CotEditor for Mac
Plain text editor.
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CotEditor overview
CotEditor is an open-sourced, Cocoa-based plain-text editor for macOS. It supports syntax highlighting, has a powerful find-and-replace with the regular expression, and other small goodies for coding. It can handle also CJK languages well.
What's new in version 7.1.0
New Features
- Support macOS 27 Golden Gate.
- Add folder search to the sidebar for searching for text across files in an open folder.
- Add document history navigation to the toolbar for folder documents.
- Automatically generate and apply a draft document name from the document's content on macOS 27.
- Allow the indentation style (spaces or tabs) and width to be set for each Mode.
- Add the Customize Syntax Menu command to the More menu in the "Available syntaxes" section of the Format settings pane, allowing specific syntaxes to be hidden from syntax menus.
- Add the "Status bar" option to the Appearance settings pane.
Improvements
- Make some settings dialogs resizable.
- Allow custom syntaxes to be deleted by dragging them to the Trash.
- Allow CotEditor Syntax files and multiple replacement definitions to be imported by dropping them onto their respective lists.
- Add a context menu to the list in the Mode settings pane.
- Display the number of definition errors as a badge in the sidebar of the syntax editor.
- Automatically apply the JSON syntax to documents whose file type is a kind of JSON, such as GeoJSON files.
- Rename the Key Bindings feature to "Shortcuts."
- Apply the current theme's text color to the text restored by undo even when the theme has changed since the deletion.
- Update the JSON syntax to simplify the file mapping settings.
- Improve overall stability and performance.
- Remove the Bulgarian localization.
Compatibility Changes
- Change the system requirement to macOS Tahoe 26 or later.
CotEditor for Mac
Free
In English
Version 7.1.0
Write a detailed review about CotEditor
(25 Reviews of CotEditor)
Comments
User Ratings
Sep 5, 2026
Version: 7.0.9
From the developer: "There is no difference in the software itself except the updater. The non-AppStore version includes an updater framework (Sparkle) to notify about new releases and update to them. In contrast, the macOS system manages versions of the Mac App Store version. All other aspects remain the same. Both versions are sandboxed, and non-AppStore versions are notarized by Apple." - -> Note that BOTH versions of the app provide methods for donating to the developer. BOTH. The only difference between each version is the provided method of donation.
Apr 26, 2026
Version: 7.0.1
MU, the developer link on this page redirects to the *iPhone* app store. This is a Mac app (only). It should redirect to the Mac app store link for this app. Users, it is true the app is also available directly on the developer's web site. Otherwise, the two versions are identical except for the method used to update. The direct download is completely free, no in-app purchases at all. The app store version has in app purchases, now before you whine and complain about MAS, consider that the developer earns a bit of revenue for his efforts from the App store, but gets NOTHING from the direct download, plus he shoulders the bandwidth cost on his server. You spend more on a cup of coffee, support independent software developers. Older releases for prior versions of macOS are also available on the dev's site.
Sep 17, 2024
Version: 5.0.0
With version 5 of CotEditor, you can now fuel the brilliance behind this app by becoming a coffee sponsor! We all know coffee isn't just a beverage—it's the magical elixir that keeps the developer's code flowing smoothly, and solves every problem. To donate and keep the caffeine levels high, download the MAS (Mac App Store) edition of the app. Because behind every great app is an even greater cup of coffee!
Apr 19, 2024
Version: 4.8.0
CotEditor is one of the top apps that I constantly use in my daily work. Despite being "just" and editor it is an impressive feat of engineering. I am surprised that the developer is not even trying to get paid for his excellent work on this app, and I don't even see a donation button anywhere. I would have gladly paid the developer to encourage the work. Whenever possible, please consider download this app via MAS, which is also free, and writing a 5-star review.
