TextPad vs Notepad++

by Gralio Mar 13, 2025

TextPad and Notepad++ are both text editors primarily used for coding and working with plain text files. TextPad offers a more straightforward, out-of-the-box experience with a one-time purchase, while Notepad++ provides a free, extensible platform with a larger community and plugin ecosystem.

At Gralio.ai we help to simplify your decision-making process by offering detailed, side-by-side software comparisons like this one, to help you confidently choose the tool that aligns with your business goals.

This comparison was created by analysing 2497 reviews and 60 websites, saving 14 hours, 22 minutes of reading.

TextPad

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Notepad++

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About

TextPad is a text editor designed for Windows computers. While easy to use for basic tasks, it also offers features that are helpful for experienced users working with plain text files. TextPad allows you to work on multiple files simultaneously and can handle large text files.

Notepad++ is a free text editor designed for Windows. Think of it as a powerful upgrade to your basic Notepad. It's especially helpful for programmers, as it color-codes code in different programming languages, making it easier to read and write. Notepad++ also offers handy features like auto-completion and the ability to handle large files, making it a popular choice for developers.

Summary

Main difference

TextPad is a paid text editor with a one-time purchase, offering a traditional user interface and robust built-in features. Notepad++ is a free, open-source editor with a more modern interface and reliance on plugins for extended functionality.

Relative strengths of TextPad (compared to Notepad++)

Strong built-in features for text editing.
Handles large files efficiently.
Simple and easy to use for basic tasks.

Relative weaknesses of TextPad (compared to Notepad++)

Limited plugin support compared to Notepad++.
Windows-only availability restricts cross-platform use.
Paid software, while Notepad++ is free.

Who should use TextPad VS. Notepad++

TextPad is a powerful, lightweight text editor for Windows, ideal for users working with plain text files. Praised for its ease of use and ability to handle large files efficiently, it also offers advanced features like syntax highlighting and robust search/replace. However, some users mention the need for UI/UX updates and expanded platform support.

Notepad++ is a free, lightweight text editor popular among developers for its speed and simplicity. Users praise its tabbed interface and syntax highlighting but note its Windows-only availability and lack of collaborative features. It's a great choice for individual coding projects but less suitable for large teams or complex workflows.

Best for small businesses (1-100 employees), suitable for medium and large enterprises.
A good fit for Software, IT, and Telecommunications; moderately applicable to other sectors.

Ideal for individual developers or small teams.
A good fit for software development and other text-heavy industries.

TextPad and Notepad++ features

Supported

Partially supported

Not supported

Type in the name of the feature or in your own words tell us what you need

Multi-cursor editing

Not supported

TextPad does not seem to support multiple cursor editing.

Supported

Notepad++ supports multi-cursor editing using the mouse and optionally via plugins.
Code snippets

Supported

TextPad supports code snippets via its Clip Libraries feature.

Supported

Notepad++ supports code snippets via the NppSnippets plugin.
Autocompletion

Not supported

TextPad does not offer code autocompletion.

Supported

Notepad++ supports autocompletion for words and functions, but not for specific class methods.
Code navigation

Partially supported

TextPad supports basic code navigation via Ctags integration, but lacks advanced features.

Supported

Notepad++ offers basic code navigation and plugins like NavigateTo and Function List for enhanced navigation.
Built-in terminal

Not supported

TextPad does not have a built-in terminal.

Partially supported

Notepad++ does not have a built-in terminal but plugins like NppConsole offer this feature.
Custom themes

Not supported

TextPad allows customization of colors and styles but not themes in the traditional sense.

Supported

Notepad++ allows installing and customizing themes.

Qualities

Value and Pricing Transparency

No data

+1

Strongly positive sentiment
Customer Service

No data

No data
Ease of Use

No data

+1

Strongly positive sentiment
Reliability and Performance

No data

+0.54

Rather positive sentiment
Ease of Implementation

No data

+0.33

Rather positive sentiment
Scalability

No data

-0.71

Strongly negative sentiment

TextPad and Notepad++ Pricing

TextPad offers licenses for single users and site licenses for multiple users. It also offers WildEdit licenses. Prices are in GB pounds and exclude VAT. UK residents and non-VAT registered European Community residents must pay VAT. Educational discounts may be available upon contacting TextPad.

User sentiment

Strongly negative

-1

See full Pricing page

No data

User sentiment

Strongly positive

We couldn't find a pricing page for Notepad++.

