The KDE Advanced Text Editor, or Kate, is a source code editor developed by the KDE free software community. It has been a part of KDE Software Compilation since version 2.2, which was first released in 2001. Intended for software developers, it features syntax highlighting, code folding, customizable layouts, multiple cursors and selections, regular expression support, and extensibility via plugins.
Kate has been part of the KDE Software Compilation since release 2.2 in 2001. Because of KParts technology, it is possible to embed Kate as an editing component in other KDE applications. Major KDE applications which use Kate as an editing component include the integrated development environment KDevelop, the web development environment Quanta Plus, and the LaTeX front-end Kile.
Kate has won the advanced text editor comparison in Linux Voice magazine.
From the Wikipedia article “Kate (text editor)”, CC BY-SA 4.0
What is Kate?
Kate is an open-source ides & code editor program for Windows from KDE e.V.. It is written in C++. Besides Windows, it is available for Unix-like operating system and macOS.
Installation and requirements
Official installers exist for 64-bit as EXE (NSIS). The main installer is 105.6 MB. It can be installed for the current user only, without administrator rights. The installer supports unattended (silent) installation.
Updates and version history
The current version is 26.08.2, released on October 19, 2026. 26 versions are listed since May 4, 2023, each with links to its own installer files. That is about 7.5 releases a year. The last update is less than a month old.
Popularity and file types
Wikipedia has an article about it in 24 of our languages. Similar programs include OpenCode, Apache NetBeans and RStudio.
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Documented silent install
- Installs without administrator rights
- Frequent updates (about 7.5 a year)
- Also runs on Unix-like operating system and macOS
Cons
- No native ARM64 build
In short: Kate is an open-source ides & code editor tool for 64-bit PCs. It is actively maintained. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Screenshots
Is Kate safe to download?
- The file is served by cdn.kde.org, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
EED7133AFE33DAC02DE53CAD98C57BD3D926CDAB8753497C9E2714E8637B8933· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link answered when we last checked it (October 22, 2026)
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 26 versions ›26 versions over 3 years · about 7.5 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26.08.2Latest | October 19, 2026 | 105.6 MB | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 26.08.1 | September 15, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 26.04.3 | June 26, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 26.04.2 | May 29, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 26.04.1 | May 4, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 26.04.0 | April 8, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 26.03.90 | March 29, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 26.03.80 | March 12, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id KDE.Kate -ekate-release_26.08-12761-windows-cl-msvc2022-x86_64.exe /SRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Also for other systems
brew install --cask kateInformation
- Publisher
- KDE e.V.
- Category
- IDEs & code editors
- Licence
- LGPL-2.1-or-later
- Price
- Free
- Written in
- C++
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit
- Installer
- EXE (NSIS)
- Other platforms
- Unix-like operating system, macOS
- Version
- 26.08.2
- Released
- October 19, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- May 4, 2023
- Versions listed
- 26
- Updates / year
- 7.5
- Website
- kate-editor.org
- winget ID
- KDE.Kate
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
Alternatives to Kate
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Frequently asked questions
Is Kate free?
Yes. Kate is open-source software under the LGPL-2.1-or-later licence.
Is Kate safe to download?
The download comes from cdn.kde.org, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install Kate with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can Kate be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer.
Does Kate run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of Kate?
The versions page lists all 26 versions with links to their official installer files, back to May 4, 2023.
Can I use Kate without administrator rights?
Yes, there is a per-user installer that does not need administrator rights.
What are alternatives to Kate?
OpenCode, Apache NetBeans, RStudio, Node.js (LTS) and VSCodium. The alternatives page compares them.
