Neovim is a free, Vim-based text editor designed for extensibility and usability. It keeps Vim’s editing model and Vimscript v1 support, while its configuration lives in init.lua and Lua can be used to create plugins. A discoverable, versioned and documented API plus RPC lets developers build extensions in different languages; GUIs, IDEs and web browsers can embed Neovim. Tree-sitter supports syntax highlighting and text objects, and built-in language-server support provides semantic code inspection and refactoring. Editing tools include multicursor commands, macro recording, column editing and large-file handling, alongside a built-in terminal. Neovim supports Vim 8.x plugins and more. Downloads are listed for Linux, macOS and Windows, with x86_64 and arm64 builds for each. Windows 8 or newer is required; Windows 7 and earlier are unsupported. It is licensed under Apache 2.0, except for parts contributed under the Vim license.
Who it is for
Neovim suits users who want Vim’s editing model with Lua plugins, language-server features and a documented extension API. It also fits developers building editor integrations or extensions in different languages.
What is good
- Lua plugins and init.lua configuration.
- Built-in language-server support for inspection and refactoring.
- Tree-sitter supports syntax highlighting and text objects.
- GUIs, IDEs and browsers can embed Neovim.
What to know first
- Windows 7 and older are unsupported.
- Windows 8 or newer is required.
Verdict
Neovim extends a Vim-style editing model with Lua, RPC and language-server tools. Its Windows requirement and Vim-oriented approach are worth considering before adopting it.
Neovim plans and pricing
All plansCompared on text editors
- Free plan
- Yes
- Extension support
- Yes
- Language server support
- Yes
- Editor type
- Vim-based text editor
