Alternatives to MacVim
A port of the Vim text editor that runs as a native macOS application. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
MacVim
A port of the Vim text editor that runs as a native macOS application.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as MacVim.
Vim
The editor that is already on every server, with a graphical build for Windows and a licence that asks you to donate to Ugandan children.
Vim is the upstream editor MacVim ports, running in the terminal on Windows, macOS, Linux and more with the same configuration, but without a native Mac window.
Neovide
A cross-platform graphical interface for Neovim that adds smooth animations and other visual improvements.
Neovide provides a graphical window with smooth animations for Neovim on macOS, Windows and Linux, but it requires Neovim and works with a Neovim configuration.
Neovim
A modern rewrite of Vim with a built-in language server client, Lua configuration and an embeddable API.
Neovim rewrites Vim with a built-in LSP client, tree-sitter and Lua configuration, but it is terminal-first, so a graphical window needs a separate front end.
Also worth comparing
These listings name MacVim as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
TextMate
An open-source macOS text editor known for bundles, snippets, multiple carets and scoped settings.
MacVim brings Vim's modal editing to a native Mac window, working with existing Vim configuration but with a steep learning curve.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
fugitive.vim
A Vim plugin that runs Git commands and handles staging, blame and diffs inside the editor.
vim-gitgutter
A Vim plugin that shows Git diff markers in the sign column and stages or undoes hunks.
VimWiki
A Vim plugin that turns linked plain-text files into a personal wiki with its own syntax.
