# TextMate vs Sublime Text

Published January 1, 2026 · Updated August 10, 2026

Sublime Text is the top pick for most Mac users looking at code editors. It has a free tier and installs in one Homebrew command. TextMate is the stronger choice if you are moving off Sublime Text. As of October 2026, both install with brew install --cask textmate and brew install --cask sublime-text.

For most Mac users in 2026, Sublime Text is the better choice for code editors because it ranks higher in Homebrew install popularity (#34). Both install with a single Homebrew command, so the switching cost is low. Choose TextMate instead if you are moving off Sublime Text.

## Head to head

| Factor | TextMate | Sublime Text |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Open Source | No | No |
| Replaces | Sublime Text ($99) | Nova ($99) |
| Best for | text editor, code editor, macos | code-editor, text-editor, lightweight |
| Install | brew install --cask textmate | brew install --cask sublime-text |
| Category | Developer Tools | Developer Tools |

## TextMate

General-purpose text editor

Install: `brew install --cask textmate`

[TextMate on Bundl](https://bundl.run/apps/textmate)

## Sublime Text

Fast, lightweight code editor with powerful shortcuts

Install: `brew install --cask sublime-text`

[Sublime Text on Bundl](https://bundl.run/apps/sublime-text)

## Features

- **Performance & Large Files.** Sublime still owns raw editing speed and large-file comfort.
- **Extensibility & Ecosystem.** Package Control's breadth beats today's quieter TextMate bundle commons.
- **Editing Power (Multi-cursor, Navigation, Palette).** Sublime's editing vocabulary remains the more complete daily driver.
- **Platform Support.** Cross-platform licensing is a decisive Sublime advantage.
- **Development Activity & Modern Tooling.** Sublime is the more actively commercial modern editor of the two.
- **Price & Licensing Clarity.** TextMate wins pure price; Sublime wins paid value for pros.
- **macOS Integration.** Both feel native enough; TextMate is Mac-only by nature, Sublime is Mac-strong by engineering.

## FAQ

### Is TextMate still maintained in 2026?

It remains free, open source, and downloadable. Treat it as a maintenance/slow-evolution project rather than the cutting edge. It is not a discontinued commercial app, but it is not winning greenfield defaults either.

### What is the current Sublime Text version?

Sublime Text 4 stable build 4200 (21 May 2025) is the public stable download as of August 2026 research. Dev builds such as 4205 (23 April 2026) preview newer plugin-host work for licensed users.

### How much does Sublime Text cost?

Personal licenses are $99 USD with three years of updates. Business seats are annual, starting at $65/seat/year for small teams with volume discounts. Evaluation is free without an enforced time limit.

### Is TextMate completely free?

Yes. No paid tier is required. Source is on GitHub and binaries are offered from macromates.com.

### Which is faster on Apple silicon?

Both are native-class, but Sublime generally wins large-file and multi-cursor scenarios. TextMate remains snappy for ordinary source files.

### Can I use TextMate on Windows or Linux?

No. TextMate is macOS-only. Choose Sublime (or another cross-platform editor) if you need multi-OS continuity.

### Does Sublime replace VS Code?

For pure editing speed, often yes. For deepest extension/AI agent ecosystems, VS Code still leads. Sublime is for people who prioritize latency and focus over extension maximalism.

### Should beginners learn TextMate in 2026?

Usually no, unless a course or teammate requires it. Beginners are better served by actively documented ecosystems. TextMate is a fine free tool, not the best learning default.

### Do either include AI coding assistants built-in?

Neither is primarily an AI IDE. You may wire external tools or packages, but out of the box they are classic editors. If AI-native workflows are mandatory, evaluate dedicated AI editors separately.

### Who wins overall?

Sublime Text for professional use. TextMate for free Mac-only simplicity and legacy bundle loyalty.

## Sources

- [Sublime Text Download](https://www.sublimetext.com/download)
- [Buy Sublime Text](https://www.sublimehq.com/store/text)
- [TextMate homepage](https://macromates.com/)
- [TextMate GitHub releases](https://github.com/textmate/textmate/releases)
- [Sublime Text Sales FAQ](https://www.sublimehq.com/sales_faq)
- [Sublime Text 4200 blog](https://www.sublimetext.com/blog/articles/sublime-text-4200)
- [TextMate GitHub repository](https://github.com/textmate/textmate)

## Related

- [Sublime Text vs Visual Studio Code](https://bundl.run/compare/sublime-text-vs-vscode)
- [BBEdit vs Sublime Text](https://bundl.run/compare/bbedit-vs-sublime)
- [Sublime Text vs Zed](https://bundl.run/compare/sublime-text-vs-zed)

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