Every Windows user has opened Notepad at least once. But the jump from that built-in plain text editor to Notepad++ is where things get interesting. The Notepad++ vs Notepad comparison seems obvious on the surface, yet the gap between them keeps shifting as Microsoft adds tabs, dark mode, and even AI features to its default editor.
This guide breaks down the real differences. Syntax highlighting, plugin support, file encoding, regex search, performance, and customization. You’ll know exactly which text editor fits your workflow by the end, whether you’re editing config files or writing source code.
What Is Notepad?
Windows Notepad is a plain text editor that ships with every copy of Microsoft Windows. It has been around since 1983, originally created to help sell the Microsoft Mouse.
For decades, it barely changed. Basic find and replace, no tabs, no formatting. You opened it, typed something, saved a .txt file, and moved on.
That started to shift with Windows 10 and accelerated with Windows 11. Microsoft added tabbed editing so you can work with multiple documents in a single window. Dark mode arrived. Autosave became a default behavior, meaning your unsaved scratch notes survive a reboot.
In 2024, spellcheck and autocorrect rolled out to the general release. And by late 2025, Microsoft began testing AI-powered rewrite and summarize features through Copilot integration, along with lightweight Markdown formatting support and even table insertion.
The core identity hasn’t changed, though. Notepad handles plain text with minimal memory usage and near-instant startup. It supports UTF-8 encoding by default (since Windows 10), and finally learned to read Unix-style line endings starting with version 1809.
According to the 2024 Stack Overflow Developer Survey, Notepad++ beat out Visual Studio for second place among “Other Coders” for IDE usage, but basic Notepad still lives on every Windows machine by default. That preinstalled availability is its biggest advantage.
Think of it as the paper napkin of text editors. You don’t plan a project in it, but it’s always within reach when you need to jot something down fast.
What Is Notepad++?
Notepad++ is a free, open-source text and source code editor built for Windows. Don Ho started developing it in 2003 while studying at Paris Diderot University, and it has been under active development ever since.
It runs on the Scintilla editing component and is written in C++ using the Win32 API. That matters because it keeps the application fast and lightweight compared to editors built on heavier frameworks like Electron.
Around 90 programming languages get built-in syntax highlighting, according to the Notepad++ User Manual. That list covers everything from Python, JavaScript, and HTML to more niche options like Haskell, Rust, and VHDL. If your language isn’t included, the User Defined Language system lets you create your own highlighting rules.
The plugin architecture is where things get interesting. Over 140 plugins are available through the built-in Plugin Admin, adding features like FTP file management, JSON formatting, file comparison, hex editing, and spell checking. Took me a while to realize how much the Compare plugin alone saves when checking config file changes.
Notepad++ was downloaded over 28 million times just from SourceForge before the project moved to GitHub in 2015. Landbase data from 2025 shows 411 verified companies actively using Notepad++, with education being the top industry.
It only runs natively on Windows. Linux users can get it working through Wine, but that’s a workaround, not official support. The current version as of early 2026 is v8.9.3, which includes security enhancements to the update verification process after a 2025 incident where state-sponsored hackers compromised the updater.
Notepad++ and Notepad Feature Comparison
The gap between these two editors is wide. Notepad handles plain text. Notepad++ handles plain text, source code, structured data, and scripted automation. Putting them side by side makes the differences obvious.
| Feature | Windows Notepad | Notepad++ |
|---|---|---|
| Syntax highlighting | None | ~90 languages built-in |
| Regex in Find/Replace | No | Yes (full regex support) |
| Tabs / multi-document | Yes (Windows 11) | Yes (since 2003) |
| Macro recording | No | Yes |
| Plugin support | None | 140+ via Plugin Admin |
| Code folding | No | Yes |
| Auto-completion | No (AI predictions in preview) | Yes (customizable per language) |
| Line numbering | Status bar only | Full gutter line numbers |
Text Editing and Navigation
Line numbers are visible in the gutter by default in Notepad++. Notepad shows your cursor position in the status bar, but you can’t see line numbers alongside your text without counting manually.