TextPad and Notepad++ review insights

2497 reviews analysed from

Users love

Easy to use, even with advanced features.
Handles large text files efficiently.
Excellent performance and lightweight.
Syntax highlighting for programming languages.
Powerful search and replace functionality, especially for debugging logs.
Seamless integration with other tools.
Helpful for analyzing application logs and debugging.
Multi-document interface allows working with multiple files.

Lightweight and fast startup
Tabbed interface for multiple files
Syntax highlighting for various languages
Persistent unsaved data across sessions
Extensible via plugins

Users dislike

Evaluation popup.
Need to modernize paying for it.
There are missing add-ons or functionalities that other editors have.
Limited customization options and plugin support.
The UI seems to be outdated.
No Mac OS or Linux version.
Limited dark mode support.
Macro recording cannot be edited or trimmed - it has to be re-recorded.
Search highlight feature is missing.
Github integration could be improved.

Only available for Windows OS
Lacks collaborative features for team-based editing
No built-in cloud sync or version control
Can struggle with very large files (e.g., multi-GB logs)
UI can feel outdated

TextPad and Notepad++ Ratings

G2

4.4/5

(142)

G2

4.6/5

(2355)

Company health

Employee growth

No data

20% decrease in the last year

Web traffic

No data

15% increase in the last quarter

Financing

No data

How do TextPad's paid features compare to Notepad++'s free plugin ecosystem?

TextPad offers paid features like code snippets through its built-in Clip Libraries, whereas Notepad++ provides similar functionality via its free NppSnippets plugin. Essentially, TextPad's paid features can be replicated through Notepad++'s free plugin ecosystem, making Notepad++ a more cost-effective option for users who are comfortable exploring and installing plugins.

Which editor handles extremely large text files more reliably in practice?

While both TextPad and Notepad++ claim to handle large files, user reviews suggest that Notepad++ can struggle with very large files (multi-GB size). TextPad, on the other hand, is consistently praised for its ability to efficiently handle large text files, making it the more reliable choice in practice for extremely large files.

What are the advantages of TextPad?

TextPad offers a good balance between ease of use and advanced features, making it suitable for both basic and complex text editing tasks. It's known for its ability to handle large text files efficiently and provides excellent performance. TextPad also offers helpful features like syntax highlighting for programming languages and robust search and replace functionality. While it lacks cross-platform compatibility, its dedicated focus on Windows allows for seamless integration with other Windows tools.

What are the disadvantages of TextPad?

TextPad's disadvantages include its outdated user interface, limited customization options, lack of a Mac or Linux version, limited dark mode support, and an evaluation popup. Users also mention the need for modernized payment methods, missing add-ons compared to other editors, and the inability to edit recorded macros. The search highlight feature is also missing, and Github integration could be improved.

Alternatives to TextPad and Notepad++

Foodics

Foodics is a cloud-based restaurant management system that combines a point-of-sale (POS) system with tools to manage your entire restaurant. It helps you track sales, inventory, staff, and customers, and provides analytics to help you improve your business. Foodics integrates with other business applications, like accounting software and delivery services, and offers a customer loyalty program. It's designed to simplify operations for restaurants of all sizes and is accessed through a tablet, letting you manage your business from anywhere.

Visual Studio Code

Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a free code editor by Microsoft for building modern web and cloud applications. Available on Linux, Mac OSX, and Windows, it supports nearly every major programming language. VS Code features syntax highlighting, code refactoring, a built-in terminal, and version control integration. A vast library of extensions allows users to customize the editor for specific workflows and programming languages.

Jira

Jira is a popular work management tool from Atlassian used by teams of all sizes to track tasks and projects. It helps organize, prioritize, and track work progress through customizable workflows, boards, and reporting features. Although highly configurable and initially popular for software development, Jira is now used by various teams for project management, bug tracking, and issue resolution.

Sublime Text

Sublime Text is a software program used for writing and editing code. It offers a streamlined interface, powerful features for navigating and manipulating code, and strong performance. Sublime Text is designed specifically for developers and is known for its speed, customizability, and extensive plugin ecosystem.

Edit+

Edit+ is a versatile text editor designed for Windows users. It goes beyond basic notepad functionality by offering advanced features specifically for web developers and programmers. Edit+ excels in editing various programming languages like HTML, PHP, and Java. It also includes a hex viewer for specialized tasks.

UltraEdit

UltraEdit is a powerful text editor used by millions of professionals and large companies. It's known for handling very large files and data efficiently. UltraEdit is highly customizable and supports a wide range of programming languages, making it suitable for various editing tasks, especially for developers.

Page co-authored by

Michal Kaczor

CEO at Gralio

Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.

Tymon Terlikiewicz

CTO at Gralio

Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.

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