Developers Are Ditching Basic Text Editors—Here’s What They Want Instead

As we head into 2025, many developers find that rich text editors (RTEs) are no longer just small features tucked into larger products. Instead, these editors have become important parts of content management systems, CRMs, productivity platforms, and e-learning solutions. A few years ago, basic text formatting was enough. Now, developers want more customization, better performance, stronger scalability, and even advanced features like AI-driven help. Recent data from CKEditor’s “2024 State of Collaborative Editing” and TinyMCE’s “2024 RTE Survey” shows these new priorities very clearly. Key Takeaways Developers prioritize customization, seeking full control to tailor rich text editors to their needs. Performance is the top concern, with lightweight editors like Froala providing faster load times and smoother experiences. Scalability is essential for handling growing user bases and integrating with cloud infrastructures. Demand for AI-powered features is increasing, moving beyond basic formatting to include predictive text and grammar checks. Rich text editors are now core infrastructure components in modern applications, crucial for content creation and collaboration. Trend No. 1: More Control and Customization To start, many developers now need rich text editors that fit their unique needs. According to TinyMCE’s 2024 RTE Survey, 52% of developers want full control over their editor’s experience. This number is important because it shows that most developers do not want a “one-size-fits-all” editor. Instead, they want to shape the editor to match their application’s look, feel, and workflow. Some ways developers achieve this include: Adding or removing toolbar buttons to match the project’s brand and style. Using flexible APIs to create custom plugins or special formatting features. Including revision histories or other custom workflows that feel natural for their teams. By having this level of control, developers can make sure their editors feel like a true part of their product, not just a separate tool. Trend No. 2: Faster Performance Matters Most Next, performance has become a top priority. In TinyMCE’s 2024 RTE Survey, 79% of respondents said performance is the most critical factor. Today’s users have high standards. If an editor loads slowly or feels sluggish, they might lose focus or trust. By paying attention to performance, developers can offer a better user experience. They can make sure that, as soon as a user opens the editor, it feels responsive and stable. Trend No. 3: Scaling for Bigger Workloads As we move forward, many products must handle larger and more spread-out user bases. According to the TinyMCE 2024 RTE Survey, 43% of developers prioritize scalability. This makes sense because many apps now serve global teams and large groups of users, sometimes all at once. Editors must handle: Many users editing documents at the same time. Real-time changes appearing smoothly for everyone. Growing workloads as the product becomes more popular. By choosing an RTE that can scale without breaking, developers can trust that their editor won’t slow down or fail as more users rely on it. In the end, scalability means fewer headaches when traffic increases or when a project grows in complexity. Trend No. 4: Going Beyond Everyone expects basic formatting features like bold, italics, and headings. In fact, TinyMCE’s 2024 RTE Survey shows that 88% of developers consider these core features a given. But basic formatting alone will not set an editor apart anymore. Today, developers are looking for ways to enhance the writing process. Some are interested in AI-driven tools, such as: Predictive text suggestions that help users write faster. Grammar and spelling checks that improve the quality of content. Intelligent formatting that adjusts style automatically. With these new features, the editor becomes more than just a text box. It starts to feel like a smart assistant, guiding users and helping them produce better results. This aligns with a finding in Cloudinary’s 2023 State of Visual Media Report: “68% of developers believe that AI’s main benefit is enabling productivity and efficiency.” For instance, Froala integrates with Gemini and other popular generative AI tools to improve readability, SEO, and content quality. Making such features accessible in a rich text editor’s toolbar helps users produce top-notch content in significantly less time. Because of this, the most advanced RTEs have gone beyond basic formatting, making them a core part of modern applications. Trend No. 5: RTEs as Core Infrastructure In the past, some teams saw RTEs as extras, but that is no longer the case. CKEditor’s “2024 State of Collaborative Editing” report found that 71% of respondents consider RTEs critical to their platforms. This shows a big change. Developers now treat these editors as key building blocks. For example: In a CMS, a well-designed RTE lets marketing teams update content without needing a developer for every small change. In a productivity suite, the RTE supports collaboration by letting multiple people edit the same document at once, track changes, and comment. In an e-learning