Notepad++ supports split view, letting you look at two parts of the same file or two different files simultaneously. Notepad has no split view at all.
Code folding in Notepad++ collapses sections of code based on syntax structure. If you’re reading a 500-line Python script, you can fold functions down to their signatures and scan the file in seconds. Notepad shows every line, every time.
Search, Replace, and Regex
Notepad’s find and replace handles literal string matching. That’s it. No wildcards, no pattern matching, no multi-file search.
Notepad++ gives you full regular expression support in both find and replace operations. You can search across all open documents or across files in a directory. Regex alone changes what’s possible. Cleaning up messy CSV data, stripping HTML tags from a file, batch-renaming variable patterns. None of that works without regex.
Bookmark lines that match your search results, count occurrences, use the Mark tab to highlight all instances. The search system in Notepad++ is genuinely one of its strongest features.
Multi-Document and Tab Management
Windows 11 finally gave Notepad tabs. Before that, every file opened its own window. Credit where it’s due, Microsoft handled the implementation well. New files default to opening in a new tab, and your tabs persist across restarts.
Notepad++ has had tabbed editing since its first release. But it goes further with a document map panel, a function list sidebar, and the ability to move tabs between two views for side-by-side editing. If you’re juggling a codebase with dozens of files open, that kind of document management matters.
Performance and Resource Usage
Notepad launches almost instantly. On a modern machine, you’re looking at sub-second startup times and barely any memory footprint. It was built to be disposable, the kind of app you open 15 times a day without thinking about it.
Notepad++ is still lightweight by editor standards. It loads faster than VS Code or any JetBrains IDE. But with plugins active, startup time increases. A clean install launches in about a second. Load ten plugins and you’ll notice a delay, especially on older hardware.
Large file handling used to be a clear win for Notepad++. Older versions of Notepad choked on anything over a few megabytes. Microsoft improved this significantly in recent Windows updates, but Notepad++ still handles files over 100MB more smoothly, with features like line numbering and search still functional at scale.
The Stack Overflow 2025 Developer Survey collected responses from over 49,000 developers. Visual Studio Code led IDE usage at 75.9%, with AI-enabled editors like Cursor at 18% and Claude Code at 10%. Notepad++ doesn’t compete in that tier, but its resource efficiency keeps it relevant for quick edits where launching a full web development IDE feels like overkill.
Microsoft claims the 2025 Notepad update reduced startup time by 30% and improved large file scrolling. Your mileage may vary, but the direction is clear. Both editors compete on speed, just at different feature levels.
Who Uses Notepad vs Notepad++?
The user profiles barely overlap once you get past casual text editing.
Notepad users:
- Anyone jotting quick notes or pasting clipboard text to strip formatting
- System admins editing a hosts file or quick .ini change
- Non-technical users who just need to read or write a .txt file
- People in locked-down corporate environments where installing third-party apps isn’t allowed
Notepad++ users:
- Developers writing or reviewing code in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, SQL
- Sysadmins managing config files, log analysis, and batch text processing
- Data analysts cleaning up CSV or JSON data files
- Web designers working with markup and stylesheets
The 2024 Stack Overflow survey showed 73.6% of professional developers use VS Code. But that doesn’t mean everyone needs a full-featured editor for every task. Plenty of developers keep Notepad++ installed alongside their primary IDE for quick file inspections or regex-based cleanup jobs. And plain Notepad stays useful for exactly one thing: fast, zero-friction text entry with no learning curve.
sense data from 2026 reports over 73,000 companies worldwide use at least one IDE or text editor product, with software development, digital transformation, and research being the top industries.
Plugin and Extension Support
This is where the comparison gets lopsided. Notepad has zero plugin support. No extensions, no add-ons, no customization beyond font selection and dark mode toggle. What you see is everything you get.
