CodeEdit

Free code editor for Mac, written natively in Swift, with a built-in terminal, tasks and Git. Still in beta.

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CodeEdit is a code editor written only for macOS in Swift, without Electron. It aims to feel like an Apple app, light like TextEdit for quick edits and closer to Xcode for larger projects, but for code that does not target Apple platforms.

It has syntax highlighting, autocomplete, jump to definition, project-wide find and replace, a built-in terminal and Git integration. Version 0.3.6 added a global search shortcut, task output in a full terminal emulator, Command-R and Command-period to start and stop tasks, and a Tasks menu. Open files now update when they change on disk, and you can show invisible characters with warnings for confusing Unicode.

Editor restoration brings back your files, tabs and positions between sessions. An experimental settings section installs language servers. The team describes CodeEdit as still in development and not yet ready for production work, so expect missing features and rough edges.

CodeEdit is free and open source under the MIT licence, built by a volunteer community that has committed to keeping it free. The current release, 0.3.6, needs macOS 13 or later.

Frequently asked questions

Is CodeEdit free?

Yes. CodeEdit is free with no paid tier, and the project says it will stay open source and free. It is funded by sponsors.

Is CodeEdit safe and open source?

Yes. The source code is on GitHub under the MIT licence and is developed in public. Keep in mind it is pre-release software, so keep backups and use version control for important work.

How do I install CodeEdit?

Download CodeEdit.dmg from codeedit.app or the GitHub releases page and drag it to Applications. With Homebrew, run brew install --cask codeedit.

What macOS version does CodeEdit need?

Release 0.3.6 needs macOS 13 Ventura or later. That release came out in August 2025 and is still the latest download, while development continues on GitHub.

How does CodeEdit compare to Nova?

Nova from Panic is a paid native Mac code editor with a stable release. CodeEdit shares the native approach and is free, but it is still in beta, with fewer features and occasional bugs.

Is CodeEdit ready to replace VS Code or Xcode?

Not yet. The team says CodeEdit is not recommended for production use. It is also not meant to replace Xcode for Apple platform apps, but to give other projects a native Mac editor.

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