Compare software

Focus vs Smultron: catalog facts
Focus	Smultron
Best for: People who want a simple, responsive text editor	Best for: Mac users who want a simple native editor for notes and code
Free Free and open source under GPL-3.0.	Paid One-time purchase of $9.99 for Smultron 14, with a free trial download and upgrade and site licences.
Windows, macOS	macOS
Designed for low input latency Simple text editing without heavy language support	One-time purchase with no subscription Older versions available for earlier macOS releases All 4 strengths for Smultron One-time purchase with no subscription Older versions available for earlier macOS releases Full accessibility support and many translations Free to try before buying
Not designed for users who need heavy language support. On newer macOS versions, removing the quarantine flag may be required to run the app.	macOS only Current version requires macOS 14 Sonoma or later All 3 limitations for Smultron macOS only Current version requires macOS 14 Sonoma or later Paid, unlike many free editors
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Not open source
License: GPL-3.0	License not stated
Not stated if an account is needed	No account needed
Not stated if it works offline	Offline features available
Official website Full listing and sources Sources for Focus github.com/focus-editor/focus Catalog checked October 8, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Sources for Smultron peterborgapps.com/smultron Catalog checked October 2, 2026

“Not stated” means we have not confirmed it. Features can vary by device and plan.