Mousepad AlternativesText & Code Editors like Mousepad

Mousepad is described as 'A simple text editor for the Xfce desktop environment. Mousepad aims to be an easy-to-use and fast editor for quickly editing text files, not a development environment or an editor with a huge bunch of plugins' and is a Text Editor in the development category. There are more than 50 alternatives to Mousepad for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Linux, Mac, BSD and Flathub apps. The best Mousepad alternative is Notepad++, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Mousepad are Visual Studio Code, VSCodium, Sublime Text and Vim.

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Mousepad alternatives are mainly Text Editors but may also be Code Editors or IDEs.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Mousepad.
Mousepad iconMousepad
  34
  • ...

A simple text editor for the Xfce desktop environment. Mousepad aims to be an easy-to-use and fast editor for quickly editing text files, not a development environment or an editor with a huge bunch of plugins.

More about Mousepad
More about Mousepad
Mousepad alternatives page was last updated Mar 15, 2023
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  1. Notepad++ icon
    Notepad++ icon

    Notepad++

     4832 likes
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    Notepad++ is a free source code editor and Notepad replacement that supports several languages.

    231 Notepad++ alternatives
    Notepad++ screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • PortableApps.com
    Notepad++ screenshot 1
    Notepad++ screenshot 2
    +9
    TextFX plugin menu

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    3.  Configurable

    Features

    1.  Code Formatting
    2.  Portable
    3.  Tabbed interface
    4.  Search and Replace
    5.  Text formatting
    6.  Multiple Open Tabs
    7.  Multiple languages
    8.  Color coding
    9.  Support for Javascript
    10.  Built-in themes
    11.  Auto-saving
    12.  Syntax Highlighting
    13.  Dark Mode
    14.  Debugging
    15.  No Coding Required
    16.  Autocompletion
    Notepad++ iconMousepad Icon

    Notepad++ VS Mousepad

    Is Notepad++ a good alternative to Mousepad?
     
    Comments about Notepad++ as an Alternative to Mousepad
     
    AdinanCenci

    Notepad++ is a professional tool for programmers and developers, Mousepad is a bare bones text editor.

    Negative comment •Aug 14, 2021
    0
    Mousepad Icon
    Notepad++ icon

    • Notepad++ is the most popular Windows alternative to Mousepad.

    • Notepad++ is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Mousepad.

    • Notepad++ is Free and Open SourceMousepad is also Free and Open Source
    • Notepad++ is LightweightMousepad is not according to our users
  2. Visual Studio Code icon
    Visual Studio Code icon

    Visual Studio Code

     1281 likes
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    Visual Studio Code is a free and extensible code editor for building web, desktop, and mobile applications, using any programming language and framework.

    209 Visual Studio Code alternatives
    Visual Studio Code screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Chrome OS
    Visual Studio Code screenshot 1
    Visual Studio Code screenshot 2
    +2
    Visual Studio Code screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    2.  Customizable
    3.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Autocompletion
    2.  IDE
    3.  Built-in terminal emulation
    4.  Syntax Highlighting
    5.  Code Completion
    6.  Multiple languages
    7.  Git Support
    8.  GitHub Integration
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  Supports Python
    11.  C++
    12.  Source code debugging
    13.  Multiple Cursors
    14.  Graphical User Interface
    15.  Support for MarkDown
    16.  Auto Update
    17.  Plug-ins
    18.  Support for Node.js
    19.  Support for Javascript
    Visual Studio Code iconMousepad Icon

    Visual Studio Code VS Mousepad

    Is Visual Studio Code a good alternative to Mousepad?
     
    Comments about Visual Studio Code as an Alternative to Mousepad
     
    AdinanCenci

    Visual Studio Code is a professional tool for programmers and developers, Mousepad is a bare bones text editor.

    Negative comment •Aug 14, 2021
    1
    Guest

    It's heavy-weight while Mousepad is as lightweight as it can possibly get

    Negative comment •Sep 1, 2019
    0
    Mousepad Icon
    Visual Studio Code icon

    • Visual Studio Code is the most popular Web-based, Mac & Linux alternative to Mousepad.

    • Visual Studio Code is Free and ProprietaryMousepad is Free and Open Source
    • Visual Studio Code is CustomizableMousepad is not according to our users
  4. VSCodium icon
    VSCodium icon

    VSCodium

     319 likes
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    This repository contains a build file to generate FLOSS release binaries of Microsoft's Visual Studio Code - Open Source ("Code - OSS") project, the open source core of the proprietary Visual Studio Code.

