Alternatives to Kate
KDE's fast multi-document editor with LSP
Kate ranks #7 of 11 in Code editors, with an Alt Score of 55. It is licensed under LGPL-2.0-or-later, free and available on Windows, macOS and Linux. 8 of 12 checklist rows are verified against a public source.
Programmers and developers who work across many files and projects, plus anyone who wants a fast, capable text editor for code or plain text on Linux, Windows, or macOS.
Multi-document editing with tabs and split views, syntax highlighting for 400+ languages, and multi-cursor/block-selection editing. LSP-based autocompletion, an integrated terminal, and a project sidebar with cross-project search bring IDE-like features without leaving the editor. Sessions let you save and restore groups of open files and layouts. A plugin system adds extras like SQL execution, GDB debugging, and build tool integration.
Open one or more files or a project directory, arrange them in tabs or split views, and edit with syntax highlighting and LSP-powered completion active. Use the integrated terminal, project search, and plugins as needed, then save the session to resume the same set of open files and views later.
Why people leave Kate
Dashed reasons are sourced facts; the rest are opinions. Vendors can dispute.
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Ranked alternatives
Ordered by Alt Score. Click any score to see the breakdown.
Feature comparison
How Kate compares with its alternatives, feature by feature.
| Code editors checklist | Kate | VS Code | Zed | Emacs | Cursor | Devin Desktop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | ||||||
| Starts at | ||||||
| License | ||||||
| Platforms | ||||||
| Language server (LSP) support | ||||||
| Debugger built in | ||||||
| Git integration | ||||||
| AI code completion | ||||||
| Remote / SSH development | ||||||
| Extensions marketplace | ||||||
| Refactoring tools | ||||||
| Integrated terminal | ||||||
| Live share / pair programming | ||||||
| Startup speed class | ||||||
| Memory footprint class | ||||||
| Vim/Emacs keybindings |
Every fact and feature listed for Kate is verified against its own pages. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.
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License LGPL-2.0-or-later verified 2026-07-11
SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-2.0-or-later
https://github.com/KDE/kate/blob/master/README.md -
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux verified 2026-07-11
It is available on Linux, BSD, Windows and MacOS.
https://apps.kde.org/kate/ -
Pricing model Free verified 2026-07-11
This means that everyone has the freedom to use, study, change, and re-distribute it, free of charge.
https://kde.org/community/whatiskde -
Status active verified 2026-07-11
26.04.3
https://apps.kde.org/kate/ -
Language server (LSP) support Yes verified 2026-07-11
LSP (Language Server Protocol) support
https://apps.kde.org/kate/ -
Debugger built in Partial verified 2026-07-11
Kate's GDB plugin provides a simple frontend to any debugger that supports the Debugger Adapter Protocol.
https://docs.kde.org/trunk_kf6/en/kate/kate/kate-application-plugin-gdb.html -
Git integration Yes verified 2026-07-11
git integration
https://apps.kde.org/kate/ -
Remote / SSH development Partial verified 2026-07-11
Wide protocol support (http, ftp, ssh, webdav etc.)
https://apps.kde.org/kate/ -
Extensions marketplace Partial verified 2026-07-11
You can download snippet repositories from the Internet. Just click Get New Snippets and a window with a list of snippet repositories will open.
https://docs.kde.org/trunk_kf6/en/kate/kate/kate-application-plugin-snippets.html -
Refactoring tools Partial verified 2026-07-11
[textDocument/rename] Rename current symbol.
https://docs.kde.org/trunk_kf6/en/kate/kate/kate-application-plugin-lspclient.html -
Integrated terminal Yes verified 2026-07-11
built-in terminal
https://apps.kde.org/kate/ -
Vim/Emacs keybindings Yes verified 2026-07-11
vi mode
https://apps.kde.org/kate/
FAQ
Yes. VS Code, Zed and Emacs have a free tier or are fully free. Free-tier limits in the comparison table are verified and dated.
VS Code, Zed and Emacs — every license claim links its source.