--- title: Helix canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/helix/ category: Code Editors points: 45 rank: 10 of 12 facts_checked: 2026-10-08 --- # Helix Free open-source modal terminal editor with built-in language server support and multiple selections. 45 points out of 100. #10 of 12 code editors. Vendor: Helix project. Website: https://helix-editor.com/ - Helix is free and open source under MPL-2.0 [3]. - Language server support is built in, with completion, diagnostics and go-to-definition and no additional configuration, per the project [1][5]. - Windows gets a .zip build in the GitHub releases; the latest, 25.07.1, is dated July 18, 2025 [4]. - The project says there is currently no plugin system [1]. - The keymap docs label the debugger experimental [8]. Verdict: Helix suits people who live in a terminal and want a modal editor with built-in language server support and multiple selections [1][8]. It is free under MPL-2.0 [3]. The catch: no plugin system, an experimental debugger, and no release in the past 12 months [1][4][8]. Best for: Keyboard-driven users who work in a terminal and want language server features built in. ## Points | Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | Systems | Systems besides Windows | macOS, Linux | 6/9 | Release assets include macOS and Linux archives; no web version is listed [4]. | | Systems | Portable Windows build | Yes | 5/5 | Release assets list a Windows x86_64 .zip (helix-25.07.1-x86_64-windows.zip); the install guide points to the releases for pre-built binaries [2][4]. | | Systems | Remote editing | Not published | 0/8 | Not published on the vendor's command list or FAQ [7][9]. | | Code tools | Language Server Protocol | Yes | 10/10 | Home page lists language-specific completion, goto definition, diagnostics and other IDE features with no additional configuration; docs list default servers per language [1][5]. | | Code tools | Debugger | No | 0/9 | Keymap docs label the debug menu "experimental" [8]. | | Code tools | Built-in terminal | Not published | 0/6 | Not published on the vendor's commands page or FAQ; the FAQ suggests a separate terminal pane [7][9]. | | Code tools | Git in the editor | Not published | 0/6 | Not published on the vendor's commands page; the FAQ shows no git integration [7][9]. | | Code tools | Multiple cursors | Yes | 3/3 | Keymap documents copying a selection to the next or previous line and splitting selections [8]. | | Code tools | Live collaboration | Not published | 0/3 | Not published on the vendor's home page or FAQ [1][9]. | | Extending | Extension directory | No | 0/8 | Home page says there is currently no plugin system available [1]. | | Extending | Custom key bindings | Yes | 3/3 | Keys are remapped in a config.toml file [6]. | | Licence and price | Free for work use | Yes | 6/6 | Open-source editor under MPL-2.0, a royalty-free licence; no paid plan is listed [3]. | | Licence and price | Price | $0 | 6/6 | Free open-source editor; no paid licence [3]. | | Licence and price | Open source | Yes | 6/6 | Repository is licensed MPL-2.0 [3]. | | Upkeep | Release in the past year | No | 0/8 | Newest stable release is 25.07.1, published July 18, 2025, over 12 months before October 2026 [4]. | | Upkeep | Telemetry off or none | Not published | 0/4 | Not published on the vendor's editor settings page [10]. | ## Plans | Plan | Price | Per month (USD) | |---|---|---| | Free | Free [3] | $0 | ## Strengths - Free and open source under MPL-2.0 [3]. - Built-in language server support with no additional configuration, per the project's home page [1]. - Multiple selections are a core editing primitive [1][8]. - Windows gets a zip build with each of the latest releases [4]. - Key remapping through a config.toml file [6]. ## Limits - There is currently no plugin system [1]. - The debugger entry in the keymap is marked experimental [8]. - The newest release is dated July 18, 2025 [4]. - It runs inside a terminal; no built-in terminal panel, git commit or remote editing is documented [1][7][9]. ## Sources 1. [Helix](https://helix-editor.com/), Helix project, accessed 2026-10-08 2. [Installation](https://docs.helix-editor.com/install.html), Helix project, accessed 2026-10-08 3. [helix-editor/helix](https://github.com/helix-editor/helix), GitHub, accessed 2026-10-08 4. [Releases](https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases), GitHub, accessed 2026-10-08 5. [Language support](https://docs.helix-editor.com/lang-support.html), Helix project, accessed 2026-10-08 6. [Remapping keys](https://docs.helix-editor.com/remapping.html), Helix project, accessed 2026-10-08 7. [Commands](https://docs.helix-editor.com/commands.html), Helix project, accessed 2026-10-08 8. [Keymap](https://docs.helix-editor.com/keymap.html), Helix project, accessed 2026-10-08 9. [FAQ](https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/wiki/FAQ), Helix project, accessed 2026-10-08 10. [Editor configuration](https://docs.helix-editor.com/editor.html), Helix project, accessed 2026-10-08