The Most Popular Ubuntu Text Editors (Ranked and Analyzed)

Why Ubuntu Text Editors Matter for Your Workflow

When you’re managing client sites at 2am or pushing urgent updates to production, your text editor isn’t just a tool, it’s your command center. The right text editor reduces deployment time, minimizes errors, and keeps your team productive whether you’re editing locally or SSH’d into your InMotion Hosting VPS.

This guide explores the most popular Ubuntu text editors in 2025, comparing them by speed, features, and usability. It also offers advice on selecting the right editor for your workflow, whether you are a developer, system administrator, or agency managing multiple sites on Ubuntu hosting.

The Results

Industry surveys like Stack Overflow’s 2024 Developer Survey show VS Code dominates globally, while Ubuntu-specific usage favors pre-installed tools like Nano and Gedit for quick server edits.

For our analysis, we took a look at Ubuntu users to find out which editor was most popular. We found a mix of graphical user interface (GUI) and command line interface (CLI) editors.

Analysis of Each Editor

What Makes a Good Text Editor?

The needs of each user will vary, but a good baseline criterion should be:

Widely supported across Ubuntu versions

Your editor should work consistently whether you’re managing a client’s Ubuntu 20.04 server or your own 24.04 development environment. This eliminates compatibility issues and ensures your team can seamlessly switch between multiple client servers without relearning tools or troubleshooting version conflicts.

Active development and community support

An editor with regular updates, security patches, and an engaged community means you’re not investing time in a tool that could become obsolete. Active development ensures compatibility with new Ubuntu releases and modern development workflows, protecting your team’s productivity long-term.

User programmable and customizable

The ability to adapt your editor with plugins, scripts, and custom keybindings means it grows with your skills and evolving workflow needs. Whether you’re automating repetitive tasks across dozens of client sites or building custom shortcuts for your agency’s deployment process, programmability turns a basic editor into a productivity multiplier.

Performance under SSH connections

When you’re editing files remotely on your InMotion VPS or dedicated server, editor responsiveness matters. Lightweight editors like Vim and Nano handle latency gracefully, while feature-rich options like Emacs remain efficient even over slower connections, keeping your workflow smooth during critical server management tasks.

Integration with your hosting workflow

Your editor should complement your hosting environment, not fight against it. Whether that means seamless file transfers to your staging environment, compatibility with your server’s default tools, or the ability to edit directly on your InMotion infrastructure via SSH or remote extensions, workflow integration eliminates friction and reduces deployment time.

Over many years of usage, a good text editor should enliven one’s development practices. A static program, even an IDE bloated with lots of features, may make some aspects of development easier, but some users don’t want it to be easy. They want to feel they have adapted their editor to fit their needs. The data on editor choice bears this out.

Command Line Text Editors for Ubuntu

Nano

Nano is the “get in, get out” editor. It’s pre-installed on most Ubuntu systems, and that’s part of its charm. No plugins, no complicated shortcuts. Just open, edit, save, and move on.

Install command (if missing):

sudo apt install nano

Why it’s great:
Nano is perfect for quick fixes or lightweight file edits. When you’re logged into a VPS and need to tweak a config file in seconds, Nano gets the job done without any fuss.

Use it for:
Editing .env files, hosts, or small scripts via SSH. Nano is ideal for developers who prefer simplicity or for beginners learning to navigate Ubuntu’s file system.

Vim

Vim is a legend. Fast, powerful, and famously unforgiving at first. Once you learn the keystrokes, you realize why sysadmins swear by it. Vim operates entirely from the keyboard, making it lightning-fast for repetitive tasks.

Install command:

sudo apt install vim

Why it’s great:
You can edit multiple files, record macros, and write scripts inside your editor. Vim’s modal design keeps your hands on the keys and your focus on the code.

Use it for:
Server-side development, remote file editing, or automation workflows. If you manage large projects or repetitive text manipulation, Vim is your speed advantage.

Tip:
For the full experience, install Neovim, a modern rework with improved performance and Lua-based scripting:

sudo apt install neovim

Emacs

If Vim is speed and minimalism, Emacs is depth and extensibility. Some say it’s more of an operating system than a text editor, and that’s not far off. Emacs can manage your emails, run Git, and even edit text.

Install command:

sudo apt install emacs

Why it’s great:
Emacs is endlessly customizable. With Lisp scripting, you can automate almost anything. Modern distributions like Spacemacs and Doom Emacs bring polished interfaces and preloaded plugins that help flatten the learning curve.

