A free source code editor and Notepad replacement for Windows with syntax highlighting for many programming languages.
29.6K5.4KC++OtherUpdated 8 hours ago
5 alternatives
Best open-source alternatives to Notepad (2026)
Looking for a free, open-source alternative to Notepad? These 5 projects can replace it. Each one passed our quality screening and is explained in plain words, so you can compare stars, license and maintenance at a glance.
Quick comparison
| Project | Stars | License | Last commit |
|---|---|---|---|
| notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus | ★ 29.6K | Other | 8 hours ago |
| microsoft/edit | ★ 14.7K | MIT | 4 days ago |
| cxasm/notepad-- | ★ 10.5K | GPL-3.0 | 11 days ago |
| 0x7c13/Notepads | ★ 10.3K | MIT | 18 hours ago |
| rizonesoft/Notepad3 | ★ 6.7K | No license | 11 hours ago |
A simple terminal text editor with a VS Code-like interface, inspired by the classic MS-DOS Editor.
14.7K733RustMITUpdated 4 days ago
A lightweight, cross-platform text editor for Windows, Linux and macOS, aimed at being a domestic (Chinese) alternative to Notepad-style tools.
10.5K398C++GPL-3.0Updated 11 days ago
A lightweight, minimalist Windows text editor with tabs, Markdown live preview, and a built-in diff viewer, built on UWP and Fluent design.
10.3K560C#MITUpdated 18 hours ago
A fast, lightweight, Scintilla-based syntax-highlighting text editor for Windows, based on Notepad2 code.
6.7K409CNo licenseUpdated 11 hours ago
FAQ
- Is there a free, open-source alternative to Notepad?
- Yes. The most popular open-source alternatives to Notepad on Repolode are notepad-plus-plus, edit, notepad--.
- Which Notepad alternative should I choose?
- notepad-plus-plus has the most GitHub stars and is released under Other. Compare the license and last commit of each option in the table above before choosing.