--- title: Pulsar canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/pulsar/ category: Code Editors points: 63 rank: 7 of 12 facts_checked: 2026-10-08 --- # Pulsar Free MIT-licensed editor, forked from Atom, with a package registry, Git panel and terminal package. 63 points out of 100. #7 of 12 code editors. Vendor: Pulsar-Edit. Website: https://pulsar-edit.dev/ - Pulsar is free under the MIT licence [4]. - Windows gets an installer and a portable zip that needs no install [2]. - A Git panel stages changes and commits from inside the editor [7]. - The newest stable tag, v1.132.1, is dated May 20, 2026 [5]. - Builds exist for Windows, macOS and Linux (deb, rpm, AppImage, tar.gz) [2]. Verdict: Pulsar suits people who want a free, customisable editor in the style of Atom, with a Git panel, a terminal package and a public package registry [6][7][9]. It has a portable Windows build and releases through May 2026 [2][5]. The catch: its docs describe no debugger, no remote editing, and extra IDE features, such as linting, that need separately installed community packages [10], and Windows builds are unsigned [2]. Best for: People who like Atom's customisable, package-driven style. Status: Pulsar is a community-led fork of the discontinued Atom editor [1][3]. ## Points | Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | Systems | Systems besides Windows | macOS, Linux | 6/9 | Downloads include macOS DMG and ZIP, and Linux deb, rpm, AppImage and tar.gz. No web version [2]. | | Systems | Portable Windows build | Yes | 5/5 | Download page offers a Windows portable zip that needs no install [2]. | | Systems | Remote editing | Not published | 0/8 | Not published in the docs contents [11]. | | Code tools | Language Server Protocol | Not published | 0/10 | Docs describe language servers and community IDE packages, but do not show the project publishes them [10]. | | Code tools | Debugger | Not published | 0/9 | Not published in the docs on core packages or IDE features [6][10]. | | Code tools | Built-in terminal | Yes | 6/6 | The Terminal core package brings a shell session into Pulsar [6]. | | Code tools | Git in the editor | Yes | 6/6 | The Git panel stages changes and commits with a message and a Commit button [7]. | | Code tools | Multiple cursors | Yes | 3/3 | The home page lists multiple cursors among its features [1]. | | Code tools | Live collaboration | Not published | 0/3 | Not published in the docs contents [11]. | | Extending | Extension directory | Yes | 8/8 | A package explorer lists installable packages, and the docs have developer and API sections [9][11]. | | Extending | Custom key bindings | Yes | 3/3 | Docs say a personal keymap.cson file is loaded last and can override bindings [8]. | | Licence and price | Free for work use | Yes | 6/6 | MIT licence with no fee [4]. | | Licence and price | Price | $0 | 6/6 | Free and open source [4]. | | Licence and price | Open source | Yes | 6/6 | The repository's LICENSE.md is the MIT licence [4]. | | Upkeep | Release in the past year | Yes | 8/8 | Tags v1.132.1 (May 20, 2026) and v1.131.3 (March 20, 2026) fall inside the past 12 months [5]. | | Upkeep | Telemetry off or none | Not published | 0/4 | Not published on the repository page or the customising docs [3][8]. | ## Plans | Plan | Price | Per month (USD) | |---|---|---| | Free | Free [2][4] | $0 | ## Strengths - Free and MIT-licensed [4]. - Portable Windows zip alongside the installer [2]. - Git panel stages hunks or lines and commits from the editor [7]. - Public package explorer and published developer documentation [9][11]. - Keybindings change in a keymap.cson file [8]. ## Limits - Its docs describe no debugger [6][10]. - Linting, references, rename and hover need separately installed community packages [10]. - Windows binaries are unsigned and trigger Windows SmartScreen warnings [2]. - No web version; the site lists Windows, macOS and Linux only [1]. ## Sources 1. [Pulsar](https://pulsar-edit.dev/), Pulsar-Edit, accessed 2026-10-08 2. [Download Pulsar](https://pulsar-edit.dev/download/), Pulsar-Edit, accessed 2026-10-08 3. [pulsar-edit/pulsar](https://github.com/pulsar-edit/pulsar), GitHub, accessed 2026-10-08 4. [LICENSE.md](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/pulsar-edit/pulsar/master/LICENSE.md), GitHub, accessed 2026-10-08 5. [Tags, pulsar-edit/pulsar](https://github.com/pulsar-edit/pulsar/tags), GitHub, accessed 2026-10-08 6. [Core packages and features](https://docs.pulsar-edit.dev/core-packages-and-features/), Pulsar-Edit, accessed 2026-10-08 7. [GitHub package](https://docs.pulsar-edit.dev/core-packages-and-features/github-package/), Pulsar-Edit, accessed 2026-10-08 8. [Customizing keybindings](https://docs.pulsar-edit.dev/customizing-pulsar/customizing-keybindings/), Pulsar-Edit, accessed 2026-10-08 9. [Pulsar Package Explorer](https://packages.pulsar-edit.dev/), Pulsar-Edit, accessed 2026-10-08 10. [IDE features](https://docs.pulsar-edit.dev/ide-features/), Pulsar-Edit, accessed 2026-10-08 11. [Pulsar documentation](https://docs.pulsar-edit.dev/), Pulsar-Edit, accessed 2026-10-08