Use it for:
Developers who want an all-in-one workflow. That includes code editing, project navigation, task management, and more. It’s ideal for power users running Ubuntu on dedicated servers or local workstations.

Graphical Text Editors for Ubuntu

Gedit

Gedit is the classic GUI editor that ships with Ubuntu’s GNOME desktop environment. It’s clean, quick, and doesn’t require a manual to start using.

Install command (if missing):

sudo apt install gedit

Why it’s great:
It’s light, fast, and supports plugins for code highlighting, line numbering, and indentation. Gedit’s simplicity makes it perfect for users who manage local projects or need a distraction-free space to write scripts or notes.

Use it for:
Developers working on local Ubuntu setups, or teams who prefer visual interfaces to command-line tools.

Sublime Text

Sublime Text is sleek, fast, and highly customizable. While it’s not open-source, its cross-platform flexibility keeps it a favorite for developers juggling Linux, macOS, and Windows.

Install command:

sudo apt install apt-transport-https ca-certificates curl software-properties-common
curl -fsSL https://download.sublimetext.com/sublimehq-pub.gpg | sudo apt-key add -
sudo add-apt-repository "deb https://download.sublimetext.com/ apt/stable/"
sudo apt update
sudo apt install sublime-text

sudo apt install apt-transport-https ca-certificates curl software-properties-common
curl -fsSL https://download.sublimetext.com/sublimehq-pub.gpg | sudo apt-key add -
sudo add-apt-repository "deb https://download.sublimetext.com/ apt/stable/"
sudo apt update
sudo apt install sublime-text

Why it’s great:
Sublime is fast, even with large files. Its package ecosystem offers themes, syntax support, and advanced search. The free version works indefinitely, though it occasionally reminds you to upgrade.

Use it for:
Full-time developers and agencies who need cross-platform consistency or prefer graphical tools with powerful keyboard shortcuts.

Visual Studio Code

VS Code has become the industry standard for many developers, and it’s easy to see why. It supports remote editing, SSH connections, GitHub integration, and an almost endless library of extensions.

Install command:

sudo snap install code –classic

Why it’s great:
You can edit remote files directly on your InMotion VPS through the Remote – SSH extension. It’s feature-rich but resource-efficient, making it a favorite among modern development teams.

Use it for:
Collaborative projects, large codebases, or managing multiple servers from one workspace. Perfect for agencies and developers who balance local and remote environments.

Choosing the Right Editor for Your Workflow

Different users have different needs. Here’s how you could think about editors:

• Agencies: Standardize on a versatile editor like VS Code with Remote SSH extensions. This allows your developers to edit files directly on client VPS instances hosted with InMotion, streamlining collaboration and reducing deployment friction across 5, 10, or 50+ sites.
• Founder-led companies: Start with Gedit or Nano for quick edits while learning the ropes. As your technical confidence grows and you scale from Shared to VPS hosting, transition to Vim or VS Code to handle more complex server management tasks.
• In-house marketing teams: Use Gedit or VS Code for editing site content, HTML, or CSS locally before pushing to your InMotion staging environment. Visual editors reduce errors and speed up campaign deployment cycles.
• Hosting partners: Master Vim or Emacs for reliable SSH-based edits across client accounts. When you’re managing white-label infrastructure on InMotion’s reseller platform, terminal efficiency is a competitive advantage.

Editors for Server-Side Work

When managing a VPS or dedicated server, CLI editors like Vim and Nano are essential. GUI editors may not always be available over SSH, so knowing at least one terminal-based editor is critical. InMotion Hosting’s VPS and Dedicated solutions ensure 99.9% uptime and fast file access, so even complex edits run smoothly.

Editors for Team Collaboration

For agencies and larger teams, editors that integrate with Git and remote servers are key. VS Code (with the Remote SSH plugin) allows developers to connect directly to InMotion Hosting servers, collaborate on code, and manage projects seamlessly. This bridges the gap between local development and live hosting environments.

Conclusion: Your Editor, Your Journey

Text editors on Ubuntu are extensions of your workflow. The right text editor saves hours every week, reduces deployment errors, and keeps your team focused on growth instead of troubleshooting.

When you pair your preferred editor with InMotion Hosting’s NVMe-powered infrastructure and 24/7 real human support, you’re building a technical foundation that scales with you.