Notepad++ treats plugins as a core part of its identity.
Plugin Admin is the built-in manager that lets you browse, install, update, and remove plugins without leaving the editor. The official plugin list on GitHub is community-maintained and signed with a certificate to prevent tampering.
Popular Plugins and What They Do
Compare: Opens two files side by side and highlights differences line by line. Useful before committing changes or reviewing config updates.
NppFTP: Adds an FTP/SFTP panel directly inside the editor. Edit remote files without switching to a separate FTP client.
JSON Viewer: Formats and validates JSON in a tree structure. If you regularly work with API responses or configuration files in JSON format, this saves time compared to using a string to JSON converter in a browser tab.
XML Tools: Pretty-print, validate, and run XPath queries on XML documents. Pairs well with tasks in front-end development where you’re handling structured data feeds.
NppExec: Run scripts and compile code directly from within Notepad++. Supports Python, Perl, batch scripts, and more.
Building Custom Plugins
Notepad++ exposes a plugin API that lets developers build their own extensions as DLL files. The official documentation includes a template that walks you through creating your first plugin in under ten minutes using Visual Studio.
That level of extensibility is what separates a text editor from a lightweight development environment. With the right plugins installed, Notepad++ starts to resemble a basic IDE, minus the overhead of heavier tools in the tech stack for web apps.
The Verified Market Reports text editor market analysis lists Notepad++ alongside Visual Studio Code, Sublime Text, and Vim as a leading player in a market valued at $2.5 billion in 2024 and projected to grow at a CAGR of around 5.9% through 2035.
Programming and Code Editing in Notepad++ vs Notepad
Notepad was never built for writing code. You can do it. People have done it. But it’s like using a butter knife to cut steak.
Notepad++ was designed specifically for this. Syntax highlighting, auto-completion, code folding, and the ability to run scripts from within the editor make it a functional code editing tool for many programming languages.
Language Support and Syntax Highlighting
The Notepad++ User Manual confirms support for around 90 programming languages with built-in syntax highlighting. That covers everything from C, C++, Java, and Python to Go, Rust, TypeScript, and Swift.
If your language isn’t in the default list, the User Defined Language system lets you build custom highlighting rules. The community UDL collection on GitHub has dozens more ready to install.
Notepad has zero syntax highlighting. Every character looks the same. No color coding for keywords, strings, or comments. Writing anything beyond a quick batch script becomes painful fast.
Notepad++ vs VS Code for Lightweight Code Editing
The 2025 Stack Overflow Developer Survey shows VS Code at 75.9% usage among developers. Notepad++ doesn’t compete at that scale, but the comparison misses the point.
| Criteria | Notepad++ | VS Code |
|---|---|---|
| Startup speed | ~1 second | 2–5 seconds |
| RAM usage (idle) | ~30–50 MB | ~200–400 MB |
| Built-in debugger | No | Yes |
| Git integration | Plugin only | Built-in |
| Cross-platform | Windows only | Windows, macOS, Linux |
VS Code is built on Electron, which means it runs a Chromium instance under the hood. That’s great for cross-platform support but rough on system resources. Notepad++ uses native Win32 API calls, which is why it stays so light.
For quick file edits, log inspection, or regex-based cleanup, Notepad++ wins on speed. For full back-end development with debugging, source control management, and terminal access, VS Code is the better pick.
Many developers keep both installed. Notepad++ vs VS Code isn’t really an either/or decision for most workflows.
Customization and Appearance
Notepad gives you a font picker. And dark mode if you’re on Windows 11. That’s the full extent of visual customization.
Notepad++ treats customization as a feature category, not an afterthought.
Themes in Notepad++
Dracula is the most popular community theme. It uses a dark purple background with pink, green, and yellow syntax colors. Available for free on GitHub, it’s the same color scheme used across VS Code, Sublime Text, and over 400 other apps.
