Smultron
An easy-to-use, powerful text editor for macOS
About Smultron
Smultron is a native macOS text editor from Swedish developer Peter Borg Apps, built for everything from quick notes to full code projects. It offers syntax coloring for over 140 code languages, split windows, file comparison, regex find and replace, snippets, and a sidebar with bookmarks and notes. Smultron 14 is a one-time purchase sold through the developer's own store and the Mac App Store, with a free trial download.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- One-time $9.99 price with no subscription
- Syntax coloring for over 140 code languages, including newer ones like Mojo, Odin, and Zig
- Native, lightweight macOS app that is approachable for beginners
- Built-in compare, split window, and regex find cover most everyday editing needs
- Available from both the Mac App Store and a direct store with a 14-day refund guarantee
- Interface translated into 29 languages with full accessibility support
Cons
- macOS only; no Windows, Linux, or iOS version
- Smultron 14 requires macOS 14 Sonoma or later
- Fewer advanced features than editors such as BBEdit, VS Code, or Sublime Text
- No real-time collaboration or plugin ecosystem
- Upgrade and site licenses are only sold through the developer's store, not the Mac App Store
Key Features
Syntax coloring for 140+ languages
Highlights code in languages from Python, Swift, Rust, Go, and TypeScript to niche ones like Futhark, Mojo, Odin, OpenSCAD, and Zig.
Sidebar and inspector
Smultron 14 adds a modernized interface with a document sidebar and an inspector for file and text details.
Split window and columns
View two parts of a document side by side, or work with text in column mode.
Compare
Compare two documents to spot differences without leaving the editor.
Advanced find with regular expressions
Search and replace across text using ICU regular expressions.
Snippets and Commands
Store reusable text snippets and run custom commands, with import and export support.
Live Preview
Preview HTML documents, including linked images and CSS, inside the app.
Folders, bookmarks, and notes
Browse project folders, bookmark locations in files, and keep notes alongside your documents.
Functions list and tag tools
Jump between functions in code, close tags automatically, and comment or uncomment lines.
Localization and accessibility
The interface is translated into 29 languages and supports macOS accessibility features.
Pricing
- Free download to try Smultron 14
- Full editor to evaluate before buying
- Smultron 14 for life
- Use on all computers you personally own
- Available via Smultron Store or Mac App Store
- 14-day refund guarantee on the Smultron Store
- For owners of an earlier Smultron license
- Smultron Store only
- Unlimited computers within one organization on a single physical site
- Suited to schools and offices
- Smultron Store only
Best For
Everyday text and note editing
Write quick notes, logs, and plain-text documents in a fast, focused editor that keeps the text at the center.
Lightweight coding on the Mac
Edit scripts and code files with syntax coloring, a functions list, and snippets without the weight of a full IDE.
Web page editing with preview
Edit HTML and CSS files and check the result in the built-in preview.
Comparing files
Use Compare and split windows to review differences between two versions of a document or config file.
Classrooms and offices
Deploy one site license across an entire school or office building.
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