What is Notepad++ used for?

Notepad++ is a free source code editor and Notepad replacement for Windows that supports many programming and natural languages. It is a good fit for quick code and config edits on Windows.

Is Notepad++ open source?

Yes. Notepad++ is open source under a custom licence. Its source code is on GitHub at notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus and is written mainly in C++.

Yes. Notepad++ is open source, so the software itself is free to use under the terms of its own licence.

What is Notepad++ an alternative to?

Notepad++ is an open-source alternative to Sublime Text. Other open-source alternatives to Sublime Text include Zed, VSCodium and Visual Studio Code.

Is Notepad++ actively maintained?

Yes. The most recent commit to Notepad++ was on 1 October 2026, and the latest release is v8.9.8.1, published on 24 September 2026. The project has 29k stars on GitHub.

Notepad++: open-source alternative to Sublime Text

About Notepad++

Notepad++ is a free source code editor that also works as a replacement for the built-in Windows Notepad. It supports a number of programming languages and natural languages, and runs in the Microsoft Windows environment. The README describes it as free in both senses of the word, and says its use is governed by the GPL. It is written in C++.

The project supports all Windows systems that Microsoft still supports, and publishes a page of supported-system information for users who run older versions. Releases since version 7.6.5 have been signed with GPG, and the README publishes the signing key details so that downloads can be verified. Build instructions are provided for people who want to compile it from source, and contributions are welcome under the project's contribution rules. Further details are on the official site.

Key features

Source code editor for Windows
Replacement for the built-in Notepad
Support for many programming languages
Support for natural-language text editing
GPG-signed releases for verification
Official guide for building from source

Good fit for

→Quick code and config edits on Windows
→Lightweight alternative to a full IDE

Built with: C++
Tags: text-editor; code-editor; windows; notepad; editor; cpp; gpl; developer-tools

Notepad++: questions and answers

What is Notepad++ used for?: Notepad++ is a free source code editor and Notepad replacement for Windows that supports many programming and natural languages. It is a good fit for quick code and config edits on Windows.
Is Notepad++ open source?: Yes. Notepad++ is open source under a custom licence. Its source code is on GitHub at notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus and is written mainly in C++.
Is Notepad++ free?: Yes. Notepad++ is open source, so the software itself is free to use under the terms of its own licence.
What is Notepad++ an alternative to?: Notepad++ is an open-source alternative to Sublime Text. Other open-source alternatives to Sublime Text include Zed, VSCodium and Visual Studio Code.
Is Notepad++ actively maintained?: Yes. The most recent commit to Notepad++ was on 1 October 2026, and the latest release is v8.9.8.1, published on 24 September 2026. The project has 29k stars on GitHub.