ex — Text Editor (Open Source)

ex is an open-source Text Editor solution from Bill Joy. Compare it against 91 other Text Editor tools on FreeSoftwareX — by features, licensing and price — and request a quote or demo free in 2026.

What is ex?

ex is open source — its source code is publicly available and free to use, modify and self-host, usually with an active community and no licensing fees. It is categorised under Text Editor and published by Bill Joy. Buyers typically evaluate ex when they need a dependable Text Editor option and want to weigh the trade-offs between free, open-source and paid tools before committing.

ex alternatives

If ex isn't the right fit, compare these Text Editor alternatives side by side:

AcmeAlphatkAtomBBEditBluefishBracketsCodaConTEXTCrimson EditorECCEEDTEditraEdlinElvis

Frequently asked questions

Is ex free?
Yes. ex is open source and free to use, with no purchase cost for the core product.
What are the best ex alternatives?
Popular Text Editor alternatives to ex include Acme, Alphatk, Atom, BBEdit. See the full list of Text Editor on FreeSoftwareX.
What type of software is ex?
ex is an open-source Text Editor tool developed by Bill Joy.

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