    198 VSCodium alternatives
    VSCodium screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Electron

    Properties

    1.  No Tracking
    2.  Customizable
    3.  Privacy focused
    4.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    5.  Works Offline
    6.  No registration required
    7.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Prevent telemetry
    2.  IDE
    3.  MIT License
    4.  Autocompletion
    5.  Git integration
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  Syntax Highlighting
    8.  Minimap
    9.  Color coding
    10.  Built-in terminal emulation
    11.  Support for MarkDown
    12.  Code navigation
    VSCodium iconMousepad Icon

    VSCodium VS Mousepad

    Is VSCodium a good alternative to Mousepad?
     
    Comments about VSCodium as an Alternative to Mousepad
     
    AdinanCenci

    VSCodium is a professional tool for programmers and developers, Mousepad is a bare bones text editor.

    Negative comment •Aug 14, 2021
    1
    Mousepad Icon
    VSCodium icon
    • VSCodium is Free and Open SourceMousepad is also Free and Open Source
    • VSCodium is Customizable and Privacy focusedMousepad is not according to our users
  5. Sublime Text icon
    Sublime Text icon

    Sublime Text

     1999 likes
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    Powerful editor blending code, markup, and prose editing with enhanced features like multi-tab selection, side-by-side definition viewing, and multiple selection tools for swift code navigation.

    197 Sublime Text alternatives
    Sublime Text screenshot 1

    License model

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Sublime Text screenshot 1
    Sublime Text screenshot 2
    +1
    Sublime Text screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    3.  Customizable
    4.  No Tracking
    5.  Works Offline

    Features

    1.  Package Control
    2.  Syntax Highlighting
    3.  IDE
    4.  Multiple Cursors
    5.  Text editing
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  Simple text editor
    8.  Tabbed interface
    9.  Plugin manager
    10.  Git integration
    11.  Support for MarkDown
    12.  Distraction-free
    13.  Git Support
    14.  Plugin API
    15.  Configuration Management
    16.  Fullscreen support
    Sublime Text iconMousepad Icon

    Sublime Text VS Mousepad

    Is Sublime Text a good alternative to Mousepad?
     

    • Sublime Text is the most popular commercial alternative to Mousepad.

    • Sublime Text is Paid and ProprietaryMousepad is Free and Open Source
    • Sublime Text is Lightweight and CustomizableMousepad is not according to our users
  6. Vim icon
    Vim icon

    Vim

     1305 likes
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    Vim ("Vi IMproved") is an advanced text editor that allows syntax highlighting, word completion and has a huge amount of contributed content. It also has a GUI version called GVim.

    209 Vim alternatives
    Vim screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Haiku
    • AmigaOS
    • OpenSolaris
    • MorphOS
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    • Snapcraft
    GVim with netrw+airlines+ctrlspace+xkb-switch+monokai theme+Source Pro font
    Plugin Gitgutter shows added lines as '+' and altere as '~'.

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Keyboard focused
    3.  Customizable
    4.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    5.  Works Offline
    6.  No registration required

    Features

    1.  Syntax Highlighting
    2.  Hackable
    3.  Well documented
    4.  Modal editor
    5.  Command line interface
    6.  Support for MarkDown
    7.  Portable
    8.  Batch Editing
    9.  Terminal-based
    10.  Macro Recording
    11.  Built-in terminal emulation
    12.  Support for Large File
    13.  Dedication to home row
    Vim iconMousepad Icon

    Vim VS Mousepad

    Is Vim a good alternative to Mousepad?
     
    Comments about Vim as an Alternative to Mousepad
     
    Guest

    Mousepad is a GUI text editor; Vim is a command line based editor. Both are great in their own ways but they are used in completely different contexts.

    Negative comment •Nov 11, 2020
    4
    AdinanCenci

    Vim is a professional tool for programmers and developers, Mousepad is a bare bones text editor.

    Negative comment •Aug 14, 2021
    0
    Guest

    An absolutely beautiful-yet-minimalist hotkey-based editing setup, legendary extensibility, and outstanding community support & extensions.

    ...In other words: it's freakin' awesome!!

    Positive comment •Mar 20, 2018
    1
    Mousepad Icon
    Vim icon
    • Vim is Free and Open SourceMousepad is also Free and Open Source
    • Vim is Lightweight and CustomizableMousepad is not according to our users
  7. Geany icon
    Geany icon

    Geany

     556 likes
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    Geany is a powerful, stable and lightweight programmer's text editor that provides tons of useful features without bogging down your workflow.

    147 Geany alternatives
    Geany screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • PortableApps.com
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    • Snapcraft
    Geany screenshot 1
    Geany screenshot 2
    +5
    Geany screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Support for Themes
    3.  Minimalistic
    4.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    5.  Ad-free

    Features

    1.  Multiplatform
    2.  IDE
    3.  Syntax Highlighting
    4.  Code navigation
    5.  Automatic Indentation
    6.  Shell integration
    7.  Debian package compatible
    8.  Support for LaTeX
    9.  Shortcut keys
    10.  Distraction-free
    11.  Autocompletion
    12.  Code Formatting
    13.  Batch Editing
    14.  Hierarchical Structure
    15.  Support for Large File
    16.  Built-in terminal emulation
    Geany iconMousepad Icon

    Geany VS Mousepad

    Is Geany a good alternative to Mousepad?
     
