--- title: "Notepad++ Software Pricing, Alternatives & More 2026 | Capterra" description: "With the help of Capterra, learn about Notepad++ Software - reviews, pricing plans, popular comparisons to other Source Code Management products and more." source_url: "https://www.capterra.com/p/185965/Notepad/" page_type: "product" language: "en" publication_date: "2026-10-21" --- # Notepad++ Software Review 2026: Features, Integrations, Pros & Cons Last updated on October 21, 2026 Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Description](#description)[Use cases](#use-cases)[Alternatives](#alternatives)[FAQs](#faqs)[Users](#users)[Pros and Cons](#pros-cons)[Features](#features)[Pricing](#pricing)[Support](#support)[Reviews](#reviews) Notepad++ ## What is Notepad++? A free text code editor that supports various languages and uses Win32 API and STL. ## What is Notepad++ used for? [Source Code Management](https://www.capterra.com/source-code-management-software/)[Application Development](https://www.capterra.com/application-development-software/) Top alternative Featured Overall rating Based on 2,006 user reviews Reviews sentiment Positive 96% Neutral 3% Negative 0% Pros & cons Free open-source text editor Efficient low-resource text editor Outdated and basic interface design Struggles with large files Starting price $0.01 Per User, Per Month Free trial not available Includes Free Version Capterra Shortlist charts the highest-rated and most popular products... Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... - Application Development / 2026 Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... Do you work for Notepad++?[Manage this product listing](https://www.g2.com/products/notepad/claim_requests/new?auto=true) ## Compare with a popular alternative Capterra selects software alternatives based on relevant features, verified user reviews and user interactions. Placement may be influenced by client status. ### Notepad++ 4.7 (2,006) VS. [4.6 (1,230)](https://www.capterra.com/p/159806/GitLab/reviews/) Starting Price $0.01 Per Feature Starting Price $29 Per User, Per Month Free Trial Free Version Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version Ease Of Use 4.7 (2,006) Ease Of Use 4.4 (6,192) Value For Money 4.8 (1,276) Value For Money 4.5 (4,421) Customer Service 4.3 (995) Customer Service 4.2 (4,079) ## Notepad++ alternatives Highest Rated [GitHub](https://www.capterra.com/p/129067/GitHub/) [4.8 (6,211)](https://www.capterra.com/p/129067/GitHub/reviews/) Starting price $4.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 98% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/129067/GitHub/) [Essential Studio](https://www.capterra.com/p/228226/Essential-Studio/) [4.6 (960)](https://www.capterra.com/p/228226/Essential-Studio/reviews/) Starting price Contact vendor for pricing Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 94% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/228226/Essential-Studio/) [Microsoft Visual Studio](https://www.capterra.com/p/80230/microsoft-visual-studio/) [4.6 (3,017)](https://www.capterra.com/p/80230/microsoft-visual-studio/reviews/) Starting price $499.92 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 97% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/80230/microsoft-visual-studio/) [IntelliJ IDEA](https://www.capterra.com/p/136010/IntelliJ-IDEA/) [4.7 (1,262)](https://www.capterra.com/p/136010/IntelliJ-IDEA/reviews/) Starting price $19.90 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 98% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/136010/IntelliJ-IDEA/) [View all alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/185965/Notepad/alternatives/) ## FAQs about Notepad++ Overview ### What problems does Notepad++ solve? Notepad++ solves slow, cumbersome text and code-editing workflows by opening large files quickly, supporting syntax-highlighted languages, and keeping multiple tabs and unsaved notes available after restart. Developers, web teams, system administrators, data analysts, and support staff use it to edit configuration files, inspect logs, clean CSV or JSON data, compare code, and run bulk search-and-replace tasks. Answer based on 1510 reviews Overview ### Which roles and teams benefit most from Notepad++? Notepad++ is most used by software engineers, developers, and web development teams for editing code, reviewing syntax, comparing files, and working with configuration formats. IT managers and system administrators use it to inspect logs and modify scripts, while students, analysts, consultants, and small-business leaders handle text, data files, and documentation. Answer based on 2006 reviews Overview ### What company size and industries is Notepad++ built for? Notepad++ is primarily used by small businesses, which represent 56% of reviewers, and Information Technology and Services organizations at 26%. It also serves enterprise users (29%) and Computer Software companies (19%), with source code management as the most common use case for 50% of reviewers. Answer based on 2006 reviews Features and Usability ### What are the key features of Notepad++? Notepad++ includes a graphical user interface for editing files, code editing with syntax highlighting, and search/filter tools that find text or regular-expression matches in large files. Its custom development options include plugins for file comparison and JSON formatting. Backup and recovery automatically save sessions and restore unsaved files. Answer based on 215 reviews Integrations ### Which third-party tools and platforms does Notepad++ integrate with? Notepad++ integrates with 8 third-party tools and platforms: Visual Studio Code, Sublime Text, Microsoft Excel, WordPress, FileZilla, Google Chrome, Microsoft SQL Server, and MySQL. These connections support code editing, web publishing, file transfer, browser testing, spreadsheet work, and SQL development workflows. Answer based on 355 reviews Getting Started and