The Best Open Source Notepad++ AlternativesTop Text & Code Editors like Notepad++

The best open source alternative to Notepad++ is Geany. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Notepad++ and loads of them is open source so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting open source alternatives to Notepad++ are Kate, Vim, VSCodium and gedit.

Notepad++ alternatives are mainly Text Editors but may also be Code Editors or IDEs. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Notepad++.

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Mac + Free

Notepad++

4773

Free • Open Source
Text Editor

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

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Notepad++ alternatives page was last updated

Geany
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Text Editor
Code Editor
IDE
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
PortableApps.com
Flathub
Flatpak
Snapcraft
138 Geany alternatives
Geany is a powerful, stable and lightweight programmer's text editor that provides tons of useful features without bogging down your workflow. It runs on Linux, Windows and macOS is translated into over 40 languages, and has built-in support for more than 50 programming...
- - Geany is the most popular Open Source alternative to Notepad++.
Suggest and vote on features
Geany Features
1. LightweightGeany consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. Support for ThemesYou can use themes and templates to change the look and feel of Geany.
3. Syntax HighlightingGeany supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
4. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsGeany can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
5. Support for LaTeXGeany supports LaTeX for text and math equation formatting.
6. Ad-freeGeany doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
7. Distraction-freeGeany has a distraction-free mode for when you need to focus.
8. AutocompletionGeany can predict and complete the rest of a word or phrase you're typing.
9. Code FormattingGeany supports code formatting for multiple languages and code styles.
Multiplatform
Minimalistic
Code navigation
Automatic Indentation
Shell integration
Debian package compatible
Shortcut keys
Customizable
Support for Large File
Batch Editing
Comments about Geany as a Alternative to Notepad++
Almost everyone thinks Geany is a great Notepad++ alternative.
all • positive • negative relevance • date
niezniszczalny
Has the same features + some more features than Notepad++. And It's Free Software, on GPL license - huge PLUS for this! ++++
Top positive comment •
3

Guest
Virtually the same features and on top of it it's cross platform and open source.
Top positive comment •
9

Stefan Monov
Breaks some of my basic workflows. E.g. can't drop files onto the Geany window (to open them), can't use F3 for "find next"... OTOH the UI is nice and sleek.
Top negative comment •
0

Jordan
So far Geany is the best cross-platform alternative to Notepad++ I have tried. Its UI isn't hard to figure out & has a similar feel.
Positive comment •
0

Projjal Moitra
It's lightweight, fast and more customizable than Notepad++, and have basic IDE-like features, which are useful for programmer-users.
Positive comment •
0

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5 of 12 comments
Kate
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Text Editor
Code Editor
IDE
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
KDE
131 Kate alternatives
The Kate project develops two main products: KatePart, the advanced editor component which is used in numerous KDE applications requiring a text editing component, and Kate, a MDI text editor application.
Suggest and vote on features
Kate Features
1. Syntax HighlightingKate supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
2. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsKate can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
3. Git SupportKate supports Git, a free and open source distributed version control system.
4. LightweightKate consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
5. Support for MarkDownKate supports MarkDown for document formatting.
6. Code FormattingKate supports code formatting for multiple languages and code styles.
Native application
Themes
Editable text color schemes
Built-in terminal emulation
Tabbed interface
Built-in themes
Support for regular expressions
Comments about Kate as a Alternative to Notepad++
Almost everyone thinks Kate is a great Notepad++ alternative.
David
Kate is also open-source like Notepad++ and likewise runs at the speed of a native app. Features align pretty nicely between the two, but Kate runs natively on all desktops, not just Windows. Same workflow on Windows, Mac and Linux.
Positive comment •
2

RR JJ
Great syntax highlighting, and good plugin support. Fast and easy to use.
Positive comment •
8

Guest
lightweight, code syntax highlighting, regex find and replace
Positive comment •
1
Vim
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Text Editor
Code Editor
IDE
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
Haiku
AmigaOS
OpenSolaris
MorphOS
194 Vim alternatives
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.
Suggest and vote on features
Vim Features
1. LightweightVim consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsVim can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
3. Syntax HighlightingVim supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
4. Command line interfaceVim either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
5. Works OfflineVim can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
6. Support for MarkDownVim supports MarkDown for document formatting.
7. Batch EditingVim allows you to select multiple items (tasks, files, images etc) and edit their properties all at once.
8. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in Vim without registration.
9. PortableVim can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Keyboard focused
Customizable
Hackable
Well documented
Configurable
Modal editor
Terminal-based
Built-in terminal emulation
Visual Mode
Native application
Comments about Vim as a Alternative to Notepad++
Most users think Vim is a great Notepad++ alternative.
all • positive • negative relevance • date
Marcin
Serves same purpose, similar features, different approach, multiplatform, ubiquitous.
Top positive comment •
6

