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Choosing the right text editor is crucial in front-end development for writing clean, efficient, and error-free code. A text editor is a tool where developers write their code, and the right one can make a huge difference in terms of productivity and ease of use. Here are some of the best text editors for front-end development in 2025.
One of the most used text editors for front-end development is Visual Studio Code, or VS Code. Versus its competitors, VS Code is free and fast with features to boot. VS Code supports more languages than almost anyone needs to know, including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for front-end development. One of the best features about VS Code is its extensions, you can enable features such as auto-completion and error checking.
VS Code comes with a terminal which lets you execute your code right from the editor. It also comes with a live preview facility, so you can see your website in real-time as you code.
Sublime Text is known for its speed and smooth performance. It's light, and it works fast even on large files. The clean interface, along with the support for many languages, makes it so easy to use.
It features "Goto Anything," a standout feature which allows you to jump to any part of your code quickly. It also allows multiple cursors, so you can edit multiple parts of your code at the same time. Sublime Text is not free, but it's free with occasional reminders to upgrade.
Atom is a free text editor, suitable for front-end development. It's user-friendly, and built-in tools such as a file system browser and package manager provide much more functionalities.
One of Atom's best features is its customizability. You can change the appearance using themes and packages. It also has a live preview feature, where the changes you make are seen right away, just like how it would appear in VS Code. However, it might be slower than editors such as VS Code.
Brackets is a free, open-source text editor designed for web development. It’s lightweight, simple, and includes features specifically useful for front-end developers. The live preview feature shows your changes to HTML and CSS in real time, which helps in both design and development.
Brackets also offers a unique feature called Extract, which extracts design information from a Photoshop (PSD) file. Inline editing lets you change CSS directly from the HTML file, which in turn speeds up coding and reduces errors.
Notepad++ is a lightweight and easy-to-use text editor ideal for beginners. It’s free and supports many languages, including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. While it’s not as feature-rich as other editors, it’s simple and straightforward.
Notepad++ is also useful with syntax highlighting, auto-completion, and multi-line editing. Its plugin system allows you to extend its functionality, though it may not be as powerful as other editors.
WebStorm is a full-featured text editor, designed for JavaScript development, but it works great for front-end development with HTML and CSS. It offers features like code refactoring, debugging tools, and version control integration, which are ideal for large projects.
WebStorm is not free but comes with a free trial. You have to purchase a license once the trial ends to continue using it. WebStorm is well worth the money for serious front-end developers who are working on bigger projects.
Choosing the right text editor can make a big difference in front-end development. Free options like Visual Studio Code, Sublime Text, and Atom offer excellent features and customizability. If you're looking for something simple and lightweight, Notepad++ and Brackets are great choices. For more advanced features on large projects, WebStorm is a great option.
