Notepad Alternatives for Linux

Notepad is not available for Linux but there are plenty of alternatives that runs on Linux with similar functionality. The best Linux alternative is Sublime Text. It's not free, so if you're looking for a free alternative, you could try Vim or Kate. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Notepad and many of them are available for Linux so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Linux alternatives to Notepad are GNU nano, gedit, GNU Emacs and CudaText.

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

179

Free • Proprietary
Text Editor
Windows

Most simple text editor. Just plain text, saves in .txt format. Not available for download; bundled with all versions of...

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Sublime Text
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Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Text Editor
Code Editor
IDE
Mac
Windows
Linux
189 alternatives to Sublime Text
Sublime Text is a sophisticated text editor for code, html and prose - any kind of text file. You'll love the slick user interface and extraordinary features.
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Sublime Text Features
1. LightweightSublime Text consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsSublime Text can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
3. Syntax HighlightingSublime Text supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
4. Dark ModeSublime Text supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
5. Distraction-freeSublime Text has a distraction-free mode for when you need to focus.
6. PortableSublime Text can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
7. AutocompletionSublime Text can predict and complete the rest of a word or phrase you're typing.
Customizable
Package Control
Multiple Cursors
Clean design
Text editing
Font Ligature Support
Simple text editor
Code review
High-dpi support
Git integration
Sublime Text vs Notepad opinions
Most users think Sublime Text is a great alternative to Notepad.
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
GNU nano
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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
gedit
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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 Emacs
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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
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
UltraEdit
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Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Text Editor
Code Editor
Mac
Windows
Linux
200 alternatives to UltraEdit
UltraEdit is the ideal text, HTML and HEX editor, and an advanced PHP, Perl, Java and JavaScript editor for programmers. An industry-award winner, UltraEdit supports disk-based 64-bit file handling (standard) on 32-bit Windows platforms (Windows 2000 and later).
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UltraEdit Features
Column based text editing
Hex Editor
SciTE
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Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Text Editor
Code Editor
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
Xfce
141 alternatives to SciTE
SciTE is a SCIntilla based Text Editor. Originally built to demonstrate Scintilla, it has grown to be a generally useful editor with facilities for building and running programs. It is best used for jobs with simple configurations - I use it for building test and demonstration...

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Xed
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Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Text Editor
Code Editor
Linux
146 alternatives to Xed
Xed is a text editor which supports most standard editor features, extending this basic functionality with other features not usually found in simple text editors. Xed is a graphical application which supports editing multiple text files in one window (known sometimes as tabs or...
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Xed Features
1. LightweightXed consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. Syntax HighlightingXed supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
3. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in Xed without registration.
Customizable
X server
Support for Unicode
Automatic Indentation