Neovim is a Vim-based text editor refactored for extensibility, with a Lua and RPC API that lets plugins and external UIs drive the editor.
103.1K7.2KVim ScriptOtherUpdated yesterday
3 alternatives
Best open-source alternatives to Vim (2026)
Looking for a free, open-source alternative to Vim? These 3 projects can replace it. Each one passed our quality screening and is explained in plain words, so you can compare stars, license and maintenance at a glance.
Quick comparison
| Project | Stars | License | Last commit |
|---|---|---|---|
| neovim/neovim | ★ 103.1K | Other | yesterday |
| helix-editor/helix | ★ 46.7K | MPL-2.0 | 23 days ago |
| mawww/kakoune | ★ 11.1K | Unlicense | 11 days ago |
A terminal modal text editor written in Rust, inspired by Kakoune and Neovim, with multiple selections and built-in LSP support.
46.7K3.9KRustMPL-2.0Updated 23 days ago
A modal code editor inspired by Vi, built around keystrokes as a text editing language and multiple selections.
11.1K787C++UnlicenseUpdated 11 days ago
FAQ
- Is there a free, open-source alternative to Vim?
- Yes. The most popular open-source alternatives to Vim on Repolode are neovim, helix, kakoune.
- Which Vim alternative should I choose?
- neovim has the most GitHub stars and is released under Other. Compare the license and last commit of each option in the table above before choosing.