What is Notepad++? Features & Benefits Explained

Millions of developers still open Notepad++ every single day, and it has been around since 2003. So what is Notepad++, and why does a free text editor built on the Scintilla component still hold its own against tools backed by Microsoft and JetBrains?

Notepad++ is an open-source source code editor for Windows that supports syntax highlighting for around 90 programming languages, regex-powered search and replace, tabbed editing, macros, and over 140 plugins. It runs on roughly 32 MB of RAM.

This article covers what Notepad++ does, who it is built for, how it compares to Windows Notepad and Visual Studio Code, which languages it supports, how to install it, and whether it still makes sense to use in 2026.

What is Notepad++

Notepad++ is a free, open-source text and source code editor built for Microsoft Windows. It runs under the GNU General Public License (GPL 3.0 or later), which means anyone can download, use, and distribute it without paying a cent.

Don Ho created Notepad++ in September 2003 while studying computer science at Paris Diderot University. He was frustrated with JEXT, a Java-based editor his company used, so he built something faster in C++ using the Scintilla editing component.

The name itself comes from the C++ increment operator (++), which is a small nerdy joke that stuck. And honestly, the name fits. It takes everything Windows Notepad does and adds substantially more on top.

According to the 2024 Stack Overflow Developer Survey (polling over 65,000 developers from 185 countries), Notepad++ ranked as the third most-used development environment at 29.1%, behind only Visual Studio Code and Visual Studio. It even beat Visual Studio among non-professional coders.

The project originally lived on SourceForge, where it was downloaded over 28 million times and won the SourceForge Community Choice Award for Best Developer Tool twice. It later moved to TuxFamily, then to GitHub, where development continues today.

Notepad++ takes up roughly 4 MB of disk space and around 32 MB of RAM at idle, according to testing by Alphr. For comparison, Visual Studio Code uses about 322 MB of memory in the same test. That difference matters if you just need to crack open a config file or sort through a log.

The current version (as of early 2026) is v8.9.3, and updates still ship regularly. It is not a dead project that people recommend out of nostalgia. It is actively maintained software with a living development process behind it.

What Notepad++ is Used For

People reach for Notepad++ when they need to get something done fast. Not later. Not after a 30-second load screen. Right now.

The most common use case is editing source code. Developers write and tweak scripts in Python, JavaScript, PHP, HTML, CSS, SQL, and dozens of other languages directly inside the editor. Syntax highlighting makes the code readable, and tabbed editing keeps multiple files organized in a single window.

Quick Text Manipulation

Find and replace with regex is probably the feature that keeps sysadmins and data people coming back. You can run Perl-compatible regular expressions across a single file or an entire directory of files. Took me forever to appreciate how powerful that is until I had to clean 10,000 lines of messy CSV data at 11 PM on a Friday.

Column editing lets you select and modify vertical blocks of text. Line sorting, case conversion, and whitespace cleanup are built right in.

Configuration and Log Files

Editing XML, JSON, INI, and YAML config files is where Notepad++ quietly does its best work. It handles software configuration management tasks that would be overkill to open an IDE for.

Log files are another big one. Some developers report reliably opening and searching files in the 350 MB to 1 GB range, something that chokes most other editors. If you are digging through server logs or analyzing error output, that matters.

Lightweight Scripting and Automation

Macro recording lets you capture a sequence of keystrokes and replay them. No coding required. You just hit record, do the thing, stop, and then repeat it a thousand times.

For more complex automation, the PythonScript plugin lets you run Python directly inside the editor. Combined with NppExec for running external compilers and scripts, Notepad++ can handle small software development tasks without needing a full IDE.

File Comparison

The Compare plugin gives you a side-by-side diff view of two documents. It highlights additions, deletions, and changes between files.

This is handy for reviewing config changes, checking code differences before a commit, or verifying software documentation edits across versions.

Programming Languages Notepad++ Supports

Notepad++ supports syntax highlighting and code folding for around 90 programming languages out of the box, according to its official User Manual. That number has grown steadily since earlier versions.

The list covers what most developers actually use day to day. Here’s a partial breakdown of supported language categories:

For each supported language, you get color-coded keywords, bracket matching, and collapsible code blocks. Auto-completion and function parameter hints work for several of the more popular languages too.

User-Defined Languages

If your language is not in the built-in list, the User Defined Language (UDL) system lets you create custom syntax rules. You define your own keywords, operators, comment markers, and folding behavior.

The Notepad++ community maintains a UDL Collection on GitHub with pre-made definitions for dozens of niche languages and file formats. Starting with v8.8.1, the CollectionInterface plugin makes downloading and installing these definitions automatic.

This system is not a replacement for full language server support (the kind you would find in a web development IDE). But for highlighting and basic folding, it does the job.

