Development macOS
CotEditor for macOS
Edit plain text and source files on macOS with CotEditor, a free editor with syntax highlighting, regular-expression search and split panes.
Version 7.1.3 · Direct publisher file
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What is CotEditor?
CotEditor is a plain-text editor built for macOS. Use it to edit notes, Markdown and source files in a native document window. Syntax highlighting, an outline menu and split editor panes help you navigate a file without turning the editor into a full development environment. Its Find & Replace tool supports ICU regular expressions.
The publisher also documents automatic document backups, Unicode character inspection and checks for characters that cannot be converted to a chosen encoding. Syntax definitions and themes are configurable through the settings window, and scripts can automate editing tasks.
This entry links to the publisher’s non-AppStore CotEditor 7.1.3 DMG, released on October 28, 2026, for macOS 26 or later. The publisher says the Mac App Store and non-AppStore editions differ in their updater: the direct edition uses Sparkle, while the store edition is updated through macOS. Older macOS releases need a compatible archived version; the project does not support those earlier versions.
What it offers
- Syntax highlighting for more than 60 preinstalled languages, with customizable syntax definitions.
- Find and replace using the ICU regular-expression engine.
- Split a document window into multiple panes and use an outline menu to jump to matching lines.
- Inspect Unicode characters and identify characters incompatible with a chosen encoding.
- Automatic document backups and scripting support for editing workflows.
Good to know
- CotEditor 7.1.3 requires macOS 26 or later; it is not the download for older macOS releases.
- The publisher offers compatible archived releases for older macOS versions but explicitly does not provide support for those earlier versions.
Product images
Sources
References used for this listing. Retrieval dates do not indicate hands-on testing.
- CotEditor — publisher features and application screenshots ↗Retrieved
- Archives — CotEditor non-AppStore releases and older macOS support ↗Retrieved
- CotEditor 7.1.3 — release notes body ↗Retrieved
- CotEditor publisher repository — purpose and licensing ↗Retrieved
- CotEditor LICENSE — separate image and source-code terms ↗Retrieved
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