Windows Notepad AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Text Editors

The best Text Editor alternative to Windows Notepad is Notepad++, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Windows Notepad and loads of them are Text Editors so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Text Editor alternatives to Windows Notepad are Sublime Text, Vim, Kate and gedit.

filter to find the best alternatives

Windows Notepad alternatives are mainly Text Editors, but if you're looking for Code Editors or IDEs you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Open Source, Windows + Free, Windows, Text Editors, Linux and Windows + Lightweight. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Windows Notepad.
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Alternatives list

  1. Notepad++ icon

    Notepad++

     4926 likes
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    Notepad++ is a free, open-source code editor supporting several languages, offering features like syntax highlighting, plugin support, dark mode, portability, privacy, and efficient resource usage, making it highly customizable and suitable for various programming needs.

    246 Notepad++ alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • PortableApps.com
    Notepad++ screenshot 1
     
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    6
    57
    Comments about Notepad++ as an Alternative to Windows Notepad
    Top Positive Comment
    linuxplayer
    0

    Good at everything, best text editor for Windows if you don't need a hands on IDE.

    Top Negative Comment
    Guest
    0

    Way too bloated if you're looking for something barebones like Notepad.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    jmNY68
    Positive
    0

    I like Notepad++, but it is focused on more of programming. I prefer a simpler UI layout and options.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
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    3 of 6 comments
    Windows Notepad Icon
    Notepad++ icon

    • Most users think Notepad++ is a great Windows Notepad alternative.

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

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

    • Notepad++ is Free and Open SourceWindows Notepad is Free and Proprietary
    • Notepad++ is Privacy focusedWindows Notepad is not according to our users
  2. Sublime Text icon

    Sublime Text

     2036 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.

    190 Sublime Text alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Pay once)
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Sublime Text screenshot 1
     
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    15

    • Most users think Sublime Text is a great Windows Notepad alternative.

    • Sublime Text is the most popular Mac & Linux alternative to Windows Notepad.

    • Sublime Text is Freemium and ProprietaryWindows Notepad is Free and Proprietary
    • Sublime Text is CustomizableWindows Notepad is not according to our users
  4. Vim icon

    Vim

     1340 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

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Haiku
    • AmigaOS
    • OpenSolaris
    • MorphOS
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    • Snapcraft
    Vim screenshot 1
     
  5. Kate icon

    Kate

     310 likes
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    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.

    142 Kate alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • KDE Plasma
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    • Snapcraft
    Kate screenshot 1
     
  6. gedit icon

    gedit

     693 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.

    190 gedit alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Chrome OS
    • BSD
    • GNOME
    • OpenSolaris
    • Flathub
    The Default look under GNOME with Adwaita
     
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    8
  7. GNU Emacs icon

    GNU Emacs

     387 likes
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    GNU Emacs is an extensible, customizable text editor—and more. At its core is an interpreter for Emacs Lisp, a dialect of the Lisp programming language with extensions to support text editing. The features of GNU Emacs include:

    178 GNU Emacs alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • BSD
    • Snapcraft
    • F-Droid
    • Haiku
    • Debian
    • MacPorts
    • Homebrew
    The GNU Emacs Manual calls Emacs the extensible, customizable, self-documenting real-time display editor
     

    • GNU Emacs is the most popular Android alternative to Windows Notepad.

    • GNU Emacs is Free and Open SourceWindows Notepad is Free and Proprietary
    • GNU Emacs is Customizable and Privacy focusedWindows Notepad is not according to our users
  9. GNU nano icon

    GNU nano

     289 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.

    152 GNU nano alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Haiku
    GNU nano screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Comments about GNU nano as an Alternative to Windows Notepad
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    It works, even on very large text files. Not all these alternatives do work.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Windows Notepad Icon
    GNU nano icon
    • GNU nano is Free and Open SourceWindows Notepad is Free and Proprietary
  10. Notepad3 icon

    Notepad3

     63 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.

    210 Notepad3 alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Supports RTL languages out of the box.
     
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    3
    8
    Comments about Notepad3 as an Alternative to Windows Notepad
    Xahkyen
    Positive
    3

    It's the best alternative that I was looking for: more powerful, while being lightweight, simply to use and full with useful features.

    Noah Sean
    Positive
    1

    Lightweight, easy to use, and offers syntax highlighting.

    jmNY68
    Positive
    0

    I tried Notepads and several other alternatives, looking for simple, lightweight app that had more features than Notepad and was less cluttered than Notepad++, as I am just using it to edit .txt files, not programming, markup, HTML or otherwise. This fits fairly well. Thanks, developers.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Windows Notepad Icon
    Notepad3 icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Notepad3 is a great Windows Notepad alternative.

    • Notepad3 is Free and Open SourceWindows Notepad is Free and Proprietary
    • Notepad3 is Privacy focusedWindows Notepad is not according to our users
  11. Notepads icon

    Notepads

     45 likes
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    Considering that most text editors are eather too heavy or look too old, the author came up with Notepads, designed to be a modern-looking UWP app.

    24 Notepads alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Notepads screenshot 1
     
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    4
    13
    Comments about Notepads as an Alternative to Windows Notepad
    Guest
    Negative
    -1

    35 MB is not lightweight, its 24 floppys or 18 Gameboy cartridges for a single app for notes

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    burakyak
    Positive
    2

    Windows should just implement this as new notepad...

    Wolf Icefang
    Positive
    2

    Notepads makes a real attempt to integrate with Windows 10 and work as a modern Notepad app. It installs from the Microsoft Store, it loads almost instantly, and it implements Fluent Design elements. This app made such a good first impression that I've already uninstalled Microsoft's built in Notepad app. It may not be the "best text editor", but it is the best alternative for Windows 10's Notepad.

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    3 of 4 comments
    Windows Notepad Icon
    Notepads icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Notepads is a great Windows Notepad alternative.

    • Notepads is Free and Open SourceWindows Notepad is Free and Proprietary
    • Notepads is Privacy focusedWindows Notepad is not according to our users
  12. Notepad2 icon

    Notepad2

     291 likes
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    Notepad2 is a fast and light-weight Windows Notepad like text editor with syntax highlighting. Simple as possible, but yet powerful. Has full Unicode support. Can be run out of the box without installation, and does not touch your system's...

    118 Notepad2 alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • PortableApps.com
    Notepad2 screenshot 1
     
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    2
    13
    Comments about Notepad2 as an Alternative to Windows Notepad
    Guest
    Positive
    1

    Just one file, but powerfull.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Does what it should do, while not using much space. So sad it is discontinued... :-(

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Windows Notepad Icon
    Notepad2 icon

    • Most users think Notepad2 is a great Windows Notepad alternative.

    • Notepad2 is Free and Open SourceWindows Notepad is Free and Proprietary
  14. TextMate icon

    TextMate

     269 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

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    TextMate screenshot 1
     
12 of 124 Windows Notepad alternatives