Best Notepad++ alternatives (2026)
Looking to replace Notepad++? These 8 alternatives come from our verified catalog. Each one links only to its publisher’s official source, and we show its current version, user rating and virus scan so you can compare them honestly.
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Official download
Laragon
Leo Khoa
A modern, portable, and lightning-fast development environment for Windows.
- Windows
- v8.6.1 · March 2, 2026
- ✓ 0/61
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Official download
Slint
Slint
Slint is an open-source declarative GUI toolkit to build native user interfaces for Rust, C++, JavaScript, or Python apps.
- Windows
- v1.17.1 · July 7, 2026
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Official download
Flutter
Google
Flutter is Google's open-source UI software development kit for building natively compiled applications for mobile, web, and desktop from a single codebase.
- Android · iOS · Linux · macOS
- v3.44.8 · July 23, 2026
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Official download
Ollama
Ollama
Ollama is an open-source platform that enables users to run large language models (LLMs) locally on their machines.
- Linux · macOS · Windows
- v0.32.5 · July 27, 2026
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Official download
Zeal
Oleg Shparber
Offline documentation browser for software developers with instant search access to API documentation.
- Windows
- v0.8.1 · April 4, 2026
- ✓ 0/59
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Official download
Alacritty
Alacritty
A cross-platform, OpenGL terminal emulator.
- Windows
- v0.17.0 · April 6, 2026
- ✓ 0/70
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Official download
VSCodium
VSCodium
Community-driven binary releases of VS Code without Microsoft branding, telemetry, or licensing.
- Windows
- v1.126.04524 · July 7, 2026
- ✓ 0/69
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Official download
WinMerge
WinMerge Development Team
WinMerge is an open source differencing and merging tool for Windows that compares folders and files, highlighting differences visually.
- Windows
- v2.16.58 · July 27, 2026
- ✓ 0/70
Notepad++ vs the alternatives
A side-by-side view, built only from verified data.
| App | Developer | Platforms | Version | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notepad++ this one | Don Ho | Windows | 8.9.7 | — |
| Laragon | Leo Khoa | Windows | 8.6.1 | 4.2 (6) |
| Slint | Slint | Windows | 1.17.1 | 4.0 (1) |
| Flutter | Android, iOS, Linux, macOS | 3.44.8 | — | |
| Ollama | Ollama | Linux, macOS, Windows | 0.32.5 | — |
| Zeal | Oleg Shparber | Windows | 0.8.1 | — |
| Alacritty | Alacritty | Windows | 0.17.0 | — |
| VSCodium | VSCodium | Windows | 1.126.04524 | — |
| WinMerge | WinMerge Development Team | Windows | 2.16.58 | — |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to Notepad++?
Based on our verified catalog, Laragon is the strongest alternative to Notepad++. Other solid options are Laragon, Slint, Flutter and Ollama. Every one links to its official source.
Are there free alternatives to Notepad++?
Yes. All 8 alternatives listed here are free to download from their official source, and many are open source.
Are these Notepad++ alternatives safe to download?
Each download links only to the publisher’s official source — never a third-party mirror or bundled installer. Where the publisher provides a checksum we show it, and installers are checked against multiple antivirus engines.