Guest
Fastest in use. You can improve your productivity and performance when writing.
Top positive comment •
1

Guest
Vim is a console app and require to know its commands to use it, while Notepad++ is UI driven, anyone can use it.
Top negative comment •
27

Xandros Darkstorm
Notepad++ is a gui application, while vim is strictly for terminals.
Negative comment •
0

RemovedUser
Although it runs as a GUI, you still need to know the vi commands. Unless you don't mind using the menu bar to do everything.
Negative comment •
-1

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5 of 9 comments
VSCodium
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Code Editor
Text Editor
IDE
Mac
Windows
Linux
Electron / Atom Shell
184 VSCodium alternatives
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.
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VSCodium Features
1. No TrackingVSCodium will not track you or use your personal data.
2. Privacy focusedVSCodium is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
3. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsVSCodium can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
4. Works OfflineVSCodium can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
5. AutocompletionVSCodium can predict and complete the rest of a word or phrase you're typing.
6. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in VSCodium without registration.
7. Syntax HighlightingVSCodium supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
8. Support for ThemesYou can use themes and templates to change the look and feel of VSCodium.
9. LightweightVSCodium consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
Prevent telemetry
Customizable
Git integration
MIT License
Minimap
Dark Mode
Built-in terminal emulation
Clean design
Support for MarkDown
Code navigation
Comments about VSCodium as a Alternative to Notepad++
Almost everyone thinks VSCodium is a great Notepad++ alternative.
aaronfranke
VS Codium does everything Notepad++ can do but better. It has more features, is more extensible/customizable, is fairly lightweight, and is cross-platform.
Positive comment •
2

Guest
The power of Visual Studio without all the tracking of Microsoft in a simple and intuitive layout
Positive comment •
2
gedit
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Text Editor
Code Editor
Mac
Windows
Linux
Chrome OS
BSD
GNOME
OpenSolaris
175 gedit alternatives
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.
Suggest and vote on features
gedit Features
1. Lightweightgedit consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. Syntax Highlightinggedit supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
3. Extensible by Plugins/Extensionsgedit can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
4. Privacy focusedgedit is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
5. Works Offlinegedit can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
6. Spell Checkinggedit can detect and correct all types of grammar and spelling mistakes.
7. Ad-freegedit doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
8. Autocompletiongedit can predict and complete the rest of a word or phrase you're typing.
Customizable
Support for Unicode
Comments about gedit as a Alternative to Notepad++
Most users think gedit is a great Notepad++ alternative.
rmpbklyn
no sorting and don't reconize regular expression when 'replace' or search
Negative comment •
5

Guest
Gedit can't fold code, can't make ident lines, and the ident is strange!
Negative comment •
11

Guest
Some essential plugins missing especially around code formatting tools
Negative comment •
3
Neovim
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Text Editor
Code Editor
IDE
Mac
Windows
Linux
Android
BSD
86 Neovim alternatives
Neovim is Vim out of the box.
- - Neovim is the most popular Android alternative to Notepad++.
Suggest and vote on features
Neovim Features
1. LightweightNeovim consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsNeovim can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
3. Syntax HighlightingNeovim supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
4. AutocompletionNeovim can predict and complete the rest of a word or phrase you're typing.
Configurable
Lua scripting
Asynchronous
Terminal-based
Sane defaults
Vim
Opinions about Neovim as a Alternative to Notepad++
Almost everyone thinks Neovim is a great Notepad++ alternative.
GNU nano
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Text Editor
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
Haiku
133 GNU nano alternatives
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.
Suggest and vote on features
GNU nano Features
1. Command line interfaceGNU nano either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
2. LightweightGNU nano consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
Terminal-based
Search and Replace
Automatic Indentation
Comments about GNU nano as a Alternative to Notepad++
Most users think GNU nano is a great Notepad++ alternative.
johnhk
It one of the better TerminalBased (CLI) editors. I from a WindowsOS enviroment, so I differentiate between CLI and GUI editors. But as a cli-text-editor its very windows-user-friendly.
Positive comment •
0