--- title: Geany canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/geany/ category: Code Editors points: 57 rank: 9 of 12 facts_checked: 2026-10-08 --- # Geany Small, free text editor under the GPL v2 with a plugin system. 57 points out of 100. #9 of 12 code editors. Vendor: Geany project. Website: https://www.geany.org/ - Geany is free and open source under the GPL v2 [1]. - Windows gets a signed installer; the releases page lists no portable build [2]. - The plugin set includes an LSP client, a GDB debugger and a Git-capable version-control plugin [5][6][7]. - The latest stable release, 2.1.0, is dated July 6, 2025, so none falls in the past 12 months [3]. - Official downloads cover Windows and macOS; Linux gets source tarballs, with distro packages listed as third party [2]. Verdict: Geany suits people who want a free editor and will add plugins for language servers, debugging and git [5][6][7]. It costs nothing and has a documented plugin API and directory [8][9]. The catch: the newest stable release is from July 2025, and the manual documents no multiple cursors, SSH editing or portable build [2][3][4]. Best for: People who want a free editor and are happy to add plugins. ## Points | Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | Systems | Systems besides Windows | macOS | 3/9 | Releases page lists macOS disk images. Linux gets source tarballs only, which we do not count as a build; no web version [2]. | | Systems | Portable Windows build | Not published | 0/5 | Not published on the releases page, which lists only Windows installers [2]. | | Systems | Remote editing | Not published | 0/8 | Not published in the manual or the plugin list [4][9]. | | Code tools | Language Server Protocol | Yes | 10/10 | The project's LSP Client plugin runs language servers for completion and shows diagnostics [5]. | | Code tools | Debugger | Yes | 9/9 | The project's Scope plugin is described as a GDB front-end with "stepping, breakpoints"; the Debugger plugin also lists breakpoints [10][6]. | | Code tools | Built-in terminal | Not published | 0/6 | Manual documents a terminal widget that loads only when libvte.so is installed. It does not say the Windows installer includes it [4]. | | Code tools | Git in the editor | Yes | 6/6 | The project's GeanyVC plugin lists Git commit, diff and status [7]. | | Code tools | Multiple cursors | Not published | 0/3 | Not published in the manual, which covers column mode and stream selections [4]. | | Code tools | Live collaboration | Not published | 0/3 | Not published in the manual or the plugin list [4][9]. | | Extending | Extension directory | Yes | 8/8 | The plugins site lists project and third-party plugins; a Plugin API reference is published [8][9]. | | Extending | Custom key bindings | Yes | 3/3 | Manual says to open Preferences, select an action and click change [4]. | | Licence and price | Free for work use | Yes | 6/6 | GPL v2 licence with no fee [1][4]. | | Licence and price | Price | $0 | 6/6 | Free and open source [1]. | | Licence and price | Open source | Yes | 6/6 | Home page says Geany uses the GPL v2 licence; the manual includes the GPL v2 text [1][4]. | | Upkeep | Release in the past year | No | 0/8 | Newest tag is 2.1.0 on July 6, 2025, more than 12 months before October 2026 [3]. | | Upkeep | Telemetry off or none | Not published | 0/4 | Not published in the manual [4]. | ## Plans | Plan | Price | Per month (USD) | |---|---|---| | Free | Free [1][2] | $0 | ## Strengths - Free and open source under the GPL v2 [1]. - Plugins add an LSP client with completion and diagnostics, and GDB debugging with stepping and breakpoints [5][6][10]. - GeanyVC can commit to Git from inside the editor [7]. - Plugin API documentation and a plugin directory are public [8][9]. ## Limits - Latest stable release, 2.1.0, is dated July 6, 2025 [3]. - No portable Windows build is listed on the releases page [2]. - The LSP client plugin ships no language servers; you install them yourself [5]. - The project's debugger plugins are front-ends for GDB only [6][10]. ## Sources 1. [Geany](https://www.geany.org/), Geany project, accessed 2026-10-08 2. [Releases](https://www.geany.org/download/releases/), Geany project, accessed 2026-10-08 3. [Tags, geany/geany](https://github.com/geany/geany/tags), GitHub, accessed 2026-10-08 4. [Geany manual](https://www.geany.org/manual/current/index.html), Geany project, accessed 2026-10-08 5. [LSP Client plugin](https://plugins.geany.org/lsp.html), Geany Plugins, accessed 2026-10-08 6. [Debugger plugin](https://plugins.geany.org/debugger.html), Geany Plugins, accessed 2026-10-08 7. [GeanyVC plugin](https://plugins.geany.org/geanyvc.html), Geany Plugins, accessed 2026-10-08 8. [Geany Plugin API Documentation](https://www.geany.org/manual/reference/), Geany project, accessed 2026-10-08 9. [Geany Plugins](https://plugins.geany.org/), Geany Plugins, accessed 2026-10-08 10. [Scope plugin](https://plugins.geany.org/scope.html), Geany Plugins, accessed 2026-10-08