Support ### How easy is it to onboard and train a team on Notepad++? Notepad++ is easy to onboard for users familiar with Windows Notepad, including developers, testers, and staff editing simple text or code files. Its familiar interface and syntax highlighting reduce basic training needs. Tutorials and online documentation are available, but teams need extra time for plugins, customization, and advanced features, which reviewers find less intuitive. Answer based on 33 reviews Getting Started and Support ### What customer support options does Notepad++ offer, and how do users rate the experience? Notepad++ offers email/help desk, an FAQ/forum, and a knowledge base for user assistance. Users often report that the community is supportive and that common issues can be resolved quickly through online resources. However, some find the online support pages difficult to navigate, and beginners may need extra guidance for setup or plugins. Answer based on 245 reviews Security ### How does Notepad++ handle data security and access control? Notepad++ protects unsaved work through autosave, temporary file retention, and session restoration, preserving open tabs after closures or crashes. It supports MD5 and SHA-256 functions and encryption-related capabilities cited by users. Access to permission-restricted files can require administrator privileges. Reviewers also report security, privacy, plugin-management, and session-corruption concerns. Answer based on 30 reviews File save ### How does Notepad++ handle saving and recovering files? Notepad++ makes saving and recovering text files convenient with autosave, session backup, multiple file extensions, and retained open tabs. Developers and IT users value quick edits to code, configuration files, and logs without losing temporary work. It does not replace team collaboration or shared version-control workflows for coordinating edits. Answer based on 663 reviews ## Who uses Notepad++? Based on Capterra reviews from the past 3 years ## Pros and Cons Free open-source text editor 97% positive reviews out of 146 Most reviewers describe pricing as a major benefit, highlighting Notepad++ is completely free and open-source. Outdated and basic interface design 47% negative reviews out of 236 Some reviewers feel the user interface appears dated, plain, and less visually appealing than modern alternatives. Lance G. Operations Manager, 11 - 50 employees. "It could use a more modern interface; it feels somewhat dated." Efficient low-resource text editor 98% positive reviews out of 134 Most reviewers appreciate lightweight performance, fast loading, and minimal system impact, even on older computers. Netra S. Senior RPA Developer, 10,001+ employees. "Notepad++ is a lightweight application that requires very less memory storage which makes it easy to use and it opens very quickly with very less loading time." Struggles with large files 54% negative reviews out of 126 Some reviewers indicate large file handling causes slowdowns, crashes, or inability to open files over certain sizes. Alvaro C. Software Developer, 1 employee. "Its performance may suffer when working with very large or complex text files." Advanced search and replace tools 97% positive reviews out of 88 Most reviewers find search and replace features powerful, supporting regex, multi-file operations, and bulk editing. Rufus R. Technology Business Consultant, 201 - 500 employees. "Responsiveness of app, vast library of plug-ins, find and replace feature is very powerful, block-comment, line comment, XPath finder, recognising syntax for almost every language - it is ESSENTIAL for anyone in tech." Frequent and disruptive update prompts 48% negative reviews out of 91 Some reviewers report updates are frequent, with persistent reminders and a cumbersome, sometimes unreliable update process. ## Features AI summary Based on 2,442 Source Code Management reviews Capterra reviewers highlight these as the source code management features buyers care about most: - **Version Control** (**63%** of reviewers rated this feature as critical) - **Access Controls/Permissions** (**49%**) - **Continuous Integration** (**48%**) Notepad++ includes other capabilities that reviewers also consider important, particularly **Code Review** (**47%**). This feature helps teams inspect changes more carefully, improve code quality, and catch issues earlier in the development process, giving teams a clearer way to collaborate on updates and maintain more reliable code. Custom Development 4.5 (303) 58.75% of 303 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Notepad++ offers broad language support, plugin extensibility, and workspace customization. Reviewers appreciate how you can tailor the environment, automate tasks, and develop or edit code for various languages, making it adaptable for different development needs. Graphical User Interface 4.5 (297) 57.58% of 297 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important With its simple, intuitive layout, this aspect helps you focus on editing without distractions. Reviewers indicate the uncluttered menus, color-coded syntax, and customizable themes make navigation easy for both beginners and experienced users. Integrated Development Environment 4.3 (262) 54.58% of 262 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important This characteristic lets you edit, highlight, and organize code for many languages with plugins and tabbed files. Some users say it’s efficient for scripting and quick edits, though several note it lacks advanced IDE tools like compilers or debuggers. Search/Filter 4.7 (250) 68.40% of 250 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important With this capability, you quickly locate, highlight, and replace text across single or multiple files—even using regex. Reviewers appreciate how it speeds up code navigation, error correction, and bulk changes, especially in large documents or during development. Backup and