Open Source Notepad Alternatives

The best open source alternative to Notepad is Notepad++. 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 Vim, Kate, gedit and GNU nano.

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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Notepad

180

Free • Proprietary
Text Editor
Windows

Fastest and lightweight simple text editor bundled with all Windows OS. Just plain text, saves in .txt format. So it has...

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Notepad++
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Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Text Editor
Code Editor
Windows
PortableApps.com
216 alternatives to Notepad++
Notepad++ is a free source code editor and Notepad replacement that supports several languages.
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Notepad++ Features
1. LightweightNotepad++ consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. Code FormattingNotepad++ supports code formatting for multiple languages and code styles.
3. PortableNotepad++ can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
4. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsNotepad++ can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
5. AutocompletionNotepad++ can predict and complete the rest of a word or phrase you're typing.
6. Syntax HighlightingNotepad++ supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
7. Full-Text SearchNotepad++ lets you search for specific words or phrases from inside a document or database.
8. Ad-freeNotepad++ doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
9. No Coding RequiredNotepad++ can be used without an coding or programming skills.
Tabbed interface
Text formatting
Search and Replace
Support for Javascript
Multiple languages
Color coding
Multiple Open Tabs
Configurable
Debugging
Auto-saving
Notepad++ vs Notepad opinions
Most users think Notepad++ is a great alternative to Notepad.
Guest
Yeah it's better than Windows' notepad, feature rich and dark mode support.
Positive comment•
0

Guest
Feature-packed. If that's not enough, you can extend it even further with plugins.
Positive comment•
2

Guest
Very good for writing code
Positive comment•
0
Vim
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Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Text Editor
Code Editor
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
Haiku
AmigaOS
OpenSolaris
MorphOS
193 alternatives to Vim
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.
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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
Code Syntax Highlighting
Configurable
Modal editor
Terminal-based
Built-in terminal emulation
Visual Mode
Kate
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Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Text Editor
Code Editor
IDE
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
KDE
128 alternatives to Kate
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.
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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
gedit
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Text Editor
Code Editor
Mac
Windows
Linux
Chrome OS
BSD
GNOME
OpenSolaris
170 alternatives to gedit
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.
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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. Ad-freegedit doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
7. Autocompletiongedit can predict and complete the rest of a word or phrase you're typing.
8. Spell Checkinggedit can detect and correct all types of grammar and spelling mistakes.
Customizable
Support for Unicode
gedit vs Notepad opinions
GNU nano
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Text Editor
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
Haiku
132 alternatives to GNU nano
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.
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GNU nano Features
1. Command line interfaceGNU nano either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
Terminal-based
Search and Replace
Automatic Indentation
GNU Emacs
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Text Editor
Code Editor
IDE
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
Haiku
Homebrew
Android
F-Droid
159 alternatives to GNU Emacs
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:
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GNU Emacs Features
1. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsGNU Emacs can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
2. Syntax HighlightingGNU Emacs supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
3. Support for ThemesYou can use themes and templates to change the look and feel of GNU Emacs.
4. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in GNU Emacs without registration.
5. No Coding RequiredGNU Emacs can be used without an coding or programming skills.
6. Dark ModeGNU Emacs supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
7. Privacy focusedGNU Emacs is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
8. LightweightGNU Emacs consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
9. Support for scriptingGNU Emacs supports scripts and macros to automate or customize tasks.
Extensibility
Customizable
Org-mode
Self-documenting
Editable text color schemes
Multi OS
IDE All Languages
Code Completion
Terminal-based
No Tracking
Notepads
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Text Editor
Code Editor
Windows
14 alternatives to Notepads
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.
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Notepads Features
1. LightweightNotepads consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. Dark ModeNotepads supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
3. Support for MarkDownNotepads supports MarkDown for document formatting.
4. Ad-freeNotepads doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
5. Automatic BackupNotepads will automatically back up your data periodically.
6. Distraction-freeNotepads has a distraction-free mode for when you need to focus.
7. Spell CheckingNotepads can detect and correct all types of grammar and spelling mistakes.
Tabbed interface
Themes
Multiple languages
Notepads vs Notepad opinions
pros, cons and recent comments
WolfIcefang
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.
Positive comment•
2

burakyak
Windows should just implement this as new notepad...
Positive comment•
1
CudaText
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Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Text Editor
Code Editor
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
182 alternatives to CudaText
CudaText is a cross-platform text editor, written in Lazarus / Free Pascal.
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CudaText Features
1. LightweightCudaText consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsCudaText can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
3. AutocompletionCudaText can predict and complete the rest of a word or phrase you're typing.
Native application
Customizable
Minimap
Command palette
Notepad3
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Text Editor
Code Editor
IDE
Windows
196 alternatives to Notepad3
Notepad3 is a lightweight text editor with the many features: code folding, bracket matching, automatic indentation, word auto-completion, convert character encoding between various formats (ASCII, UTF-8, and UTF-16), newline format conversion (between DOS (CR/LF), Unix (LF)...
Suggest and vote on features
Notepad3 Features
1. LightweightNotepad3 consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. PortableNotepad3 can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
3. Syntax HighlightingNotepad3 supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
4. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in Notepad3 without registration.
5. Ad-freeNotepad3 doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
6. Support for ThemesYou can use themes and templates to change the look and feel of Notepad3.
7. Works OfflineNotepad3 can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
Support for Unicode
Multiple languages
Small-footprint
Search and Replace
Support for regular expressions
Support for Right-to-Left
Notepad3 vs Notepad opinions
pros, cons and recent comments
xahkyen
It's the best alternative that I was looking for: more powerful, while being lightweight, simply to use and full with useful features.
Positive comment•
0
Notepad2
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Text Editor
Code Editor
Windows
PortableApps.com
122 alternatives to Notepad2
Notepad2 is a fast and light-weight 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 registry. Open Source license.
Suggest and vote on features
Notepad2 Features
1. LightweightNotepad2 consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. PortableNotepad2 can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
3. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in Notepad2 without registration.
4. Syntax HighlightingNotepad2 supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
5. Ad-freeNotepad2 doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
Discontinued
The program is no longer updated. Last version, 4.2.25, released on October 28, 2012, can be still downloaded from the official website.

Notepad2 vs Notepad opinions
Almost everyone thinks Notepad2 is a great alternative to Notepad.
Guest
Just one file, but powerfull.
Positive comment•
1