Dev tools · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to Macaw

A simple code editor for Swift

Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. Macaw launched in 2017; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   Brackets 1.0▲190

   An open-source text editor for web designers by Adobe

   2014 · github.com · its alternatives →

2. 2
   CotEditor▲102

   The free plain-text editor for OS X

   2014 · coteditor.com · its alternatives →

3. 3
   Macaw▲131

   The code-savvy web design tool (now available)

   2014 · macaw.co · its alternatives →

4. 4
   Macaw▲72

   The code-savvy web design tool

   2013 · macaw.co · its alternatives →

5. 5
   MuM▲93

   A reading-first Markdown engine for macOS

   23d ago · mum.jiker.ai · its alternatives →

6. 6
   Atom▲145

   A hackable text editor for the 21st Century

   2014 · github.blog · its alternatives →

7. 7
   Squire▲123

   The <textarea> of the future. A HTML5 rich text editor.

   2014 · neilj.github.io · its alternatives →

8. 8
   Cactus for Mac▲92

   A better workflow for hand coding websites

   2014 · its alternatives →

9. 9
   Teaching App Development with Swift▲96

   A Github-hosted curriculum on Swift for teachers by Apple

   2015 · swifteducation.github.io · its alternatives →

10. 10
    Paragraph Notes▲155

    A private Markdown notes app for Mac

    Sep 2026 · paragraphnotes.md · its alternatives →

11. 11
    MarkRight▲84

    A minimalistic github flavored markdown editor

    2015 · github.com · its alternatives →

12. 12
    Glorium▲83

    A contextual filler text generator for Mac

    2015 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →

13. 13
    Composé▲91

    An editor for creating interactive iOS prototypes and apps

    2015 · its alternatives →

14. 14
    Textnut▲4

    A WYSIWYG Markdown Editor for Mac

    2015 · its alternatives →

15. 15
    Katib▲99

    A Markdown Editor for Arabic, Urdu, Farsi and Hebrew

    2014 · katibapp.com · its alternatives →

16. 16
    Swift Devs▲101

    A community for developers and students of Swift

    2014 · its alternatives →

17. 17
    Makers - The Macaw Story▲72

    From 'HTML for dummies' to the web design tool of the future

    2016 · its alternatives →

18. 18
    Fulvid▲86

    A standalone desktop editor for Markdown and MDX

    Sep 2026 · github.com · its alternatives →

19. 19
    Markly▲64

    A calm, native Markdown editor for your folders

    27d ago · markly.justghali.dev · its alternatives →

20. 20
    Swift▲12

    An Open-Source Programming Language

    2015 · swift.org · its alternatives →

21. 21CI
    Cheatcode.io, a Swift syntax reference▲9

    2014 · cheatcode.io · its alternatives →

22. 22
    A text editor with a programming language▲6

    2023 · lambdaway.free.fr · its alternatives →

23. 23KA
    KAEditor – AI Code Editor▲9

    2025 · kaeditor.com · its alternatives →

24. 24
    Macaw▲5

    Powerful and easy-to-use vector graphics Swift library

    2016 · github.com · its alternatives →

Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →