We're excited to present the State of Rich Text Editors 2025 Report, packed with the insights you need to make the important decisions about one of the most critical pieces of an application - the editor.
The rich text editor (RTE) as you know it is undergoing a massive transformation. Strategic decisions around your RTE are more critical than ever as AI integration becomes a core expectation, and demand for robust security and composable architecture is at an all-time high.
TinyMCE surveyed tech professionals from the trenches of individual projects to the boardrooms of large enterprises to bring you insights into how RTEs are evolving.
Ready to see how the humble RTE is transforming into a strategic powerhouse? Grab your free copy of the 2025 State of Rich Text Editors report.
What’s inside the 2025 State of Rich Text Editors Report?
This report offers a peek at what developers, tech leaders, product managers, and application architects think about their RTE usage and where they think the industry is headed. Here are some of the major trends shaping how RTEs are being used in modern application development in 2025.
1. Your RTE is more critical than ever
The days of the RTE being a "set it and forget it" component are over. Our report shows that 73% of survey respondents view their RTE as either extremely or very important: a figure that jumps to 80% in organizations with over 1,000 employees. For enterprises, the RTE isn't just a detail; it's a strategic linchpin for consistent, reliable rich content creation.
2. AI isn't just assisting, it's collaborating
If you thought AI in your editor was just for spellcheck, think again. The conversation has shifted dramatically in just 12 months:
- Beyond basic help: Forget predictive text and grammar fixes (though those are now baseline expectations). 19% of respondents now see AI as a full collaborator to brainstorm, co-write, and ideate with directly within the editor.
- AI-driven workflows are here: A decisive 42% identified collaboration with AI as the single most critical advancement for RTEs in the next five years. This isn't a fringe idea; it's mainstream demand pushing for human-AI partnerships.
3. Content creation is "unbundling"
Content management systems (CMS) used to be the undisputed king for RTE use cases. Not anymore. The report highlights a "great unbundling," with Document Management Systems (DMS) showing the most significant growth.
Why? Companies are moving critical assets like contracts, customer communications, and reports into secure, purpose-built platforms that are legally compliant. Your RTE needs to be as flexible as your platform: capable of adapting to diverse, specific workflows without piling on unnecessary overhead for development.
4. The buy vs. build debate
Should you build your own RTE or buy a third-party solution? Data from the report sheds light on this age-old question:
- Buying for velocity: 60% of organizations now choose to buy. It's all about protecting timelines, budgets, and freeing your devs to focus on your core business logic.
- The hidden costs of building: For the 30% who build, the promise of total control typically comes with a steep price. An RTE that delivers everything your users need is a complex piece of software, and the "simple text box" hides a world of engineering challenges.
5. Security is top of mind
In an era of high-profile breaches, the security of every component in your stack is under intense scrutiny. The report reveals that security isn't just a feature; it's an expected, deeply ingrained element of any modern editor. Security and privacy top the chart as the most important features, with 75% of survey respondents citing them as their highest priority.
Make informed decisions with the 2025 State of Rich Text Editors report
The future of the RTE isn't a distant dream; it's happening right now. Are you equipped to navigate the demand for intelligent platforms and lean, focused components? The 2025 State of Rich Text Editors report provides the foresight you need to make critical decisions that will define your application’s success.
Download your FREE 2025 State of Rich Text Editors report today!