Monokai was originally built for Sublime Text and ported to Notepad++. Black background, bright syntax colors. A classic among developers working on web projects in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Solarized comes in light and dark variants, both designed for reduced eye strain during long sessions. Obsidian, Deep Black, and Material Dark round out the popular picks.
Installing a theme takes about 30 seconds. Download the XML file, drop it in the themes folder, restart Notepad++, and select it from Settings > Style Configurator.
Keyboard Shortcuts and Interface Layout
Notepad++ lets you remap almost any keyboard shortcut through the Shortcut Mapper. If you’re used to a specific key binding from another editor, you can probably recreate it.
Layout options include:
- Split view (horizontal or vertical) for side-by-side editing
- Document map panel for visual file navigation
- Function list sidebar showing all functions in the current file
Notepad has none of these. The interface is a text area, a menu bar, and a status bar. Honestly, that simplicity is a feature for some people. But if you’re working across multiple files in a software development process, the lack of layout options becomes a bottleneck.
File Format and Encoding Handling
Encoding issues have caused more headaches than most developers want to admit. A wrong encoding setting can turn readable text into garbage characters. A mismatched line ending can break a shell script on Linux even though it looked fine on Windows.
Wikipedia reports that as of January 2026, UTF-8 is used by 98.9% of surveyed websites. The encoding question has basically been settled for web content. But desktop text editors still need to handle legacy encodings, BOM characters, and mixed line endings.
Encoding Options
Notepad defaults to UTF-8 without BOM since Windows 10. It also supports UTF-8 with BOM, UTF-16 LE, UTF-16 BE, and ANSI. The encoding menu is minimal but functional for basic use.
Notepad++ gives you a full encoding menu in the toolbar:
- UTF-8 (with and without BOM)
- ANSI
- UTF-16 Big Endian and Little Endian
- One-click conversion between any of these formats
The W3C recommends UTF-8 as the default encoding for HTML and XML, and the Git documentation recommends storing text files in UTF-8 without BOM. Notepad++ makes it easy to check and convert encoding before committing files to a repository.
Line Ending Conversion
This is one of those things you don’t think about until it breaks something.
| Line Ending Style | System | Characters |
|---|---|---|
| CRLF | Windows | \r\n |
| LF | Unix/Linux/macOS | \n |
| CR | Classic Mac OS | \r |
Notepad++ shows the current line ending format in the status bar and lets you convert between CRLF, LF, and CR with a single click from the Edit menu. If you’re working on cross-platform projects with Git, this prevents the common problem of line ending mismatches showing up as phantom changes in your diffs.
Notepad gained Unix-style LF support in Windows 10 version 1809. Before that, opening a file with LF endings in Notepad meant the entire document appeared on a single line. That’s years behind what most code editors like VS Code and Notepad++ handled by default.
When to Use Notepad Instead of Notepad++
Notepad++ wins almost every feature comparison. But “more features” doesn’t always mean “better tool for the job.”
There are situations where Notepad is genuinely the right choice.
Stripping clipboard formatting. You copy text from a webpage or a Word document and want just the plain text. Paste it into Notepad, copy it back out. Done. That formatting-removal trick is probably the single most common use of Notepad across all Windows users.
Locked-down environments. Corporate machines, shared workstations, lab computers. If IT policy blocks third-party installs, Notepad is your only option. No installation required because it ships with every copy of Windows.
Quick hosts file edits. Open Notepad as administrator, edit C:WindowsSystem32driversetchosts, save, close. Takes five seconds. Launching Notepad++ for a two-line edit is overkill.
Zero learning curve. Someone who has never used a code editor doesn’t need to understand plugins, syntax themes, or encoding menus. Notepad has no learning curve because there’s almost nothing to learn.