platform, the RTE can help teachers build lessons, quizzes, and discussions that include rich media and advanced formatting. Because these scenarios depend on a reliable editor, choosing the right one is a big decision. Trend No. 6: Real-World Integration When we think about these trends, it is easy to see them in real products. Many developers remember times when a slow editor frustrated writers or when a lack of custom features forced the team to find odd workarounds. On the other hand, a good, flexible editor can make everyone’s job easier. For example, a CMS might use a customizable editor that matches a company’s brand and makes sure that authors can create content without needing a technical person. A collaboration tool might rely on an RTE that loads fast enough to keep everyone’s ideas flowing smoothly. An e-learning platform might use an RTE that handles tables, images, videos, and special formatting to keep students engaged. Trend No. 7: Why a Lean and Flexible Tool Helps Some tools already fit these new needs without shouting about it. For example, an editor like Froala stays light and easy to load while still offering ways to add custom features. Furthermore, it scales nicely and works well with popular languages and frameworks. According to the 2024 Stack Overflow Development Survey, JavaScript continues to dominate as the most popular programming language. With 62.3% of developers using JS, 39.8% desiring it, and 58.3% admiring it in 2024, it’s here to stay. This highlights the importance of using rich text editors that integrate into diverse technologies, especially widely used ones. Such versatility allows developers to quickly adapt to new requirements, such as changes in tech stacks, promoting scalability. A lean tool like Froala can help developers meet their goals without slowing them down. Even if it is not the only choice, it represents the kind of editor that developers now look for—something that does not get in the way but instead supports growth and new ideas. In Conclusion The data from these surveys is hard to ignore. More than half of developers want deep customization. Nearly four-fifths put performance first. Almost half focus on scalability. Also, a large majority expect at least some baseline formatting, and many want even more advanced features, including AI-driven help. These changes show that choosing the right RTE is more important than ever. Today’s developers need an editor that fits into their workflow, loads quickly, scales easily, and offers a path to smarter features. By paying attention to these factors, teams can pick an editor that feels like part of the product’s core, not just another add-on. References CKEditor. "The 2024 State of Collaborative Editing." CKSource, a Tiugo Technologies Company.https://ckeditor.com/insights/collaboration-survey-report-2024/ TinyMCE. "The 2024 RTE Survey." Tiny Technologies.https://www.tiny.cloud/blog/announcing-the-2024-state-of-rich-text-editors-report 2024 Stack Overflow Developer Survey.https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2024/ Cloudinary. “2023 State of Visual Media Report.”https://cloudinary.com/state-of-visual-media-report Text Editor Market Insights Report. "Global Text Editor Market Overview and Trends." Verified Market Reports.https://www.verifiedmarketreports.com/product/text-editor-market/ Froala Official Site. "Why Froala? Key Features and Benefits."https://www.froala.com This article was originally published on Froala's blog. As we head into 2025, many developers find that rich text editors (RTEs) are no longer just small features tucked into larger products. Instead, these editors have become important parts of content management systems, CRMs, productivity platforms, and e-learning solutions. rich text editors A few years ago, basic text formatting was enough. Now, developers want more customization, better performance, stronger scalability, and even advanced features like AI-driven help. Recent data from CKEditor’s “2024 State of Collaborative Editing” and TinyMCE’s “2024 RTE Survey” shows these new priorities very clearly. Key Takeaways Developers prioritize customization, seeking full control to tailor rich text editors to their needs. Performance is the top concern, with lightweight editors like Froala providing faster load times and smoother experiences. Scalability is essential for handling growing user bases and integrating with cloud infrastructures. Demand for AI-powered features is increasing, moving beyond basic formatting to include predictive text and grammar checks. Rich text editors are now core infrastructure components in modern applications, crucial for content creation and collaboration. Developers prioritize customization, seeking full control to tailor rich text editors to their needs. Performance is the top concern, with lightweight editors like Froala providing faster load times and smoother experiences. Scalability is essential for handling growing user bases and integrating with cloud infrastructures. Demand for AI-powered features is increasing, moving beyond basic formatting to include predictive text and grammar checks. Rich text editors are now core infrastructure components in modern applications, crucial for content creation and collaboration. Trend No. 1: More Control and Customization To start, many developers now need rich text editors that fit their unique needs. According to TinyMCE’s 2024 RTE Survey, 52% of developers want full control over their editor’s experience . This number is important because it shows that most developers do not want a “one-size-fits-all” editor. Instead, they want to shape the editor to match their application’s look, feel, and workflow. 