Mousepad AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Code Editors for Windows

Mousepad is not available for Windows but there are plenty of alternatives that runs on Windows with similar functionality. The best Windows Code Editor alternative is Notepad++, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to Mousepad and many of them are Code Editors available for Windows so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Windows Code Editor alternatives to 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
  35
  • ...

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 Nov 8, 2024
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  1. Notepad++ icon
    Notepad++ icon

    Notepad++

     4837 likes
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    Notepad++ is a free source code editor and Notepad replacement that supports several languages.

    234 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.  Configurable

    Features

    1.  Code Formatting
    2.  Portable
    3.  Tabbed interface
    4.  Search and Replace
    5.  Text formatting
    6.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    7.  Multiple Open Tabs
    8.  Multiple languages
    9.  Color coding
    10.  Support for Javascript
    11.  Built-in themes
    12.  Ad-free
    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

     1289 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.

    212 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.  Customizable
    2.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    2.  Autocompletion
    3.  Built-in terminal emulation
    4.  Syntax Highlighting
    5.  Code Completion
    6.  Multiple languages
    7. Git icon  Git Support
    8. GitHub icon  GitHub Integration
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  Supports Python
    11.  C++
    12.  Source code debugging
    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

     323 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.

    201 VSCodium alternatives
    VSCodium screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Electron

    Properties

    1.  Customizable
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  No Tracking
    2.  Prevent telemetry
    3.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    4.  Works Offline
    5.  No registration required
    6.  MIT License
    7.  Autocompletion
    8. Git icon  Git integration
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  Syntax Highlighting
    11.  Ad-free
    12.  Minimap
    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

     2003 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.

    200 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.  Customizable
    3.  Clean design
    4.  Distraction-free

    Features

    1.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    2.  Package Control
    3.  Syntax Highlighting
    4.  Multiple Cursors
    5.  Text editing
    6.  No Tracking
    7.  Dark Mode
    8.  Simple text editor
    9.  Tabbed interface
    10.  Support for MarkDown
    11.  Works Offline
    12. Git icon  Git 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

     1308 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.

    212 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

    Features

    1.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    2.  Syntax Highlighting
    3.  Hackable
    4.  Well documented
    5.  Modal editor
    6.  Command line interface
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  Support for MarkDown
    9.  No registration required
    10.  Portable
    11.  Batch Editing
    12.  Terminal-based
    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

     559 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.

    150 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.  Distraction-free

    Features

    1.  Multiplatform
    2.  Syntax Highlighting
    3.  Code navigation
    4.  Automatic Indentation
    5.  Shell integration
    6.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    7. LaTeX icon  Support for LaTeX
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  Autocompletion
    10.  Code Formatting
    11.  Batch Editing
    12.  Debian package compatible
    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. gedit icon
    gedit icon

    gedit

     685 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.

    189 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.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Syntax Highlighting
    2.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    3.  Autocompletion
    4.  No Tracking
    5.  Works Offline
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Spell Checking
    8.  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
  10. 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.

    144 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
  11. Notepad3 icon
    Notepad3 icon

    Notepad3

     53 likes
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    Notepad3 is a fast and light-weight text editor with syntax highlighting for programming jobs. Auto-completion, Multi-language, Dark mode more.

    209 Notepad3 alternatives
    Supports RTL languages out of the box.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Notepad3 screenshot 1
    Notepad3 screenshot 2
    +1
    Select Syntax Scheme

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Support for Unicode
    2.  Small-footprint
    3.  Multiple languages
    4.  Syntax Highlighting
    5.  Search and Replace
    6.  Portable
    7.  Support for regular expressions
    8.  No registration required
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  Works Offline
    11.  Dark Mode
    12.  No Tracking
    Notepad3 iconMousepad Icon

    Notepad3 VS Mousepad

    Is Notepad3 a good alternative to Mousepad?
     
  12. Aide IDE icon
    Aide IDE icon

    Aide IDE

     12 likes
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    Open-source code editor, enhancing VS Code with AI tools for chat-edit flow, proactive linter suggestions, AI completions, and AST navigation. Integrates with swebench-lite, empowering intelligent development with an inline AI widget and smart agents.

    55 Aide IDE alternatives
    Aide IDE screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Aide IDE screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  No registration required
    2.  No Tracking
    3.  Works Offline
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  Autocompletion
    6.  Syntax Highlighting
    7.  Code Completion
    8.  VSCode
    9.  Linting
    10.  AI-Powered
    Aide IDE iconMousepad Icon

    Aide IDE VS Mousepad

    Is Aide IDE a good alternative to Mousepad?
     
10 of 36 Mousepad alternatives