Open Source WordPad Alternatives

The best open source alternative to WordPad is LibreOffice - Writer. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to WordPad and 15 is open source so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting open source alternatives to WordPad are Apache OpenOffice Writer, FocusWriter, AbiWord and Notea.

WordPad alternatives are mainly Word Processors but may also be Note-taking Tools or Text Editors. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of WordPad.

WordPad alternatives page was last updated

WordPad

Free • Proprietary
Word Processor

WordPad is a simple word processor that is included with almost all versions of Microsoft Windows from Windows 95 onwards....

More about WordPad

LibreOffice - Writer
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Word Processor
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
PortableApps.com
ReactOS
83 LibreOffice - Writer alternatives
Writer has all the features you need from a modern, full-featured word processing or desktop publishing tool.
- - LibreOffice - Writer is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to WordPad.
- - LibreOffice - Writer is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to WordPad.
Suggest and vote on features
LibreOffice - Writer Features
1. PortableLibreOffice - Writer can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
2. Spell CheckingLibreOffice - Writer can detect and correct all types of grammar and spelling mistakes.
3. Privacy focusedLibreOffice - Writer is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
4. Ad-freeLibreOffice - Writer doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
5. Support for ThemesYou can use themes and templates to change the look and feel of LibreOffice - Writer.
6. Works OfflineLibreOffice - Writer can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
7. Dark ModeLibreOffice - Writer supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
8. Distraction-freeLibreOffice - Writer has a distraction-free mode for when you need to focus.
9. WYSIWYG SupportLibreOffice - Writer integrates a WYSIWYG editor to edit the look and content of a document, page, or file.
Export to PDF
Built-in PDF converter
Export to Word
LibreOffice Integration
Compatible with Microsoft Office
Auto Correction
Basic fonts
FOSS
Export to HTML
Export to EPUB
Comments about LibreOffice - Writer as a Alternative to WordPad
Some users think LibreOffice - Writer is a great WordPad alternative, some don't.
all • positive • negative relevance • date
Guest
Very much like Microsoft Office and Wordpad combined! Extremely easy to use interface and has no limited features! Best of all FREE! Unlike Micro's BS greed, they want you to pay for a better notepad alternative and there it was just sitting around the corners of the net while many of no-brainers like me had no clue such an amazing thing like Libre exist! Thank you very much Libre! You saved not only our time searching further but also saved our wallets!
Top positive comment•
0

Guest
Using it to write my novels. Paying for Wordpad isn't necessary as long as I have this software.
Top positive comment•
-3

Guest
Wordpad is too simple compared to Wordpad. I'm looking for a super lightweight word processor like Wordpad for Linux so I can quickly write simple RTF documents when I don't need the features of LibreOffice. LibreOffice has more features but isn't as lightweight and fast.
Top negative comment•
13

Guest
I like and use LibreOffice, but MS WordPad is extremely more simple than LibreOffice. A similar programme to WordPad is Abiword.
Negative comment•
0

Richard Draucker
Suggesting LibreOffice Writer as an alternative to Wordpad is like suggesting a Boeing 787 as an alternative to a Cessna single engine 2 seater.
Negative comment•
4

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5 of 6 comments
Apache OpenOffice Writer
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Word Processor
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
80 Apache OpenOffice Writer alternatives
Writer, part of the Apache OpenOffice suite, is an open-source word processor. It supports the ISO standard Open Document Format (ODF) for data interchange as its default file format, as well as Microsoft Office 97-2003 formats, Microsoft Office 2007...
Suggest and vote on features
Apache OpenOffice Writer Features
1. Spell CheckingApache OpenOffice Writer can detect and correct all types of grammar and spelling mistakes.
2. Ad-freeApache OpenOffice Writer doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
3. Works OfflineApache OpenOffice Writer can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
Export to PDF
Fractions
FOSS
Opinions about Apache OpenOffice Writer as a Alternative to WordPad
Most users think Apache OpenOffice Writer is a great WordPad alternative.
FocusWriter
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Text Editor
Word Processor
Windows
Linux
PortableApps.com
89 FocusWriter alternatives
FocusWriter is a fullscreen, distraction-free word processor designed to immerse you as much as possible in your work. The program autosaves your progress, and reloads the last files you had open to make it easy to jump back in during your next writing session, and has many...
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FocusWriter Features
1. Distraction-freeFocusWriter has a distraction-free mode for when you need to focus.
2. LightweightFocusWriter consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
3. PortableFocusWriter can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Distraction-free Writing
Customizable
Daily progress tracker
Fullscreen support
Skin customization
Auto-saving
Writing statistics
Tabbed interface
Multiple languages
Opinions about FocusWriter as a Alternative to WordPad
Most users think FocusWriter is a great WordPad alternative.
AbiWord
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Word Processor
Linux
BSD
PortableApps.com
Haiku
GTK+
AmigaOS
Flathub
Flatpak
70 AbiWord alternatives
AbiWord is a free software word processor. The name "AbiWord" (pronounced "Abby Word") is derived from the root of the Spanish word "abierto", meaning "open". It runs on Linux, Mac OS X (PowerPC), ReactOS, BeOS (unsupported), AmigaOS 4.
Suggest and vote on features
AbiWord Features
1. LightweightAbiWord consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. PortableAbiWord can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
3. Spell CheckingAbiWord can detect and correct all types of grammar and spelling mistakes.
4. Works OfflineAbiWord can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
5. Distraction-freeAbiWord has a distraction-free mode for when you need to focus.
6. Ad-freeAbiWord doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
Multiple languages
Comments about AbiWord as a Alternative to WordPad
Almost everyone thinks AbiWord is a great WordPad alternative.
Guest
Simple and lightweight, but enough for writing a reach formatted text , and everyday use. Not bloated and unless functions. Only those what I need for a letter written to a friend or an office.
Positive comment•
0

