Software · head to head
Vim vs Neovim
Vim
Software
Highly configurable text editor built to enable efficient text editing
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Vim configuration system uses keyboard mappings with no graphical interface for settings; Neovim no official first-party GUI is shipped; Neovim itself is a terminal-based editor and only maintains a curated list of third-party GUI front-ends
- They diverge on capability: Vim covers Modal editing, Neovim covers Async job control.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Vim and Neovim actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 Vim
- Modal editing
- Extensive customization
- Plugin support
- Macro recording
- Split windows
- Syntax highlighting
- Search and replace
- Command history
Only in Neovim
- Async job control
- Lua scripting
- Built-in LSP client
- Tree-sitter syntax highlighting
- Extensible UI
- Terminal emulator
- Modern plugin architecture
- Better defaults
Both cover
- Git
- Language servers
- Terminal
- Local editing
- Local deployment
- Windows support
- Macos support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Vim
- Code editingnot Neovim
- Configuration filesnot Neovim
- System administrationnot Neovim
- Remote editingnot Neovim
- Terminal-based developmentnot Neovim
Neovim
- General source-code editingnot Vim
- Terminal-based development workflows, including over SSH on remote serversnot Vim
- Building custom IDE-like environments via LSP and Lua pluginsnot Vim
- Embedding as an editor component in other GUI/IDE front-ends via --embednot Vim
- Vim-compatible scripting and automation of text editingnot Vim
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Neovim
- No official first-party GUI is shipped; Neovim itself is a terminal-based editor and only maintains a curated list of third-party GUI front-ends
- Licensing is not uniform: code contributed after commit b17d96 is Apache 2.0, but code carried over from Vim (tagged vim-patch) remains under Vim's own license
- Built-in LSP client and Tree-sitter integration are frameworks requiring separate configuration or plugins for language servers/grammars to be useful, not out-of-box language support
- No official iOS, Android, or web build
Pricing, plan by plan
Vim
Free- FreeFree
- Powerful text editing
- Extensive customization
- Plugin ecosystem
Neovim
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Neovim review.
Which should you pick?
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.
Choose Neovim if
- You need async job control.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
- You also want lua scripting.
Questions people ask
- Is Vim or Neovim better?
- Neither clearly leads. Vim starts at Free and Neovim at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Vim or Neovim?
- Vim starts at Free and Neovim at Free.
- Does Vim or Neovim run on more platforms?
- Vim runs on Linux, Unix, macOS, Windows. Neovim runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
- Can I use Vim for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Vim best used for?
- Vim is most often used for code editing, configuration files, system administration, remote editing. Of those, code editing and configuration files are not what Neovim is typically brought in for.
- What can Vim do that Neovim cannot?
- Vim covers Modal editing, Extensive customization, Plugin support, Macro recording. Neovim covers Async job control, Lua scripting, Built-in LSP client, Tree-sitter syntax highlighting. Both handle Git, Language servers, Terminal, Local editing.
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