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jEdit vs Notepad++: catalog facts
jEdit	Notepad++
Free Free and open source under the GPL 2.0.	Free Free as in speech and free as in beer, in the author’s own words, under the GNU General…
Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows
Hundreds of plugins installable from within the editor Built-in macro language	Opens instantly and uses little memory, thanks to pure Win32 and the Scintilla component Syntax highlighting for many programming and natural languages, with tabs and split view
Requires a Java runtime Interface looks dated next to newer editors	Windows only; there is no official macOS or Linux build The plugin ecosystem is older and less active than that of modern editors
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License: GPL-2.0	License: GPL-3.0
No account needed	No account needed
Works offline	Works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 20, 2026

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