CoffeeTextEdit alternatives for writing on the Mac
Checked November 2026 against the official pages linked below. Coffee isn't affiliated with Apple, Bare Bones, CotEditor, MarkEdit, Microsoft, iA or Typora.
TextEdit is fine for a quick note or a letter, and it's already on your Mac. It's less good for plain text, code or Markdown, mainly because it starts every document in rich text. If that's where it trips you up, a plain text editor such as BBEdit, CotEditor or VS Code suits text and code, and a Markdown editor such as iA Writer, Typora or Coffee suits writing you want formatted but still plain underneath.
What TextEdit is good at
- It's free and built in. Nothing to install or set up.
- It opens a lot. Apple's guide lists Microsoft Word, OpenDocument, web archive, HTML, rich text and plain text, and it saves in the same formats.
- It does simple formatting. Fonts, bold, lists and tables, for a document you'll print or send.
- It's quick to open. For pasting something to look at, few apps are faster.
Where it gets in the way
Rich text by default. Apple's guide says new TextEdit documents are rich text by default, and they save as .rtf. That's a problem if you meant to write a plain .txt, .md or code file. Choose Format, then Make Plain Text, to convert the current document, which drops all styling and saves as .txt. To change the default, choose TextEdit, then Settings, click New Document, and choose Plain text under Format.
Smart quotes and dashes. Apple's HTML guide notes that when TextEdit shows formatted text, it uses curly quotes and dashes in place of straight quotes and hyphens. That's nice in a letter and breaks code. The guide says you can change this in TextEdit's Settings.
No Markdown. TextEdit shows a Markdown file as raw text, with every # and * in place, and Apple's guide doesn't mention Markdown. That's fine for a small edit. It isn't a way to read or write Markdown comfortably.
If you want plain text or code
These keep files as plain text and are built for it.
- BBEdit from Bare Bones calls itself a professional HTML and text editor for macOS, and needs macOS 14 or later. After a 30-day evaluation with every feature on, it carries on in a free mode with no nag screens, and a licence or Mac App Store subscription turns the extra features back on.
- CotEditor describes itself as the plain-text editor for macOS. It's free, open source and on the Mac App Store.
- VS Code from Microsoft is free for private or commercial use, on Mac, Windows and Linux. Its Markdown support includes a formatted preview with ⇧⌘V. It's a code editor first, so expect a busier window. There's more in Coffee vs VS Code.
If you like TextEdit and only want it to understand Markdown, MarkEdit describes itself as just like TextEdit but dedicated to Markdown. It's free, open source and Mac only. The current version needs macOS 26, with older builds linked for macOS 12 to 15.
If you want to write Markdown
These show Markdown as you write, and keep plain files.
- iA Writer is built for focused prose, with Focus Mode and Style Check, which flags fillers and clichés. On the Mac it's $49.99 once, with a 7-day trial and no card needed. See Coffee vs iA Writer.
- Typora shows formatting in place and hides the Markdown symbols, on Mac, Windows and Linux. It's $14.99 once, without tax, for up to three devices, after a 15-day trial. See Coffee vs Typora.
- Coffee, which I make, keeps notes as plain
.mdfiles in a folder you choose, on macOS 15 or later. It draws formatting as you type, works out sums, hours and rates beside the line, draws$$maths blocks and some Mermaid diagrams, and exports PDF, Word, EPUB and HTML. It imports Word, RTF and ODT files into Markdown rather than editing them. It's Mac only, with no phone app. It's 14 days free with no card, then €3 a month, €29 a year, or €79 once with two years of updates.
For more choices, including free ones, see the best Markdown editors for Mac and free Markdown editors.
Which to choose
| You mostly write | Try |
|---|---|
| Letters and quick notes you'll print | TextEdit, as it is |
| Plain text, config files, code | BBEdit, CotEditor or VS Code |
| Markdown beside code, such as READMEs | VS Code |
| Long-form prose in Markdown | iA Writer |
| Markdown documents, cheaply, on any computer | Typora |
| Markdown notes on a Mac, with sums, maths and exports | Coffee |
None of these lock your files in. Plain text opens in all of them, so trying one costs nothing but time. If double-clicking an .md file opens the wrong app afterwards, here's how to change the default.
Questions
How do I make TextEdit use plain text?
For one document, choose Format, then Make Plain Text. To make it the default, choose TextEdit, then Settings, click New Document, and choose Plain text under Format.
Can TextEdit open Markdown files?
Yes, as plain text. You'll see the Markdown symbols rather than formatting, as TextEdit doesn't draw Markdown.
What is a free alternative to TextEdit on the Mac?
CotEditor and MarkEdit are free and open source, and VS Code is free. BBEdit keeps working in a free mode after its 30-day evaluation.
Is there a TextEdit alternative for Markdown?
Yes. iA Writer, Typora and Coffee all show Markdown formatted as you write and keep plain files. They're paid, each with a free trial.