Notepad++ is finally available on the Mac, 23 years later
One of the best third-party text editors has finally arrived on macOS. Notepad++ is now available as a free Mac application, 23 years after its first Windows version.
The interface is virtually the same, including support for macros, plugins, syntax highlighting, and simple but handy features like split view editing and tabs. However, it now uses macOS interface elements and works natively on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. Previously, you had to use compatibility tools like CrossOver, Porting Kit, and Wine.
6 Notepad++ Features You Should Use
Notepad++ is much more useful than it seems at first glance, provided you use the right features.
Notepad++ for Mac remains an open source project released under the GNU license, with no advertising or data collection. However, this is an independent community port run by developer Andrey Letov rather than an official release from original developer Don Ho. Feature additions and bug fixes will not necessarily be in sync with the Windows version.
You may need to be patient if you are coming from Windows, as plugins need to be converted to Mac compatible versions. A plugins page lists compatibility. Letov and his team tout “daily” builds, but you need to check that the exact add-on you need is available. ComparePlus is available for side-by-side file comparisons, for example, but Compare is not as of this writing.
Why is Notepad++ for Mac so important?
It’s the essential alternative to Notepad, and now TextEdit
Notepad++ was created in 2003 to expand on the feature set of Windows’ built-in Notepad application while remaining true to the core mission of a text editor: a fast, focused tool for writing and editing. Microsoft Notepad has bloated itself over the years with questionable additions like Copilot AI and few ways to customize the functionality. If you think Windows’ default editor is too limited or cluttered, you’re stuck.
The release of Notepad++ for Mac brings this experience to a new audience who may have a similar need. MacOS’s included editor, TextEdit, is fast and clean but has few features. There are solid alternatives, but they tend to have pitfalls. BBEdit from Bare Bones Software has been a favorite but requires a subscription to unlock full features, such as HTML tools and code completion. Sublime Text is primarily designed for programmers, and you’ll need to pay $99 every three years to avoid constant license sales pitches.
This launch is also useful if you’re switching to a Mac and want familiar third-party software. If you’ve been using Notepad++ on Windows for years, you won’t have to abandon it or find a rough equivalent, unless a much-needed plugin simply isn’t available.
