Dev tools · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to Pell

Simplest & smallest WYSIWYG text editor, w/ no dependencies

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

1. 1
   small▲149

   The ultra lightweight code editor for OS X.

   2016 · mediachicken.com · its alternatives →

2. 2
   Quill▲83

   An Open Source Rich Text Editor with an API.

   2014 · quilljs.com · its alternatives →

3. 3
   Medium Editor▲266

   The dead simple inline editor toolbar

   2016 · yabwe.github.io · its alternatives →

4. 4
   Quill 1.0▲154

   An API driven rich text editor

   2016 · quilljs.com · its alternatives →

5. 5
   Typewriter▲72

   A Text Editor with No Features

   2014 · its alternatives →

6. 6
   Left▲383

   A minimalist multi-platform text editor

   2018 · hundredrabbits.itch.io · its alternatives →

7. 7IM
   I made a simple PDF text editor▲327

   2020 · simpdf.com · its alternatives →

8. 8
   Macaw▲90

   A simple code editor for Swift

   2017 · github.com · its alternatives →

9. 9
   A simple, tiny Vim and kilo-inspired editor▲120

   A dead simple editor. Contribute to hellerve/e development by creating an account on GitHub.

   2017 · github.com · its alternatives →

10. 10
    Trix▲184

    A rich text editor for everyday writing

    2015 · trix-editor.org · its alternatives →

11. 11
    Textpad▲200

    Simple online notepad, no fancy stuff. Just write.

    2016 · textpad.surge.sh · its alternatives →

12. 12
    TinyMCE▲129

    Full featured web based JavaScript WYSIWYG HTML Editor

    2016 · tiny.cloud · its alternatives →

13. 13
    Blenditt▲6

    Minimalistic text editor, powerful when you need it...

    2017 · its alternatives →

14. 14
    Squire▲123

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

    2014 · neilj.github.io · its alternatives →

15. 15
    Simple Stupid Tools▲100

    Simplify your tasks with stupidly simple tools

    2023 · its alternatives →

16. 16
    Micro Editor▲77

    a modern and intuitive terminal-based text editor

    2017 · micro-editor.github.io · its alternatives →

17. 17
    SmallDevTools▲209

    Handy developer tools with a delightful interface

    2021 · smalldev.tools · its alternatives →

18. 18
    Atom▲145

    A hackable text editor for the 21st Century

    2014 · github.blog · its alternatives →

19. 19
    Tiny Docs▲121

    Simple place to write

    2015 · its alternatives →

20. 20
    CotEditor▲102

    The free plain-text editor for OS X

    2014 · coteditor.com · its alternatives →

21. 21
    Thimble by Mozilla ▲152

    A web based code editor that helps you learn as you code

    2015 · its alternatives →

22. 22
    Micro▲88

    A modern and intuitive terminal-based text editor

    2016 · github.com · its alternatives →

23. 23
    HTML Editor▲187

    Create HTML snippets with a simple WYSIWYG editor

    2017 · htmleditor.io · its alternatives →

24. 24
    LightPaper▲169

    Simple, beautiful yet powerful text/md editor for your Mac

    2016 · 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 →