run/apps/codex) - [Windsurf](https://bundl.run/apps/windsurf) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://bundl.run/#organization", "name": "Bundl.run", "url": "https://bundl.run", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://bundl.run/og-image.png", "width": 1200, "height": 630 }, "description": "The Ninite for Mac. 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