What “Support” Actually Means Here

Notepad++ is a source code editor, not an IDE. It highlights syntax and folds code blocks. It does not compile anything, run debuggers, or provide intelligent code completion tied to your project’s dependencies.

If you need that level of tooling, you are looking at something like Visual Studio Code, IntelliJ, or PyCharm. But for reading, editing, and quickly navigating code files, Notepad++ covers front-end development languages and back-end development languages equally well.

Key Features of Notepad++

The feature set is what separates Notepad++ from the plain text editor that ships with Windows. It hits a sweet spot between “too basic” and “too much.” Most of what you need is there by default, and the rest is a plugin away.

Tabbed Interface and Split View

You can have dozens of files open in tabs within a single window. Drag tabs to reorder them, or right-click for options like “Close All But This.”

Split-screen mode lets you view two files side by side, or even two different sections of the same file. Synchronized scrolling keeps both panes moving together when comparing content.

Search and Replace with Regular Expressions

Perl-compatible regular expressions (PCRE) power the find and replace system. This runs through the Boost regex library under the hood.

You can search within the current file, across all open documents, or across entire directories. The system supports incremental search, match counting, line bookmarking on matches, and batch replacement. For quick special character searches, the regex mode is hard to beat in a free editor.

Macro Recording and Playback

Hit Ctrl+Shift+R to start recording. Perform your edits. Hit the shortcut again to stop. Now replay that sequence as many times as you want.

Macros save to XML, so you can reuse them across sessions. This alone saves hours on repetitive text cleanup, formatting standardization, and bulk data transforms.

Plugin Manager and Extensibility

Wikipedia reports over 140 compatible plugins available for Notepad++, with 10 included by default. Plugin Admin (the built-in plugin manager) handles installation, updates, and removal directly from the editor.

Some of the most widely used plugins:

• NppFTP: Edit files on remote servers via FTP/SFTP without leaving the editor
• XML Tools: Format, validate, and run XPath queries on XML files
• JSON Viewer: Pretty-print and navigate JSON structures. If you need to format JSON in Notepad++, this is the plugin
• Compare: Side-by-side file diff with highlighted changes
• DSpellCheck: Real-time spell checking for comments and documentation

The plugin API supports C++ and Python, so developers can build custom extensions. This extensibility is a big reason the tool has lasted over two decades in a market where editors come and go.

Other Built-in Features Worth Knowing

Code folding collapses blocks of code to keep large files manageable. Auto-indentation adjusts alignment based on the selected language. Line bookmarking lets you flag specific lines for quick navigation.

Encoding conversion handles UTF-8, UCS-2, and ASCII transformations. Notepad++ can also detect and convert line endings between Windows (CRLF), Unix (LF), and old Mac (CR) formats on the fly.

Zoom, customizable keyboard shortcuts via the Shortcut Mapper, and a document map panel round out the core feature set. All of this runs in that same ~32 MB memory footprint.

Notepad++ vs. Notepad

The names cause confusion constantly. Windows Notepad is a plain text editor that Microsoft bundles with every copy of Windows. Notepad++ is a completely separate, third-party application built by Don Ho. They are not related.

Microsoft has improved Notepad significantly in recent Windows 11 updates, adding tabs and a basic dark mode. But it still lacks everything that makes a code editor useful: no syntax highlighting, no regex, no plugins, no macros.

When Windows Notepad is Fine

If you are writing a quick note, editing a single small .txt file, or pasting something from your clipboard temporarily, Windows Notepad works. It opens instantly and does exactly one thing.

When Notepad++ is the Better Choice

Anything involving code, data, or files larger than a few hundred lines. The regex-powered search alone justifies the switch. Tabbed editing, multi-file search, and comparing two files side by side are things you cannot do in plain Notepad.

For a deeper breakdown of the exact differences, there’s a detailed Notepad++ vs Notepad comparison that covers edge cases and specific workflows.

Notepad++ vs. Visual Studio Code

This is the comparison most people actually care about in 2026. Visual Studio Code (VS Code) has dominated the editor market since around 2018, and the 2025 Stack Overflow Developer Survey puts its usage at 75.9% among developers. Notepad++ sits in a different weight class entirely.

Size and Performance

Notepad++ uses about 32 MB of RAM at idle. VS Code starts at around 150 to 400 MB depending on extensions loaded, based on developer testing. On a modern machine, that gap might not matter. On older hardware or when you just want to pop open a file quickly, it matters a lot.

Startup speed is not even close. Notepad++ launches almost instantly. VS Code takes a noticeable beat, especially with a heavy extension load.