52% of developers want full control over their editor’s experience Some ways developers achieve this include: Adding or removing toolbar buttons to match the project’s brand and style. Using flexible APIs to create custom plugins or special formatting features. Including revision histories or other custom workflows that feel natural for their teams. Adding or removing toolbar buttons to match the project’s brand and style. Adding or removing toolbar buttons to match the project’s brand and style. Using flexible APIs to create custom plugins or special formatting features. Using flexible APIs to create custom plugins or special formatting features. Including revision histories or other custom workflows that feel natural for their teams. Including revision histories or other custom workflows that feel natural for their teams. By having this level of control, developers can make sure their editors feel like a true part of their product, not just a separate tool. Trend No. 2: Faster Performance Matters Most Next, performance has become a top priority. In TinyMCE’s 2024 RTE Survey, 79% of respondents said performance is the most critical factor . Today’s users have high standards. If an editor loads slowly or feels sluggish, they might lose focus or trust. 79% of respondents said performance is the most critical factor By paying attention to performance, developers can offer a better user experience. They can make sure that, as soon as a user opens the editor, it feels responsive and stable. Trend No. 3: Scaling for Bigger Workloads As we move forward, many products must handle larger and more spread-out user bases. According to the TinyMCE 2024 RTE Survey, 43% of developers prioritize scalability . This makes sense because many apps now serve global teams and large groups of users, sometimes all at once. Editors must handle: 43% of developers prioritize scalability Many users editing documents at the same time. Real-time changes appearing smoothly for everyone. Growing workloads as the product becomes more popular. Many users editing documents at the same time. Many users editing documents at the same time. Real-time changes appearing smoothly for everyone. Real-time changes appearing smoothly for everyone. Growing workloads as the product becomes more popular. Growing workloads as the product becomes more popular. By choosing an RTE that can scale without breaking, developers can trust that their editor won’t slow down or fail as more users rely on it. In the end, scalability means fewer headaches when traffic increases or when a project grows in complexity. Trend No. 4: Going Beyond Everyone expects basic formatting features like bold, italics, and headings. In fact, TinyMCE’s 2024 RTE Survey shows that 88% of developers consider these core features a given . But basic formatting alone will not set an editor apart anymore. 88% of developers consider these core features a given Today, developers are looking for ways to enhance the writing process. Some are interested in AI-driven tools, such as: Predictive text suggestions that help users write faster. Grammar and spelling checks that improve the quality of content. Intelligent formatting that adjusts style automatically. Predictive text suggestions that help users write faster. Predictive text suggestions that help users write faster. Grammar and spelling checks that improve the quality of content. Grammar and spelling checks that improve the quality of content. Intelligent formatting that adjusts style automatically. Intelligent formatting that adjusts style automatically. With these new features, the editor becomes more than just a text box. It starts to feel like a smart assistant, guiding users and helping them produce better results. This aligns with a finding in Cloudinary’s 2023 State of Visual Media Report: “ 68% of developers believe that AI’s main benefit is enabling productivity and efficiency .” 68% of developers believe that AI’s main benefit is enabling productivity and efficiency For instance, Froala integrates with Gemini and other popular generative AI tools to improve readability, SEO, and content quality. Making such features accessible in a rich text editor’s toolbar helps users produce top-notch content in significantly less time. Because of this, the most advanced RTEs have gone beyond basic formatting, making them a core part of modern applications. Froala integrates with Gemini Trend No. 5: RTEs as Core Infrastructure In the past, some teams saw RTEs as extras, but that is no longer the case. CKEditor’s “2024 State of Collaborative Editing” report found that 71% of respondents consider RTEs critical to their platforms . This shows a big change. 