Guest
Its more powerful and can be customized for default fonts. Better version of WordPad. I have been using it for everything great program.
Positive comment•
4

Guest
Smaller footprint, familiar interface, for most general writing, it more than suffices.
Positive comment•
1
Notea
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Note-taking Tool
Task Management Tool
Self-Hosted
268 Notea alternatives
Notea is a privacy-first, open-source note-taking application. It supports Markdown syntax, sharing, and works on any web-browser capable platform.
- - Notea is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to WordPad.
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Notea Features
1. Support for MarkDownNotea supports MarkDown for document formatting.
2. Dark ModeNotea supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
Note organization
Notebook
metapad
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Text Editor
Windows
119 metapad alternatives
Metapad is a small, fast (and completely free) text editor for Windows 9x/NT/XP/Vista with similar features to Microsoft Notepad but with many extra (and rather useful) features. It was designed to completely replace Notepad since it includes all of Notepads features and much...
Suggest and vote on features
metapad Features
1. Portablemetapad can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Simple text editor
Discontinued
The last update was in 2012.

Opinions about metapad as a Alternative to WordPad
Almost everyone thinks metapad is a great WordPad alternative.
Airborn
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Open Source
Word Processor
Online
Software as a Service (SaaS)
92 Airborn alternatives
Create and edit documents online without sacrificing your privacy.
Suggest and vote on features
Airborn Features
1. Real time collaborationMultiple users can work together in Airborn simultaneously.
Security focused
AES Encryption
Export to PDF
Windows-like
Multiple languages
Encrypted Documents
Encrypted Notes
Discontinued
Project seems dead, github repo still up.
Fidus Writer
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Word Processor
Note-taking Tool
LaTeX Editor
Linux
Self-Hosted
80 Fidus Writer alternatives
Fidus Writer is an online collaborative LaTeX editor especially made for academics who need to use citations and/or formulas. The editor focuses on the content rather than the layout, so that with the same text, you can later on publish it in multiple ways: On a website, as a...
Suggest and vote on features
Fidus Writer Features
1. Real time collaborationMultiple users can work together in Fidus Writer simultaneously.
2. Support for LaTeXFidus Writer supports LaTeX for text and math equation formatting.
Export to LaTeX
Devpad
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Text Editor
Code Editor
IDE
Windows
171 Devpad alternatives
Notepad-like VB.Net multi-tab source code editor for Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 that supports ASM, ASP.Net, Boo, C#, C++, CSS, HTML, INI, Java, JavaScript, Lua, Perl, PHP, Python, Ruby, SQL, VB.Net, XML and plain text files.
Suggest and vote on features
Devpad Features
1. Syntax HighlightingDevpad supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
Notepas
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Text Editor
Code Editor
IDE
Mac
Windows
Linux
114 Notepas alternatives
Notepas is a fast portable native multiplatform text editor written in Lazarus and can be compiled for multiple platforms and widget sets using the advanced native Free Pascal Compiler.
Suggest and vote on features
Notepas Features
1. Syntax HighlightingNotepas supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
2. PortableNotepas can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Search and Replace
Support for Unicode
GPLv3
Discontinued
Cannot run on macOS Monterey and the last update is from 2016.