Compare software

Notepad NextNotepad++
Free

Free and open source under the GPL-3.0 licence.

 Free

Free as in speech and free as in beer, in the author’s own words, under the GNU General…

Windows, macOS, Linux Windows
  • Familiar Notepad++ style editing on more platforms
  • Open source with an active community
  • 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
  • Developer warns against using it for critically important work
  • Some features are buggy or only partly implemented
  • 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-3.0 License: GPL-3.0
No account needed No account needed
Works offline Works offline

Checked October 1, 2026

Checked September 20, 2026

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