saasrankedSoftware, ranked on the facts

code editor · Geany project

Geany

Small, free text editor under the GPL v2 with a plugin system.

57/100

#9 of 12 code editors
Facts checked 8 Oct 2026

In short

Geany suits people who want a free editor and will add plugins for language servers, debugging and git5,6,7. It costs nothing and has a documented plugin API and directory8,9. The catch: the newest stable release is from July 2025, and the manual documents no multiple cursors, SSH editing or portable build2,3,4.

Best for: People who want a free editor and are happy to add plugins.

Where the points come from

Systems3 of 22
Code tools25 of 37
Extending11 of 11
Licence and price18 of 18
Upkeep0 of 12

Systems 3 of 22 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Systems besides WindowsmacOSReleases page lists macOS disk images. Linux gets source tarballs only, which we do not count as a build; no web version2.3 / 9
Portable Windows buildNot publishedNot published on the releases page, which lists only Windows installers2.0 / 5
Remote editingNot publishedNot published in the manual or the plugin list4,9.0 / 8

Code tools 25 of 37 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Language Server ProtocolYesThe project's LSP Client plugin runs language servers for completion and shows diagnostics5.10 / 10
DebuggerYesThe project's Scope plugin is described as a GDB front-end with "stepping, breakpoints"; the Debugger plugin also lists breakpoints10,6.9 / 9
Built-in terminalNot publishedManual documents a terminal widget that loads only when libvte.so is installed. It does not say the Windows installer includes it4.0 / 6
Git in the editorYesThe project's GeanyVC plugin lists Git commit, diff and status7.6 / 6
Multiple cursorsNot publishedNot published in the manual, which covers column mode and stream selections4.0 / 3
Live collaborationNot publishedNot published in the manual or the plugin list4,9.0 / 3

Extending 11 of 11 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Extension directoryYesThe plugins site lists project and third-party plugins; a Plugin API reference is published8,9.8 / 8
Custom key bindingsYesManual says to open Preferences, select an action and click change4.3 / 3

Licence and price 18 of 18 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Free for work useYesGPL v2 licence with no fee1,4.6 / 6
Price$0Free and open source1.6 / 6
Open sourceYesHome page says Geany uses the GPL v2 licence; the manual includes the GPL v2 text1,4.6 / 6

Upkeep 0 of 12 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Release in the past yearNoNewest tag is 2.1.0 on July 6, 2025, more than 12 months before October 20263.0 / 8
Telemetry off or noneNot publishedNot published in the manual4.0 / 4

The rule behind each line: how we score code editors.

Plans and prices

As the vendor lists them, before tax. Prices are in US dollars unless the plan shows euros; the points use US dollars, with euros converted at the ECB rate.

PlanPrice as listedPer monthNotes
Free1 personFree1,2$0GPL v2; Windows installer and macOS disk images

Strengths

  • Free and open source under the GPL v21.
  • Plugins add an LSP client with completion and diagnostics, and GDB debugging with stepping and breakpoints5,6,10.
  • GeanyVC can commit to Git from inside the editor7.
  • Plugin API documentation and a plugin directory are public8,9.

Limits

  • Latest stable release, 2.1.0, is dated July 6, 20253.
  • No portable Windows build is listed on the releases page2.
  • The LSP client plugin ships no language servers; you install them yourself5.
  • The project's debugger plugins are front-ends for GDB only6,10.

Other code editors

  1. 1
    Visual Studio CodePeople who want one editor for many languages, with remote editing and an extension marketplace
    94/100
    $0price
  2. 2
    ZedPeople who want a free editor with debugging and collaboration built in
    92/100
    $0price
  3. 3
    GNU EmacsPeople who want a free editor they can reshape in Emacs Lisp, with many tools built in
    87/100
    $0price
  4. 4
    VSCodiumPeople who want VS Code's editor as a fully open-source build without Microsoft telemetry
    78/100
    $0price

All 12 code editors

Sources

  1. Geany, Geany project. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  2. Releases, Geany project. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  3. Tags, geany/geany, GitHub. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  4. Geany manual, Geany project. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  5. LSP Client plugin, Geany Plugins. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  6. Debugger plugin, Geany Plugins. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  7. GeanyVC plugin, Geany Plugins. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  8. Geany Plugin API Documentation, Geany project. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  9. Geany Plugins, Geany Plugins. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  10. Scope plugin, Geany Plugins. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.

Website: www.geany.org · Markdown version · We are not affiliated with Geany project.