Feature Depth

VS Code advantages:

• Built-in terminal and debugger
• Git integration out of the box
• IntelliSense for context-aware auto-completion
• Massive extensions marketplace (40,000+)
• Cross-platform (Windows, macOS, Linux)

Notepad++ advantages:

• Fraction of the memory footprint
• Faster startup and file opening
• Simpler interface with less cognitive overhead
• Stronger at bulk text manipulation and regex operations
• Portable version runs from a USB drive

Who Uses What

VS Code fits software development roles that involve project-level work, debugging sessions, terminal access, and team collaboration through source control management.

Notepad++ fits sysadmins tweaking server configs, developers who need a quick scratch pad, data analysts cleaning up CSVs, and anyone who opens files measured in hundreds of megabytes. It is not trying to replace VS Code. They solve different problems.

A full side-by-side analysis is available in this Notepad++ vs VS Code breakdown, covering extension ecosystems, debugging workflows, and real-world scenarios where each editor wins.

How to Install Notepad++

Only download Notepad++ from the official site: notepad-plus-plus.org. Third-party download sites have been known to bundle adware or, in extreme cases, tampered installers.

In 2025, state-sponsored hackers compromised the Notepad++ update system through its hosting provider, according to Wikipedia. The issue was fixed by migrating to a more secure host and adding stronger update verification. Starting with v8.8.8, Notepad++ also ships an MSI installer for IT departments deploying across organizations.

Installation Methods

Choosing 32-bit vs. 64-bit

The 64-bit version is recommended for modern systems. It handles large files better and takes full advantage of available memory.

The 32-bit version exists for older machines and for compatibility with certain legacy plugins that haven’t been ported to 64-bit. If you are not sure, go with 64-bit.

Portable Edition

The portable zip is one of Notepad++’s most underrated features. Drop it on a USB stick, plug into any Windows machine, and you have your full editor setup, including plugins, themes, and macros.

Settings are stored in XML config files inside the portable folder. This makes the entire configuration transferable between machines, something that matters a lot for sysadmins and consultants who manage multiple environments. Understanding proper configuration management can help keep portable setups organized across systems.

Notepad++ on macOS and Linux

Notepad++ is a Windows-only application. There is no official macOS or Linux build, and Don Ho has stated he has no plans to port it.

AlternativeTo lists over 100 alternatives to Notepad++ across different platforms, but the real question is: which ones actually match the features people care about?

Running Notepad++ Outside Windows

Wine is the most common workaround. It runs Windows applications inside a compatibility layer on Linux and macOS. Notepad++ works through Wine, but performance quirks and rendering issues are common enough that most people give up after a while.

Virtual machines (VMware, Parallels, VirtualBox) are another route. They work perfectly but require a full Windows license and dedicated system resources. Overkill for a text editor.

Native Alternatives by Platform

NotepadNext deserves a special mention. It is an open-source project that recreates the Notepad++ experience from scratch in C++ and Qt 6.5, making it run natively on Windows, Linux, and macOS. It is still actively developed but the README warns against using it for production-critical work due to ongoing bugs.

If you work across multiple operating systems and want a single editor everywhere, Sublime Text or VS Code are the most common choices. Notepad++ stays in the Windows lane, and that is a deliberate decision by its creator.

Notepad++ Customization and Themes

Out of the box, Notepad++ looks… fine. Not great. Lifehacker once called the interface “fairly ugly.” But a few minutes in the settings and you can make it look however you want.

Built-in Themes

Notepad++ ships with several dark and light themes, accessible through Settings > Style Configurator. The most popular built-in options:

• Obsidian: Dark background with multicolored syntax, originally designed for Eclipse
• Solarized (Light and Dark): Ethan Schoonover’s balanced color scheme with reduced contrast
• Deep Black: High-contrast dark option for low-light environments

Community Themes

Dracula is the single most popular third-party theme, according to multiple developer blogs and its GitHub repository. It uses a purple-tinted background with pink and green syntax colors. Installation takes about 30 seconds: download the XML file, drop it in the themes folder, restart, and select it from Style Configurator.

Monokai (ported from Sublime Text) and Material Dark are also widely used. The nppThemes Collection on GitHub hosts dozens more.

Beyond Color Schemes

Shortcut Mapper: Rebind any keyboard shortcut. If you are coming from another editor, you can remap keys to match your muscle memory.

Toolbar customization: Since v8.4.2, Notepad++ lets you customize toolbar icons and layouts. You can add frequently used commands as one-click buttons.

All settings live in XML config files (stylers.xml, shortcuts.xml, config.xml). Copy those files to a new machine and your entire setup transfers instantly. This portability is a big deal for anyone who manages a codebase across multiple workstations.

Is Notepad++ Still Relevant

Yes. But it fills a different role than it did ten years ago.

In 2015, the Stack Overflow Developer Survey ranked Notepad++ as the most-used text editor in the world at 34.7%. By 2024, it had dropped to third place at 29.1%, with VS Code dominating at over 73%. That shift reflects how the editor landscape changed, not a failure of the product.