Recovery 4.5 (179) 58.10% of 179 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important It gives you peace of mind by auto-saving sessions and restoring unsaved work after crashes or accidental closures. Users think this aspect reliably prevents data loss, making it easy to recover progress and continue tasks without worry. Code Editing 4.6 (8) 75.00% of 8 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Edit code that has been previously created for product development. Notepad++ 9 features ### All Features - API: Application programming interface that allows for integration with other systems/databases - Backup and Recovery: It gives you peace of mind by auto-saving sessions and restoring unsaved work after crashes or accidental closures. Users think this aspect reliably prevents data loss, making it easy to recover progress and continue tasks without worry. - Code Editing: Edit code that has been previously created for product development. - Custom Development: Notepad++ offers broad language support, plugin extensibility, and workspace customization. Reviewers appreciate how you can tailor the environment, automate tasks, and develop or edit code for various languages, making it adaptable for different development needs. - Debugging: Detect and remove errors - Graphical User Interface: With its simple, intuitive layout, this aspect helps you focus on editing without distractions. Reviewers indicate the uncluttered menus, color-coded syntax, and customizable themes make navigation easy for both beginners and experienced users. - Integrated Development Environment: This characteristic lets you edit, highlight, and organize code for many languages with plugins and tabbed files. Some users say it’s efficient for scripting and quick edits, though several note it lacks advanced IDE tools like compilers or debuggers. - Search/Filter: With this capability, you quickly locate, highlight, and replace text across single or multiple files—even using regex. Reviewers appreciate how it speeds up code navigation, error correction, and bulk changes, especially in large documents or during development. - Software Development: Development of software programs --- Features 4.5 (2,006) 4.5 Based on 2,006 reviews ## Pricing Value for money 4.8 (1276) Free Version Basic $0.01 Per Feature, Value for money 4.8 (1,276) 4.8 Based on 1,276 reviews ## Support, customer service and training options Customer Service 4.3 (995) Support - Email/Help Desk - FAQs/Forum - Knowledge Base - Phone Support - 24/7 (Live rep) - Chat Training - In Person - Live Online - Webinars - Documentation - Videos Deployment - Web - Android - iPhone/iPad Typical users - Freelancers - Small businesses - Mid size businesses - Enterprises Customer Service 4.3 (995) 4.3 Based on 995 reviews ## User reviews Overall rating 4.7 Based on 2,006 reviews Filter by rating 5(1495) 4(436) 3(70) 2(5) 1(0) Mentioned topic Sorted by most recent ST Sebastien T. Développeur Web Higher Education ### "Notepad++ ancienne app" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 June 26, 2026 Pros Notepad++ est très rapide et léger, parfait pour modifier du code ou des fichiers texte rapidement. Il supporte plusieurs langages de programmation Cons Son interface est assez ancienne et peu attrayante. Il manque des fonctionnalités modernes présentes dans des éditeurs plus récents. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. MS Marvin S. Lead Developer Computer Software ### "A lightweight upgrade of the notepad" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 3.0 3.0 Customer Service 0.0 0.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 June 19, 2026 I have it installed on most my pcs just because its a great gap filler between the almost useless notepad of windows and the heavy weight programming ide. For all the times where you just quickly need to open up a text based file for a little edit. Pros Its easy, intuitive but still has everything that the default windows notepad is missing. Its suitable for note taking, editing config files or even some coding with syntac highlighting and formatting Cons It is in the end still "just" a notepad so its not suitable as a proper IDE. It is missing most feature that become critical if you seriously want to work with text Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. HR Hayden R. Graphic Designer Computer Software ### "Solid Code editor for everybody" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 7/10 May 3, 2026 I had a really good experience with Notepad ++, it supports all the feature i would like it too when i first started to write code. The initial set-up is very straightforward to do and made better being a free platform. Pros It's a simple text editor that's able to support HTML & CSS capabilities, perfect for anybody who wants to learn code. It also predicts which tag im trying to close before i type it in which is really useful. Cons I think the user interface has become a little outdated for it's time. i shortly made the switch over to Sublime Text as it's formatting and use of colour make writing and understanding code a little easier for me. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. Samuele R. CEO e CTO Computer Software ### "Ottimo programma per iniziare e validissimo upgrade del Notepad" 3.0 Overall Rating 3.0 3.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 3.0 3.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 April 20, 2026 Ho usato Notepad++ per diverso tempo nello sviluppo web quando stavo imparando. Successivamente, è diventato un valido alleato per la modifica di file di configurazione e simili, in quanto il syntax highlighting semplice e immediato è comodo per la modifica di questo tipo di file. Pros Le performance altissime, l'upgrade pulito dal notepad classico, la semplicità di utilizzo, la dinamicità in ambienti di configurazione. Cons Notepad++ risulta un prodotto piuttosto limitato se si lavora su programmi estesi, grandi o che richiedono diversi file. Risulta invece adatto per progetti amatoriali o mentre si impara. Alternatives considered [Microsoft Visual Studio](https://www.capterra.com/p/80230/microsoft-visual-studio/) [Visual Studio Code](https://www.capterra.com/p/186634/Visual-Studio-Code/) Reasons for choosing Notepad++ Notepad++ è molto più leggero e veloce per task specifiche, come la modifica di file di configurazione. