Comparison
Notepad++ vs Sublime Text for Windows
Notepad++ and Sublime Text are both lightweight text/code editors that load fast and stay out of the way, but they come from different backgrounds. Notepad++ is free, open source, and Windows-only, built around the Scintilla editing component with a large plugin ecosystem contributed by its community. Sublime Text is proprietary, cross-platform (Windows, macOS, Linux), and sold as a paid license, though it can be evaluated for free indefinitely with periodic save-prompt reminders during evaluation.
Sublime Text is known for its speed with very large files and its Goto Anything and multiple-cursor editing features, which many developers rely on for fast navigation and bulk edits. Notepad++ covers similar ground — multiple cursors, regex find/replace, syntax highlighting for many languages — through its own feature set and plugins, and it's a common default choice simply because it's free and Windows-native.
Neither is a full IDE; both are meant for quick edits, log file review, config editing, and lightweight coding rather than project-wide refactoring or built-in debugging. The main decision point is cost and platform: Sublime Text if you need macOS/Linux support or specific Sublime-only features and don't mind paying, Notepad++ if you're on Windows and want a free, open-source option.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Notepad++ | Sublime Text |
|---|---|---|
| License | Free (GNU GPL, open source) | Paid — see the developer's pricing page (free evaluation available) |
| Platforms | Windows only | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Multiple cursors/selections | Yes | Yes |
| Plugin/package ecosystem | Yes (Notepad++ plugins) | Yes (Package Control) |
| Syntax highlighting for many languages | Yes | Yes |
| Built around a full IDE feature set | No | No |
| Regex find and replace | Yes | Yes |
Which should you pick?
Free, no-cost text editing on Windows
Pick: notepad-plus-plus
Notepad++ is free and open source with no license fee.
Cross-platform editing (Windows, macOS, Linux)
Pick: sublime-text
Sublime Text runs natively on all three major desktop platforms.
Editing very large files quickly
Pick: sublime-text
Sublime Text is built with performance on large files as a core design goal.
Large community plugin ecosystem on Windows
Pick: notepad-plus-plus
Notepad++ has a long-standing library of community plugins for Windows workflows.
Learn more
Frequently asked questions
Is Sublime Text free?
Sublime Text can be evaluated for free indefinitely, but it displays a periodic reminder to purchase a license during evaluation. Continued professional use requires a paid license.
Is Notepad++ available on Mac?
No, Notepad++ is Windows-only. Users on macOS typically look at other lightweight editors instead.
Which is better for coding, Notepad++ or Sublime Text?
Not verified as a blanket claim — both are capable lightweight code editors; the better fit depends on your platform and whether you want a free tool or are willing to pay for Sublime Text's specific features.