Free source code editor for Windows
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4463 reviews trackedThe Bottom Line
Entry price
Free, no paid tier
Biggest pro
Free and lightweight
Biggest con
Windows only
TL;DR - Notepad++
- Notepad++ is a free source code editor and Notepad replacement
- It provides syntax highlighting for 80+ languages with plugin support
- Completely free and open-source
Pricing: Free forever
Best for: Individuals & startups
4.7/5 across review platforms
What is Notepad++?
Notepad++ provides text editing with programming features. Free editor for Windows that does more than Notepad-the editor many Windows developers start with.
The features exceed Windows defaults. The plugins extend capability. The tool is free.
Windows users wanting better text editing use Notepad++ for capable free editor.
Available on: Windows
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Free and lightweight
- Fast startup
- Good syntax highlighting
- Plugin support
- Windows standard
Cons
- Windows only
- Basic IDE features
- UI dated
- Limited modern features
- Not for large projects
Ratings Across the Web
4.7(4,463 reviews)
Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more
Key Features
Text editorWindowsSyntax highlightingPluginsLightweightOpen source
Pricing Plans
Most Popular
Free
Free
Open source
- Syntax highlighting
- Multi-tab
- Plugins
- Windows only
Reviews
4.7/5
Across 4,463 verified user reviews on G2, Capterra, SourceForge
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Notepad++ FAQ
Is Notepad++ free?
Notepad++ is completely free and open source. It's been a free tool for Windows users for nearly two decades.
What is Notepad++?
Notepad++ is a free text editor for Windows with syntax highlighting for many programming languages. It's lightweight, fast, and supports plugins for extended functionality.
Notepad++ vs VS Code?
Notepad++ is much lighter and faster for quick edits. VS Code is a full IDE with more features. Use Notepad++ for quick text editing, VS Code for development.
Source: notepad-plus-plus.org