BBEdit FAQs for TextWrangler Customers
- What happened to TextWrangler?
- Do I have to pay to use BBEdit?
- Can I try out BBEdit’s features before buying?
- What features do I get when I buy a BBEdit license?
- Can I just continue using TextWrangler?
- Won’t I have to learn how to use BBEdit?
- Will BBEdit import all of my TextWrangler settings?
- I have more than one computer. How many BBEdit licenses do I need to buy?
- I don’t need all the extra menu commands that BBEdit has. Can I hide them?
What happened to TextWrangler?
TextWrangler is now part of BBEdit (our award-winning flagship text and code editor), and has been sunsetted as a separate product.
Do I have to pay to use BBEdit?
No. You can use BBEdit without paying anything, in the same way you’ve been using TextWrangler (yes, for free). If you want BBEdit’s complete feature set (web authoring tools, and other exclusive features), you can purchase a subscription any time you like.
Read more about the pricing of BBEdit in the Mac App Store.
Can I try out BBEdit’s features before buying?
Absolutely. BBEdit has a 30-day evaluation period. During that period, all of BBEdit’s features are available. When it ends, you can still use BBEdit — with no nag screens or unsolicited interruptions, for free, forever — and with a feature set which incorporates all of TextWrangler’s features and then some.
What features do I get when I buy a BBEdit subscription?
Buying a BBEdit subscription gets you advanced features, including HTML markup tools, source control system integration, and much more.
In “free mode”, you get all of the features you know and love from TextWrangler, plus a few more.
You can see the differences here.
Can I just continue using TextWrangler?
Certainly. You’re welcome to continue using TextWrangler for as long as it suits your needs, and then switch to BBEdit whenever you like.
However, please note that TextWrangler is not compatible with macOS High Sierra (10.13) and later.
Won’t I have to learn how to use BBEdit?
You already know how to use BBEdit. Everything you know how to do in TextWrangler works the same way in BBEdit, and all of the features you’ve been using are right where you expect them to be.
Will BBEdit import all of my TextWrangler settings?
Yes. The first time you use it, BBEdit will automatically import your preferences and application support items (such as scripts and filters) from your current TextWrangler setup.
I don’t need all the extra menu commands that BBEdit has. Can I hide them?
You can. The “Menus & Shortcuts” preferences provide complete control over what menus and items are visible, so you can hide any menus and commands that you don’t need. Use the “Simple Menus” button if you would like to hide menu commands for features that weren’t present in TextWrangler.
