Open Source WordPad AlternativesTop Word Processors and other similar apps like WordPad

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 16 is open source so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting open source alternatives to WordPad are AbiWord, Apache OpenOffice Writer, FocusWriter and MarkFlowy.

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WordPad alternatives are mainly Word Processors, but if you're looking for Text Editors or Code Editors you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Windows, Linux, iPad, Free, Chrome OS, Open Source and Mac. 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 WordPad.
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Alternatives list

  1. LibreOffice - Writer icon

    LibreOffice - Writer

     1298 likes

    An open-source word processor offering rich formatting and style options across multiple platforms. Versatile enough to handle both simple memos and complex book publishing, it supports a wide range of document formats and Microsoft Word compatibility, enhancing productivity through templates and layouts.

    86 LibreOffice - Writer alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • ReactOS
    LibreOffice - Writer screenshot 1
     
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    11
    22
    Comments about LibreOffice - Writer as an Alternative to WordPad
    Top Positive Comment
    TBayAreaPat
    1

    LibreOffice is great. If you want something more lightweight, consider HS Writer.

    Top Negative Comment
    Guest
    4

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

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    DavidGP
    Negative
    2

    It's an idiotic comparison. Like calling an eighteen-wheeler an alternative to a bicycle.

    3 of 11 comments
    WordPad Icon
    LibreOffice - Writer icon

    • Some users think LibreOffice - Writer is a great WordPad alternative, some don't.

    • LibreOffice - Writer is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to WordPad.

    • LibreOffice - Writer is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to WordPad.

    • LibreOffice - Writer is Free and Open SourceWordPad is Free and Proprietary
    • LibreOffice - Writer is Privacy focused and LightweightWordPad is not according to our users
  2. AbiWord icon

    AbiWord

     260 likes

    AbiWord is a free word processing program similar to Microsoft® Word. It is suitable for a wide variety of word processing tasks.

    67 AbiWord alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Haiku
    • GTK
    • Flatpak
    • AmigaOS
    AbiWord on Linux
     
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    4
    24
    Comments about AbiWord as an Alternative to WordPad
    Guest
    Positive
    4

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

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    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.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    1

    Smaller footprint, familiar interface, for most general writing, it more than suffices.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    3 of 4 comments
    WordPad Icon
    AbiWord icon

    • Almost everyone thinks AbiWord is a great WordPad alternative.

    • AbiWord is Free and Open SourceWordPad is Free and Proprietary
    • AbiWord is LightweightWordPad is not according to our users
  4. Apache OpenOffice Writer icon

    Apache OpenOffice Writer

     682 likes

    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...

    72 Apache OpenOffice Writer alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    Main window
     
  5. FocusWriter icon

    FocusWriter

     208 likes

    Simple but configurable and themeable, distraction-free text editor for writers. Open-source and available across desktop platforms.

    102 FocusWriter alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • PortableApps.com
    FocusWriter screenshot 1
     
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    6
  6. MarkFlowy icon

    MarkFlowy

     12 likes

    Modern markdown editor application, Build fast and efficient workflows.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    MarkFlowy screenshot 1
     
  7. Fidus Writer icon

    Fidus Writer

     17 likes

    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...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted
    • Snapcraft
    Fidus Writer screenshot 1
     

    • Fidus Writer is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to WordPad.

    • Fidus Writer is Free and Open SourceWordPad is Free and Proprietary
  9. Airborn icon

    Airborn

     102 likes

    Create and edit documents online without sacrificing your privacy.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Open Source (AGPL-3.0)

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    Document overview
     
  10. WebODF icon

    WebODF

     6 likes

    WebODF is a JavaScript library that makes it easy to add Open Document Format (ODF) support to your website and to your mobile or desktop application. It uses HTML and CSS to display ODF documents.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    WebODF screenshot 1
     
  11. TowPad icon

    TowPad

     1 like

    Modern wordpad app for Windows with a focus on simplicity and ease of use.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Windows 11
     
  12. WordTsar icon

    WordTsar

     1 like

    WordTsar is a Wordstar 7.0D document mode clone. It loads Wordstar 4, Wordstar 7, RTF (partial), and DOCX (partial) files, and saves in Wordstar 7 and RTF format.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    WordTsar screenshot 1
     
  13. metapad icon

    metapad

     43 likes

    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...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Main Window and Settings
     
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    6
  14. Litewrite icon

    Litewrite

     3 likes

    Litewrite was built out of a need to have a simple way of taking notes, having them everywhere, working on any device, regardless if on- or offline.

    Cost / License

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • RemoteStorage
    Litewrite screenshot 1
     
12 of 16 WordPad alternatives