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. RV Rakhi V. QA Lead Information Technology and Services ### "Notepadd ++ Review after usage of a year" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 April 20, 2026 It's the tool you reach for when you need something fast, simple, and reliable without the weight of a full editor. It's not a replacement for a proper IDE or dedicated testing tool but as a lightweight everyday utility it consistently delivers and rarely gets in the way. Pros It was incredibly useful for reviewing log files, comparing test outputs, and making quick edits to test data files without any overhead. The find and replace with regex support was a particular favorite — it saved a lot of manual work when searching through large log files or cleaning up test data in bulk. Cons The lack of a native diff or file comparison view built directly into the core tool was a gap — you had to rely on a plugin that didn't always behave consistently. Being Windows only was also a recurring frustration for anyone working in a mixed OS environment. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. AN Anonymous User Web Developer Human Resources ### "Great lightwell code editing tool" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 April 6, 2026 My experience has been excellent. I use it daily for quick script edits, log file analysis, and as a scratchpad for code snippets. It is completely free and does exactly what it promises without any bloat. Pros Notepad++ is lightweight program with low resource consumption while containing essential features for code editing. Cons User interface could use some redesigns. While it is not a challenge to navigate, it feels outdated. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. SS Scott S. Project Manager Human Resources ### "Simple and Efficient" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 9/10 March 3, 2026 Notepad++ is a simple tool but extremely practical to work on text, scripts or configuration files. Even in a non-technical environment, it is very useful on a daily basis. Pros I appreciate its lightness and speed. Notepad++ opens instantly and allows to handle text files much easier than a classic editor. It is also a practical tool to prepare clean notes, quickly edit exported files (CSV, logs, etc.) or correct content before integrating it into another system. Cons Also, even if it is perfect for editing text, it is obviously not a collaboration tool: as soon as you need to work as a team, you have to use other platforms. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. Junaid E. National IT Manager Hospitality ### "Simple, fast, and reliable for everyday code editing" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 January 22, 2026 Overall, Notepad++ is a dependable and efficient code editor that does its job extremely well. It is ideal for quick edits, scripting, configuration files and lightweight development work. Pros Notepad++ is fast, lighweight and extremely easy to use. It launches instantly and provides exactly what you need for everyday code editing. It is completely free which makes value for money hard to beat. Cons The interface feels dated compared to modern IDEs and advance features require plugins which can take some time to configure. Alternatives considered [Visual Studio Code](https://www.capterra.com/p/186634/Visual-Studio-Code/) Reasons for choosing Notepad++ While Visual Studio Code is more powerful, Notepad ++ is much lighter and faster for quick edits and simple coding tasks. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. JN Jean-Pierre N. Instructional Designer Higher Education ### "Notpad +++ is a user-friendly editor" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 January 12, 2026 Notpad +++ is a user-friendly editor that has a very simple graphical interface, and can support several plugins. Pros I like the fact that it has a very simple graphic interface, is user-friendly, free for all Windows users, and opens very fast. It can also highlight the syntax for different colors in multiple languages. Cons While its GUI is simple, it lacks some important elements compared to other editors. It also lacks very important features for debugging. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. Gene B. Principal Consultant Financial Services ### "Notepad++ is Everything You Need in an Editor" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 January 5, 2026 I love using Notepad++. It has been my go to editor for editing SQL and C Sharp code. I prefer to edit in Notepad++ and then copy paste into Visual Studio for my SQL code. Pros Notepad++ offers great value and outstanding features. It allows me to have multiple windows open at once for editing. I love the fact that it highlights keywords when I use the appropriate file extension. Cons It seems as a default, it assumes the file is a text file and then sometimes I have to go to the finder and rename the file extension. Switched from [Sublime Text](https://www.capterra.com/p/179535/Sublime-Text/) Notepad++ was provided by the client I'm working for and then I liked it so much I decided to use for all of my work. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. [View all Reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/185965/Notepad/reviews/) ## Top-rated software of 2026 ### Fill out the form and we'll send a list of the top-rated software based on real user reviews directly to your inbox. 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