The Best Open Source Windows Notepad AlternativesTop Text Editors and other similar apps like Windows Notepad
The best open source alternative to Windows Notepad is Notepad++. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Windows Notepad and loads of them is open source so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting open source alternatives to Windows Notepad are Vim, Kate, gedit and Notepad3.
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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 Windows + Free. 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.- Text Editor
- Free • Proprietary
- 227 Notepad++ alternatives
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.
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
Country of Origin
France
EU
Platforms
- Windows
- PortableApps.com
Comments about Notepad++ as an Alternative to Windows Notepad
Top Positive CommentMost Recent CommentjmNY68I like Notepad++, but it is focused on more of programming. I prefer a simpler UI layout and options.
Yeah it's better than Windows' notepad, feature rich and dark mode support.
- 206 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.
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
Country of Origin
Netherlands
EU
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- BSD
- Haiku
- AmigaOS
- OpenSolaris
- MorphOS
- Flathub
- Flatpak
- Snapcraft
- 137 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.
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
Country of Origin
Germany
EU
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- BSD
- KDE Plasma
- Flathub
- Flatpak
- Snapcraft
- 183 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.
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
Country of Origin
United States
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Chrome OS
- BSD
- GNOME
- OpenSolaris
- Flathub
- 205 Notepad3 alternatives
Notepad3 is a fast and light-weight text editor with syntax highlighting for programming jobs. Auto-completion, Multi-language, Dark mode more.
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
Country of Origin
South Africa
Platforms
- Windows
Comments about Notepad3 as an Alternative to Windows Notepad
Most Recent CommentXahkyenIt's the best alternative that I was looking for: more powerful, while being lightweight, simply to use and full with useful features.
Noah SeanLightweight, easy to use, and offers syntax highlighting.
jmNY68I 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.
- 142 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.
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- BSD
- Haiku
Comments about GNU nano as an Alternative to Windows Notepad
It works, even on very large text files. Not all these alternatives do work.
- 166 GNU Emacs alternatives
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:
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
Country of Origin
United States
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
- BSD
- F-Droid
- Haiku
- Homebrew
- Snapcraft
- Debian
- MacPorts
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.
Comments about Notepads as an Alternative to Windows Notepad
Most Recent Comment35 MB is not lightweight, its 24 floppys or 18 Gameboy cartridges for a single app for notes
burakyakWindows should just implement this as new notepad...
Wolf IcefangNotepads 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.
- 121 Notepad2 alternatives
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...
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
Country of Origin
Germany
EU
Platforms
- Windows
- PortableApps.com
DiscontinuedThe program is no longer updated. Last version, 4.2.25, released on October 28, 2012, can be still downloaded from the official website. You can also take a look at this active fork: https://github.com/zufuliu/notepad2
Comments about Notepad2 as an Alternative to Windows Notepad
Does what it should do, while not using much space. So sad it is discontinued... :-(
Just one file, but powerfull.
Good at everything, best text editor for Windows if you don't need a hands on IDE.