    Comments about Geany as an Alternative to Mousepad
     
    Guest

    Notepad is a text editor; Geany is an IDE. Recommending it to someone looking for a text editor is like, you ask me for a butter knife and I hand you a chainsaw.

    Negative comment •Nov 11, 2020
    -1
    Mousepad Icon
    Geany icon

    • Most users think Geany is a great Mousepad alternative.

    • Geany is Free and Open SourceMousepad is also Free and Open Source
    • Geany is Lightweight and MinimalisticMousepad is not according to our users
  9. Zed Editor icon
    Zed Editor icon

    Zed Editor

     46 likes
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    Zed is a blazing fast, multi-user, productivity-focused text editor. From the creators of Atom, Electron and Tree-sitter, the editor features built-in Vim mode with tooltips for key-bindings, language-aware...

    67 Zed Editor alternatives
    Zed Editor screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Zed Editor screenshot 1
    Zed Editor screenshot 2

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Optimal performance
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  Works Offline
    5.  Support for Themes
    6.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions

    Features

    1.  Syntax Highlighting
    2.  IDE
    3.  Dark Mode
    4.  Built-in terminal emulation
    5.  Autocompletion
    6.  Real time collaboration
    7.  Rust
    8.  Multiple Cursors
    9.  Fuzzy Finder
    10.  Refactoring
    11.  Distraction-free
    12.  Support for MarkDown
    13.  Git Support
    14.  Command palette
    Zed Editor iconMousepad Icon

    Zed Editor VS Mousepad

    Is Zed Editor a good alternative to Mousepad?
     
  10. gedit icon
    gedit icon

    gedit

     686 likes
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    Official text editor of the GNOME desktop environment. Has syntax highlighting and is suitable for programming, with support for several languages. It is extensible with plugins.

    186 gedit alternatives
    The Default look under GNOME with Adwaita

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Chrome OS
    • BSD
    • GNOME
    • OpenSolaris
    • Flathub
    gedit screenshot 1
    gedit screenshot 2
    +2
    gedit screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    3.  No Tracking
    4.  Works Offline
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Syntax Highlighting
    2.  Autocompletion
    3.  Spell Checking
    4.  Support for Unicode
    gedit iconMousepad Icon

    gedit VS Mousepad

    Is gedit a good alternative to Mousepad?
     
    Comments about gedit as an Alternative to Mousepad
     
    AdinanCenci

    Both are simple text editors, although gedit have more features

    Positive comment •Aug 14, 2021
    0
    Mousepad Icon
    gedit icon
    • gedit is Free and Open SourceMousepad is also Free and Open Source
    • gedit is Lightweight and Privacy focusedMousepad is not according to our users
  11. GNU nano icon
    GNU nano icon

    GNU nano

     283 likes
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    GNU nano is a small and friendly text editor. Besides basic text editing, nano offers many extra features like an interactive search and replace, go to line and column number, auto-indentation, feature toggles, internationalization support, and filename tab completion.

    142 GNU nano alternatives
    GNU nano screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Haiku
    GNU nano screenshot 1
    Color syntax
    +1
    GNU nano screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Command line interface
    2.  Terminal-based
    3.  Search and Replace
    4.  Automatic Indentation
    GNU nano iconMousepad Icon

    GNU nano VS Mousepad

    Is GNU nano a good alternative to Mousepad?
     
    Comments about GNU nano as an Alternative to Mousepad
     
    Guest

    Notepad is GUI based, Nano is terminal based. I love Nano and use it lots but apples and oranges.

    Negative comment •Nov 11, 2020
    2
    Mousepad Icon
    GNU nano icon
    • GNU nano is Free and Open SourceMousepad is also Free and Open Source
    • GNU nano is LightweightMousepad is not according to our users
  12. TextMate icon
    TextMate icon

    TextMate

     268 likes
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    TextMate brings Apple's approach to operating systems into the world of text editors. By bridging UNIX underpinnings and GUI, TextMate cherry-picks the best of both worlds to the benefit of expert scripters and novice users alike.

    161 TextMate alternatives
    TextMate screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    TextMate screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    2.  Support for Themes
    3.  Lightweight
    4.  No registration required
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Works Offline

    Features

    1.  Syntax Highlighting
    2.  Support for MarkDown
    3.  Search and Replace
    4.  Automatic Indentation
    5.  Dark Mode
    6.  Code Formatting
    7.  Snippets Manager
    Discontinued

    Last commit and version is from 2021

    TextMate iconMousepad Icon

    TextMate VS Mousepad

    Is TextMate a good alternative to Mousepad?
     
10 of 77 Mousepad alternatives