Scratch notes that don’t need saving. Windows 11 Notepad remembers your unsaved content across restarts. Open a tab, type some quick thoughts, close your laptop. It’s still there tomorrow. That persistence without manual saves makes it a surprisingly decent scratchpad.
A 2024 Microsoft survey found that 78% of users prefer dark mode for extended usage sessions. Notepad now has dark mode on Windows 11. Between that, tabs, and autosave, the gap between Notepad and basic note-taking apps has shrunk quite a bit.
The takeaway is straightforward. If your work involves code, structured data, regex, plugins, or multi-file editing, Notepad++ is the clear pick. If you just need to type something fast with zero friction, Notepad still does exactly what it was built to do.
FAQ on Notepad++ Vs Notepad
Is Notepad++ the same as Notepad?
No. Windows Notepad is a basic plain text editor built into the operating system. Notepad++ is a separate, free open-source source code editor created by Don Ho. It adds syntax highlighting, plugin support, regex search, and multi-tab editing that Notepad lacks.
Is Notepad++ free to use?
Yes. Notepad++ is released under the GNU General Public License, making it completely free for personal and commercial use. There are no paid tiers, subscriptions, or feature locks. You download it and get everything.
Does Notepad++ work on Mac or Linux?
Notepad++ runs natively on Windows only. Linux users can run it through Wine as a workaround. Mac users typically choose alternatives like Sublime Text or VS Code or Sublime for similar functionality across platforms.
Can I write code in Windows Notepad?
Technically, yes. You can type HTML, Python, or any language in Notepad and save the file. But without syntax highlighting, auto-completion, or line numbers, debugging becomes a guessing game. It’s fine for tiny edits, not real coding.
How many programming languages does Notepad++ support?
Notepad++ supports around 90 programming languages with built-in syntax highlighting. That includes Python, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, SQL, C++, and many more. The User Defined Language system lets you add custom languages beyond that list.
Does Notepad have dark mode?
Yes, but only on Windows 11. Microsoft added dark mode to Notepad along with tabs and autosave in recent updates. Notepad++ has offered dark themes like Dracula, Monokai, and Solarized for years through its Style Configurator.
What are the best Notepad++ plugins?
The most popular ones include Compare for file diffing, NppFTP for remote file editing, JSON Viewer for formatting API responses, XML Tools for validation, and NppExec for running scripts. All install through the built-in Plugin Admin.
Which editor handles large files better?
Notepad++ handles large files more reliably. It maintains line numbering, search, and syntax highlighting even on files over 100 MB. Notepad improved in recent Windows versions but still struggles with very large text files.
Does Notepad++ support find and replace with regex?
Yes. Notepad++ has full regular expression support in its find and replace dialog. You can search across open files or directories, bookmark matching lines, and run complex pattern replacements. Notepad only supports basic literal string matching.
Should I replace Notepad with Notepad++?
If you edit code, config files, or structured data regularly, absolutely. Notepad++ handles those tasks far better. But keep Notepad around for quick clipboard pasting and throwaway notes where zero friction matters most.
Conclusion
The Notepad++ vs Notepad decision comes down to what you actually do with a text editor. If your daily work involves code editing, file encoding conversion, macro recording, or batch text processing, Notepad++ is the clear winner.
Its open-source plugin architecture, regex-powered find and replace, and support for around 90 programming languages put it in a different category entirely. You can customize themes, define your own languages, and extend functionality through the Plugin Admin.
But Notepad still earns its place. Fast clipboard operations, quick config file tweaks, and zero-install availability on every Windows machine make it useful for simple tasks.
Pick based on the job, not the hype. Sometimes a lightweight plain text editor is all you need. Other times, you need a full-featured source code editor like Sublime Text or Notepad++ to get real work done.
Many of his resources are available on various design marketplaces and for free on Codepen.
Over the years, he's worked with a range of clients and contributed to design publications like Design Your Way, Designmodo, WebDesignerDepot, WPDean, Speckyboy, and Slider Revolution among others.
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