TextMate review

TextMate is a customizable, open-source text editor for macOS, aimed at people working with code, markup, and other text. It supports many programming languages and combines everyday editing with search, version-control tools, and ways to automate repetitive tasks.

Its features include multiple carets for editing in several places at once, plus file search that can find matches, extract text, and preview replacements. For version control, you can view file and line changes, inspect diffs, and commit selected changes. Scoped settings let you apply preferences or shortcuts according to a language, build system, or other selector.

You can also make custom commands and bundles, reuse adaptable snippets, and record macros. That makes TextMate more configurable than a basic text editor, though the available pricing information does not publish usage limits or billing terms. The official purchase page says license keys are not available for sale.

TextMate’s appeal is its combination of flexibility and no listed purchase price. The pricing information describes it as free and open-source, and says license keys are unavailable for sale. For someone who wants a Mac text editor without a subscription or a paid license, that is a straightforward starting point; specific usage caps are not published.

The feature set also covers more than typing and saving. Multiple carets can speed up edits that repeat across a file, while search can preview replacements and extract matches. Scoped settings, bundles, commands, snippets, and macros let users adapt the editor to different languages and recurring workflows. Version-control features include reviewing diffs and committing selected changes.

Some Reddit users still find it useful for specific work. One commenter said they use TextMate 2 daily for offline LaTeX, citing its bundle, while another said it still works well despite being less feature-rich than VS Code. Those are individual reports, not evidence of broad support or a current maintenance schedule. Still, they point to a practical advantage: if TextMate already fits a focused workflow, its existing tools may be enough.

The clearest concern is maintenance. Reddit discussions repeatedly describe TextMate as slow to update or apparently stagnant, although one commenter says it does receive updates driven by the lead developer’s own use. The sources do not establish a release cadence, so we can’t say how often updates arrive. Users also report that it still works, which is different from having an actively maintained alternative’s pace of development.

TextMate’s limits are not well documented in the available pricing information: usage caps, billing terms, and a sale price are not published. The purchase page reportedly says license keys are unavailable, so there is no listed paid plan to compare or buy. That makes the practical cost clear enough—free and open-source—but leaves commercial licensing details unclear.

The trade-off is also capability and support. A Reddit commenter said TextMate lacks many features found in VS Code. Others recommend CotEditor, BBEdit, Nova, Sublime Text, or VS Code instead. Those opinions vary, but if you need a product with a clearer update cadence or a broader feature set, TextMate’s reported slow development is a real reason to compare alternatives before switching.

TextMate is listed as free and open-source. The official purchase page says license keys are not available for sale, and no paid plan or price is published. There is no tier jump to calculate: the published pricing information lists one free plan, with no monthly or annual price, add-ons, or published usage limits.

That makes the cost simple for now, but the billing details are not fully documented. The pricing data is marked low confidence, and it does not establish whether any paid option might return later. Check the official site before making a purchasing decision; don’t budget for a license based on an old price or assume a paid support plan exists. For teams that need published support commitments or a clear commercial plan, that missing information is a real qualification issue.

TextMate is for macOS, so it is not an option for Windows or Linux users. Moving to it may be straightforward if you mainly edit files, but expect extra setup if you rely on custom commands, bundles, scoped settings, snippets, or macros. Those are customizable parts of TextMate, and the published information does not describe a migration tool for them.

The product details also do not publish a dedicated data-export path or explain how settings transfer to another editor. Check what you need to preserve before switching, especially custom workflows and version-control habits; TextMate supports viewing changes, inspecting diffs, and committing selected changes, but that does not establish that its setup transfers cleanly elsewhere.

The review brief flags reports of slow updates, but no Reddit posts or details were supplied, so we can’t verify that complaint’s source or frequency. Treat update cadence as something to check before committing, rather than a confirmed reason users leave.