Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

CotEditor VS Big Huge Labs Writer

Compare CotEditor VS Big Huge Labs Writer and see what are their differences

CotEditor logo CotEditor

Open Source Plain-Text Editor for OS X

Big Huge Labs Writer logo Big Huge Labs Writer

Writer is a free online distraction free writing environment provided by Big Huge Labs.
  • CotEditor Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-20
  • Big Huge Labs Writer Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-15

CotEditor features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    CotEditor has a clean and simple interface that makes it easy to use, even for beginners.
  • Lightweight
    CotEditor is lightweight compared to other code editors, ensuring that it does not consume too much system resources.
  • Syntax Highlighting
    It supports syntax highlighting for over 50 programming languages, which helps to improve readability and reduce errors.
  • Customizable
    Users can customize the appearance and behavior of CotEditor according to their preferences.
  • Auto-Backup
    CotEditor offers an auto-backup feature, which helps in preventing data loss.
  • Open Source
    As an open-source project, CotEditor allows for community contributions and transparency in its development.

Possible disadvantages of CotEditor

  • macOS Only
    CotEditor is available exclusively for macOS, limiting its accessibility to users on other platforms.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    It lacks some of the more advanced features found in other editors like Visual Studio Code or Sublime Text, such as integrated debugging tools.
  • Plugin Ecosystem
    CotEditor does not have as extensive a plugin ecosystem as some other editors, which can limit its functionality for specific workflows.

Big Huge Labs Writer features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Big Huge Labs Writer offers a simple and intuitive interface that is easy for users to navigate, making it accessible for beginners and efficient for experienced writers.
  • Free of Charge
    The tool is available at no cost, allowing users to access its features without financial commitment, which is beneficial for those looking for free writing resources.
  • Basic Functionality
    Provides essential writing functionalities without overwhelming the user with too many features, allowing for a focused writing experience.
  • Online Access
    Being web-based, it enables users to access their writing from any device with an internet connection, enhancing convenience and flexibility for mobile users.

Possible disadvantages of Big Huge Labs Writer

  • Limited Features
    Compared to more advanced writing software, it offers limited features which may not cater to users needing more robust writing tools and formatting options.
  • No Offline Mode
    Requires an internet connection to use, which may be a drawback for users who need to write offline or have poor internet connectivity.
  • Basic Text Editing Only
    The lack of advanced text editing and formatting options might not suit professional writers who need comprehensive tools for formatting their documents.
  • Privacy Concerns
    Being a web-based tool, users may be concerned about the privacy and security of their data, particularly if sensitive information is being written.

Analysis of CotEditor

Overall verdict

  • CotEditor is highly regarded by many users for its balance between simplicity and functionality. It is particularly well-suited for those who need a no-frills text editor that starts quickly and performs smoothly without unnecessary complexity. However, it might not be suitable for users who require advanced features available in more complex Integrated Development Environments (IDEs). Overall, CotEditor is an excellent choice for anyone seeking a reliable and efficient text editor on macOS.

Why this product is good

  • CotEditor is a lightweight and straightforward text editor specifically designed for macOS. It is popular among users for its simplicity, speed, and ease of use. CotEditor is open-source and offers a clean and intuitive user interface with essential features for text editing, including syntax highlighting for over 50 programming languages, powerful find and replace options, and text manipulation tools. The application is also highly customizable, supporting scripts and macros to automate repetitive tasks, which is beneficial for developers and writers.

Recommended for

    CotEditor is ideal for developers, programmers, and writers who primarily work on macOS and need a lightweight and efficient text editing tool. It's also suitable for individuals who are looking for an open-source solution that can handle a broad range of programming languages and scripting needs without the overhead of a heavyweight IDE.

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to CotEditor and Big Huge Labs Writer)
Text Editors
100 100%
0% 0
Office & Productivity
21 21%
79% 79
IDE
100 100%
0% 0
Office Suites
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, CotEditor seems to be a lot more popular than Big Huge Labs Writer. While we know about 26 links to CotEditor, we've tracked only 2 mentions of Big Huge Labs Writer. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

CotEditor mentions (26)

  • Show HN: NotepadJs – A cross-platform love letter to Notepad
    I like Coteditor [1] as an open-source, minimal editor. TextEdit isn't even plain text by default, IIRC. [1] https://coteditor.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • Bare Bones Software – BBEdit 15 is here
    I've been using CotEditor for a while and I really like it: https://coteditor.com Mac native and open source. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Reflections on a Month with BBEdit and Nova
    Thanks for writing this up so beautifully. I'm an old Mac user and user Nova daily, mostly for Playdate development. It has been very unstable/crash-prone recently, agreed. The major crasher that lost me much work was fixed in a recent update, so I no longer want to delete the app but I would still appreciate it if they could take the accelerator off and fix all the crashers. I also have the following installed... - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • A collection of useful Mac Apps
    CotEditor - Price: Free Text editor for macOS that features syntax highlighting and a user-friendly interface. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Software Developer Mac Apps
    CotEditor, which is like TextEdit except actually useful for non-text documents (e.g. I write a lot of Markdown in it). Source: about 2 years ago
View more

Big Huge Labs Writer mentions (2)

What are some alternatives?

When comparing CotEditor and Big Huge Labs Writer, you can also consider the following products

Sublime Text - Sublime Text is a sophisticated text editor for code, html and prose - any kind of text file. You'll love the slick user interface and extraordinary features. Fully customizable with macros, and syntax highlighting for most major languages.

Bean - Due to circumstances outside of our control, we have experienced an outage of the TEAMS system, which houses the online transfer application.

UltraEdit - UltraCompare is the name of an advanced level of file and folder comparison platform that is loaded with an advanced level of features and functions.

DBook - An online page dedicated to delivering only reliable information and news. From technological developments, discoveries, to the latest trends, we cover this particular topic for tech lovers like you.

Eclipse IoT - Eclipse IoT provides the technology needed to build IoT Devices, Gateways, and Cloud Platforms.

Nimble Writer - Nimble Writer is a general-purpose tool for writing stories, be it short fiction stories or even...