--- title: Kate canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/kate/ category: Code Editors points: 60 rank: 8 of 12 facts_checked: 2026-10-08 --- # Kate Free, open-source text editor from KDE with a language server client, a debugger front end and an embedded terminal. 60 points out of 100. #8 of 12 code editors. Vendor: KDE. Website: https://kate-editor.org/ - Kate's source is public, and the repository licenses contributions under LGPL-2.0-or-later or MIT [9]. - Windows users get it from the Microsoft Store, a nightly installer or Chocolatey [2]. - The LSP Client plugin adds code completion, code navigation and diagnostics [4]. - The GDB plugin is a front end for any debugger that speaks the Debug Adapter Protocol, with breakpoints and stepping [5]. - The newest tag is v26.08.2, dated October 6, 2026 [10]. Verdict: Kate suits people who want a free, open-source editor with language server support, a debugger front end and an embedded terminal [4][5][6][9]. It costs nothing and is still maintained, with tags through October 2026 [9][10]. The catch: its handbook documents no git commits or SSH editing, the download page lists no portable Windows build or web version, and macOS builds are nightly only [2][7][13]. Best for: People who want a free editor with built-in language server support. ## Points | Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | Systems | Systems besides Windows | Linux | 3/9 | Linux packages, Flatpak and Snap are listed. macOS has nightly installers only, which we do not count; no web version [1][2]. | | Systems | Portable Windows build | Not published | 0/5 | Not published on the download page; Windows options listed are Microsoft Store, nightly installer and Chocolatey [2]. | | Systems | Remote editing | Not published | 0/8 | Not published in the handbook. It mentions KDE network transparency to open remote files, with no SSH, container or WSL editing [13]. | | Code tools | Language Server Protocol | Yes | 10/10 | The handbook documents the LSP Client plugin, with code completion, navigation and diagnostics [4]. | | Code tools | Debugger | Yes | 9/9 | The GDB plugin documents breakpoints and stepping, and is a front end for any Debug Adapter Protocol debugger [5]. | | Code tools | Built-in terminal | Yes | 6/6 | The Terminal Tool View plugin embeds a Konsole terminal under the editing area [6]. | | Code tools | Git in the editor | Not published | 0/6 | Not published on the handbook's Projects page, which only reads the file list from git [7]. | | Code tools | Multiple cursors | Yes | 3/3 | The KatePart handbook has a Multiple cursors chapter on creating and working with them [8]. | | Code tools | Live collaboration | Not published | 0/3 | Not published on the about page or the handbook [3][12]. | | Extending | Extension directory | Not published | 0/8 | Not published on the Kate site or handbook: plugins are described, but no public directory or extension API [3][12]. | | Extending | Custom key bindings | Yes | 3/3 | Handbook says many shortcuts are configurable through the Settings menu [12]. | | Licence and price | Free for work use | Yes | 6/6 | Open-source licence with no fee, so commercial use is free [9]. | | Licence and price | Price | $0 | 6/6 | Free and open source [9]. | | Licence and price | Open source | Yes | 6/6 | The kate repository licenses contributions under LGPL-2.0-or-later or MIT [9]. | | Upkeep | Release in the past year | Yes | 8/8 | Tag v26.08.2 is dated October 6, 2026; v26.08.0 is dated August 14, 2026 [10]. | | Upkeep | Telemetry off or none | Not published | 0/4 | Not published for Kate. KDE's apps privacy policy says any telemetry is opt-in and off by default, but names no application [11]. | ## Plans | Plan | Price | Per month (USD) | |---|---|---| | Free | Free [2][9] | $0 | ## Strengths - Open source: the repository licenses contributions under LGPL-2.0-or-later or MIT [9]. - LSP Client plugin offers completion, code navigation and diagnostics [4]. - Debugger front end supports breakpoints, stepping and any Debug Adapter Protocol debugger [5]. - Embedded terminal and multiple cursors are documented [6][8]. - Regular releases: two KDE Gear feature versions in 2026 so far (26.04 and 26.08), plus patch tags [10]. ## Limits - No portable or zip build for Windows is listed on the download page [2]. - macOS builds are nightly installers only, and there is no web version [2]. - The handbook's Projects page documents reading the file list from git, not showing changes or committing [7]. - No documented SSH, container or WSL editing; only general network file opening [13]. ## Sources 1. [Kate - Get an Edge in Editing](https://kate-editor.org/), KDE, accessed 2026-10-08 2. [Get Kate](https://kate-editor.org/get-it/), KDE, accessed 2026-10-08 3. [About Kate](https://kate-editor.org/about-kate/), KDE, accessed 2026-10-08 4. [LSP Client Plugin](https://docs.kde.org/stable_kf6/en/kate/kate/kate-application-plugin-lspclient.html), KDE, accessed 2026-10-08 5. [GDB Plugin](https://docs.kde.org/stable_kf6/en/kate/kate/kate-application-plugin-gdb.html), KDE, accessed 2026-10-08 6. [Terminal Tool View Plugin](https://docs.kde.org/stable_kf6/en/kate/kate/kate-application-plugin-konsole.html), KDE, accessed 2026-10-08 7. [Projects Plugin](https://docs.kde.org/stable_kf6/en/kate/kate/kate-application-plugin-projects.html), KDE, accessed 2026-10-08 8. [The KatePart Handbook](https://docs.kde.org/stable_kf6/en/kate/katepart/index.html), KDE, accessed 2026-10-08 9. [KDE/kate](https://github.com/KDE/kate), GitHub, accessed 2026-10-08 10. [Tags, utilities/kate](https://invent.kde.org/utilities/kate/-/tags), KDE Invent, accessed 2026-10-08 11. [KDE Applications Privacy Policy](https://kde.org/privacypolicy-apps/), KDE, accessed 2026-10-08 12. [Working with Kate](https://docs.kde.org/stable_kf6/en/kate/kate/working-with-kate.html), KDE, accessed 2026-10-08 13. [Fundamentals](https://docs.kde.org/stable_kf6/en/kate/kate/fundamentals.html), KDE, accessed 2026-10-08