What Keeps It Going

The Notepad++ GitHub repository remains actively maintained. Version 8.9.3 is the latest stable release as of early 2026, and updates have shipped consistently throughout 2024 and 2025, including multiple security patches, new features, and Scintilla upgrades.

Landbase data from 2025 tracked 411 verified companies still actively using Notepad++, with the education sector leading adoption. The U.S., UK, and Canada represent the highest usage by geography.

Where It Fits in 2026

Sysadmins still reach for it daily. Quick config edits, log file analysis, and bulk text cleanup are not tasks that need an IDE with a built-in terminal and Git panel.

Developers use it as a secondary editor. Their main environment might be VS Code, IntelliJ, or PyCharm, but Notepad++ stays installed for those moments when you need to open a file fast, without waiting for an Electron app to boot. Beyond traditional editors, some developers are also exploring AI coding assistants that work alongside lightweight tools like Notepad++.

Older hardware benefits the most. With its roughly 4 MB install size and 32 MB memory footprint, Notepad++ runs on machines that would struggle with VS Code’s Electron-based architecture.

What It Does Not Do

Notepad++ is not an IDE. It does not run debuggers, provide IntelliSense-level code completion, or integrate with Git out of the box. It does not support remote development containers or continuous integration workflows natively.

If your workflow involves multiple types of software testing, real-time collaboration, or project-wide refactoring, you need something bigger. Notepad++ knows this. It is not trying to compete with full development environments.

The tool has lasted over two decades by doing one thing well: being the fastest, lightest code-aware text editor on Windows. That niche is not going away.

FAQ on What Is Notepad++

Is Notepad++ free to use?

Yes. Notepad++ is completely free and open-source software released under the GNU General Public License. There are no paid tiers, subscriptions, or hidden costs. It is free for both personal and commercial use.

What programming languages does Notepad++ support?

Notepad++ supports syntax highlighting and code folding for around 90 programming languages, including Python, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, PHP, C++, Java, SQL, and Ruby. You can also add custom languages through the User Defined Language system.

Is Notepad++ the same as Windows Notepad?

No. Windows Notepad is a basic plain text editor bundled with the operating system. Notepad++ is a separate third-party source code editor built by Don Ho, with tabbed editing, regex search, plugins, macros, and syntax highlighting.

Does Notepad++ work on macOS or Linux?

Notepad++ is a Windows-only application. There is no official macOS or Linux version. You can run it through Wine, or use native alternatives like Sublime Text, BBEdit (macOS), Kate (Linux), or the cross-platform NotepadNext clone.

What is Notepad++ used for?

Developers use it for writing and editing source code. Sysadmins use it for config files and log analysis. It handles bulk text manipulation, regex find and replace, file comparison, encoding conversion, and quick scripting tasks.

How does Notepad++ compare to VS Code?

VS Code is a heavier, feature-rich editor with a built-in terminal, debugger, and Git integration. Notepad++ is much lighter (around 32 MB of RAM vs. 300+ MB), launches faster, and is better suited for quick edits rather than full project workflows.

What are the best Notepad++ plugins?

Popular plugins include NppFTP for remote file editing, Compare for side-by-side diffs, XML Tools for formatting and validation, JSON Viewer for pretty-printing JSON, and DSpellCheck for spell checking inside comments and documentation.

Is Notepad++ safe to download?

Yes, if you download from the official site (notepad-plus-plus.org) or verified package managers like Chocolatey and winget. Avoid third-party download sites. In 2025, the project also added stronger update verification after a security incident.

Can Notepad++ replace an IDE?

Not for complex projects. Notepad++ does not include a debugger, built-in terminal, or intelligent code completion. It is a lightweight code editor, not an integrated development environment. It works best alongside an IDE, not instead of one.

Is Notepad++ still being updated?

Yes. Notepad++ receives regular updates. The latest stable release as of early 2026 is version 8.9.3. Development continues on GitHub with frequent commits, security patches, Scintilla upgrades, and new features added throughout 2024 and 2025.

Conclusion

Understanding what is Notepad++ comes down to one thing: it is the fastest free text editor on Windows that actually understands code. After more than two decades, it still does exactly what it promises, and nothing it does not.

With built-in support for roughly 90 languages, regex-powered find and replace across directories, macro recording, over 140 community plugins, and a portable edition that fits on a USB drive, the feature set punches well above its weight class for a 4 MB application.

It will not replace a full development environment with debugging, Git integration, and IntelliSense. That was never the goal.

If you need to edit config files, clean up log data, compare documents, or just open a file without waiting, Notepad++ remains the right tool. Lightweight, reliable, and still actively maintained on GitHub heading into 2026.

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Bogdan Sandu

Bogdan Sandu specializes in web design, focusing on creating user-friendly websites, and innovative UI kits.

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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