Technology · head to head
Sublime Text vs Vim
Sublime Text
Technology
A sophisticated text editor for code, markup and prose
- From
- $99/one-time
- Rated
- -
Vim
Technology
Highly configurable text editor built to enable efficient text editing
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Vim has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Sublime Text a personal licence is $99 as a one off purchase but includes only 3 years of updates, after which a paid upgrade is required to keep receiving them; Vim configuration system uses keyboard mappings with no graphical interface for settings
- They diverge on capability: Sublime Text covers Lightning fast performance, Vim covers Modal editing.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Sublime Text and Vim actually diverge.
| Attribute | Sublime Text | Vim |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $99/one-time | Free |
| Pricing model | one-time | free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Windows, Macos, Linux | Linux, Unix, macOS, Windows |
| Founded | 2007 | 1988 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Technology).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Sublime Text
- Lightning fast performance
- Multiple selections
- Command palette
- Instant project switch
- Plugin ecosystem
- Customizable UI
- Advanced search and replace
- Split editing
Only in Vim
- Modal editing
- Extensive customization
- Plugin support
- Macro recording
- Split windows
- Syntax highlighting
- Search and replace
- Command history
Both cover
- Language servers
- Build systems
- Local editing
- No data collection
- Local deployment
- Windows support
- Macos support
- Linux support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Sublime Text
- Editing code and text files in a fast native desktop editornot Vim
- Working across large files and projects with multi cursor editingnot Vim
Vim
- Code editingnot Sublime Text
- Configuration filesnot Sublime Text
- System administrationnot Sublime Text
- Remote editingnot Sublime Text
- Terminal-based developmentnot Sublime Text
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Sublime Text
- A personal licence is $99 as a one off purchase but includes only 3 years of updates, after which a paid upgrade is required to keep receiving them
- Business use is a separate annual subscription rather than a perpetual licence, starting at $65 per seat per year
- The distinction means the same editor is perpetual for an individual and subscription for a company
Vim
- Configuration system uses keyboard mappings with no graphical interface for settings
- Requires browsing documentation to modify even basic settings
- Lacks sensible defaults for many common configurations
- Plugin ecosystem stability varies widely depending on custom configuration complexity
Pricing, plan by plan
Sublime Text
$99/one-time- Personal License$99/one-time
- 3 years of updates
- All current features
- Cross-platform license
Vim
Free- FreeFree
- Powerful text editing
- Extensive customization
- Plugin ecosystem
Which should you pick?
Choose Sublime Text if
- You need lightning fast performance.
- You work on Windows, Macos, Linux.
- You also want multiple selections.
Choose Vim if
- You need modal editing.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Unix, macOS, Windows.
- You also want extensive customization.
Questions people ask
- Is Sublime Text or Vim better?
- Neither clearly leads. Sublime Text starts at $99/one-time and Vim at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Sublime Text or Vim?
- Vim has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $99/one-time for Sublime Text and Free for Vim.
- Does Sublime Text or Vim run on more platforms?
- Sublime Text runs on Windows, Macos, Linux. Vim runs on Linux, Unix, macOS, Windows.
- Can I use Vim for free?
- Yes. Vim has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Sublime Text starts at $99/one-time.
- What is Sublime Text best used for?
- Sublime Text is most often used for editing code and text files in a fast native desktop editor, working across large files and projects with multi cursor editing. Of those, editing code and text files in a fast native desktop editor and working across large files and projects with multi cursor editing are not what Vim is typically brought in for.
- What can Sublime Text do that Vim cannot?
- Sublime Text covers Lightning fast performance, Multiple selections, Command palette, Instant project switch. Vim covers Modal editing, Extensive customization, Plugin support, Macro recording. Both handle Language servers, Build systems, Local editing, No data collection.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Vim: Is Vim free and open source?
Yes, Vim is free and open source, distributed under a charityware license. The creator requested donations to ICCF Holland, a non-profit supporting AIDS victims in Uganda. All donations are forwarded to ICCF.
SourceVim: What platforms does Vim support?
Vim runs on Unix-like systems (Linux, macOS, BSD), Windows (7, 8, 10, 11), VMS, and is available through package managers or standalone installation on all major operating systems.
SourceVim: Who maintains Vim now?
Vim was created by Bram Moolenaar, who passed away on August 3, 2023. Christian Brabandt is the current lead maintainer, and the project continues with volunteer contributors.
Source