Windows Notepad Alternatives

Windows Notepad is described as 'Fast, lightweight editor bundled with Windows since 1985. Supports plain text, UTF-8, Linux newline, over 100 languages, with improved features' and is a very popular Text Editor in the os & utilities category. There are more than 100 alternatives to Windows Notepad for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, BSD and Web-based apps. The best Windows Notepad alternative is Notepad++, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like 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, Text Editors, Linux, Windows + Free, Windows 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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Windows Notepad alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. BabelPad icon
     5 likes

    BabelPad is a free Unicode text editor for Windows that supports the proper rendering of most complex scripts, and allows you to assign different fonts to different scripts in order to facilitate multi-script text editing.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • PortableApps.com
     
  2. Notes (PFA) icon
     3 likes

    Privacy Friendly Notes allows you to take and manage notes on Android devices. It belongs to the Privacy Friendly Apps group developed by the research group SECUSO at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. More information can be found an secuso.org/pfa

    Cost / License

    Platforms

    • F-Droid
    • Android
     
  3. NotepadX icon
     3 likes

    NotepadX is a simple text editor. With NotepadX you're be able to create standard text files, open text files and edit them. The finished file can be sent directly from the app via E-Mail, stored locally or uploaded online to OneDrive.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  4. Simple distraction-free text editor without any rich text nonsense. The simplicity is a feature.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
     
  5. ecode icon
     6 likes

    Lightweight multi-platform code editor with hardware-accelerated GUI, customizable minimalist interface, syntax highlighting for 50+ languages, terminal and LSP support, plugin extensibility, unlimited editor splits, persistent project state, and portable, ad-free use.

    59 ecode alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Haiku
    • FreeBSD
     
  6. TwistPad icon
     8 likes

    Twistpad is a fully featured text and code editor for Windows. Twistpad can be used as a simple notepad replacer, or a featured packed editor targeting web and software developers.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  7. TED Notepad icon
     17 likes

    Replace notepad with free Unicode notepad replacement, rich in innovative features, text-processing functions, tools and hot-keys.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  8. Byword icon
     53 likes

    Byword is designed to make writing more enjoyable with Markdown on your Mac, iPhone and iPad.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
     
  9. Fastedit icon
     4 likes

    Introducing Fastedit, designed to make editing and organizing your documents effortless. With the ability to open multiple tabs, you can easily edit or view multiple documents at once. The app also features line numbering and custom designs to personalize your experience.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  10. QuickNote icon
     7 likes

    Virtual scrapbook for Desktop with a plain text editor. With Quicknote, in its resizable window you can jot down your notes and organize them in categories. Beneath the normal text functions, it can let you directly access frequently run programs, manage windows tasks, and even...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  11. Appy Text icon
     1 like

    Appy Text is a super fast + lightweight text editor. Immersive too - more content, less chrome. If you're a Notepad user but have been looking for a charmingly simple, modern and free alternative then look no further. Made (carefully) for PC, tablet and phone.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Windows Phone
     
  12. BowPad icon
     10 likes

    BowPad is a small and fast text editor with a ribbon user interface and syntax highlighting.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
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