71% of respondents consider RTEs critical to their platforms Developers now treat these editors as key building blocks. For example: In a CMS, a well-designed RTE lets marketing teams update content without needing a developer for every small change. In a productivity suite, the RTE supports collaboration by letting multiple people edit the same document at once, track changes, and comment. In an e-learning platform, the RTE can help teachers build lessons, quizzes, and discussions that include rich media and advanced formatting. In a CMS, a well-designed RTE lets marketing teams update content without needing a developer for every small change. In a CMS, a well-designed RTE lets marketing teams update content without needing a developer for every small change. In a productivity suite, the RTE supports collaboration by letting multiple people edit the same document at once, track changes, and comment. In a productivity suite, the RTE supports collaboration by letting multiple people edit the same document at once, track changes, and comment. In an e-learning platform, the RTE can help teachers build lessons, quizzes, and discussions that include rich media and advanced formatting. In an e-learning platform, the RTE can help teachers build lessons, quizzes, and discussions that include rich media and advanced formatting. Because these scenarios depend on a reliable editor, choosing the right one is a big decision. Trend No. 6: Real-World Integration When we think about these trends, it is easy to see them in real products. Many developers remember times when a slow editor frustrated writers or when a lack of custom features forced the team to find odd workarounds. On the other hand, a good, flexible editor can make everyone’s job easier. For example, a CMS might use a customizable editor that matches a company’s brand and makes sure that authors can create content without needing a technical person. A collaboration tool might rely on an RTE that loads fast enough to keep everyone’s ideas flowing smoothly. An e-learning platform might use an RTE that handles tables, images, videos, and special formatting to keep students engaged. Trend No. 7: Why a Lean and Flexible Tool Helps Some tools already fit these new needs without shouting about it. For example, an editor like Froala stays light and easy to load while still offering ways to add custom features. Furthermore, it scales nicely and works well with popular languages and frameworks. According to the 2024 Stack Overflow Development Survey, JavaScript continues to dominate as the most popular programming language . With 62.3% of developers using JS, 39.8% desiring it, and 58.3% admiring it in 2024, it’s here to stay. This highlights the importance of using rich text editors that integrate into diverse technologies, especially widely used ones. Such versatility allows developers to quickly adapt to new requirements, such as changes in tech stacks, promoting scalability. JavaScript continues to dominate as the most popular programming language 62.3% A lean tool like Froala can help developers meet their goals without slowing them down. Even if it is not the only choice, it represents the kind of editor that developers now look for—something that does not get in the way but instead supports growth and new ideas. In Conclusion The data from these surveys is hard to ignore. More than half of developers want deep customization. Nearly four-fifths put performance first. Almost half focus on scalability. Also, a large majority expect at least some baseline formatting, and many want even more advanced features, including AI-driven help. These changes show that choosing the right RTE is more important than ever. Today’s developers need an editor that fits into their workflow, loads quickly, scales easily, and offers a path to smarter features. By paying attention to these factors, teams can pick an editor that feels like part of the product’s core, not just another add-on. References References CKEditor. "The 2024 State of Collaborative Editing." CKSource, a Tiugo Technologies Company. https://ckeditor.com/insights/collaboration-survey-report-2024/ https://ckeditor.com/insights/collaboration-survey-report-2024/ TinyMCE. "The 2024 RTE Survey." Tiny Technologies. https://www.tiny.cloud/blog/announcing-the-2024-state-of-rich-text-editors-report https://www.tiny.cloud/blog/announcing-the-2024-state-of-rich-text-editors-report 2024 Stack Overflow Developer Survey. https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2024/ https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2024/ Cloudinary. “2023 State of Visual Media Report.” https://cloudinary.com/state-of-visual-media-report https://cloudinary.com/state-of-visual-media-report Text Editor Market Insights Report. "Global Text Editor Market Overview and Trends." Verified Market Reports. https://www.verifiedmarketreports.com/product/text-editor-market/ https://www.verifiedmarketreports.com/product/text-editor-market/ Froala Official Site. "Why Froala? Key Features and Benefits." https://www.froala.com https://www.froala.com This article was originally published on Froala's blog. This article was originally published on Froala's blog. This article was originally published on Froala's blog. This article was originally published on Froala's blog.