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, Windows + Free, Text Editors, Linux, Windows + Lightweight and Windows. 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. DocPad is a superior alternative to Notepad. Although it fills the same role, plain text editing, it has many advantages.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  2. TextPad icon
     58 likes

    TextPad is designed to provide the power and functionality to satisfy the most demanding text editing requirements. It can edit files up to the limits of virtual memory, and it will work with the 32-bit and 64-bit editions of Windows 7, Vista, XP, 2000, Server 2003 and 2008.

    124 TextPad alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  3. A lightweight, distraction-free notepad with instant access, no registration or ads, auto-saves notes locally, supports manual export, and works seamlessly on modern browsers and mobile devices while prioritizing privacy with a clean interface and dark mode.

    82 Online Notepad alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
     
  4. NFOPad icon
     21 likes

    NFOPad is a small, fast and flexible combined text editor and nfo viewer. It is a clone of Microsoft's Notepad but much more customizable and with some additional features. NFOPad fully supports Unicode as well as nfo files with ASCII art.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
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    1
    NFOPad vs Windows Notepad Comments
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Looks the same and just as fast.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • NFOPad is Free and ProprietaryWindows Notepad is also Free and Proprietary
  5. FoldingText icon
     8 likes

    FoldingText makes you productive in easily formatted plain text. Turn your ideas into plans. Your to-dos into results. Your writing into clear, focused documents.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
     
  6. Thunderpad icon
     10 likes

    Thunderpad (formerly Textpad) is a simple, general-purpose and cross-platform text editor written in C++ using the Qt libraries. Thunderpad aims to be faster and more lightweight than most text editors, but as useful as them.

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
     
  7. RJ TextEd icon
     29 likes

    RJ TextEd is a full featured text and source editor with Unicode support, syntax highlighting and code folding. The functionality extends beyond text files and includes support for HTML editing with integrated preview, spell checking, auto completion, HTML validation, templates...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
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