# Notepad++ 104 Hacker News commenters recommended Notepad++ and 111 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 11 of 13 months; owners who said how long report a median of 5 years (5 owners). **Verdict:** A fast, free Windows text and code editor that keeps unsaved files between restarts and beats the built-in Notepad, though a 2025 update hijacking shook trust in its security. ## Why people recommend it - Much better than Windows Notepad (5 comments): "It didn't fit the rest of system at all, but was more usable for editing simple text files" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46883976)) "Notepad++ is literally faster than Microsoft's own native Notepad, let alone Sublime Text." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49796642)) "if I need to open a random code file then it's much better than plain old Notepad" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46880238)) - Fast and lightweight (4 comments): "Notepad++ is literally faster than Microsoft's own native Notepad, let alone Sublime Text." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49796642)) "it felt like a substantial jump from notepad.exe without feeling bloated and slow" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47918024)) "Notepad++ has some performance optimizations that seem to mostly mitigate it" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47251515)) - Long-trusted essential install (5 comments): "As a daily Notepad++ user for 20 years I agree, these kinds of ports to Mac make it easier for people to jump ship." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47949086)) "It's a rather established tool after all and probably considered a safe and reputable bet" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45970204)) "First three things I install on any machine - 7zip, Notepad++, alternate browser." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46879113)) - Free, even for commercial use (2 comments): "There are no licensing issues, no fees to pay, no support to pay. It really is free, even in a commercial environment." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45963721)) "But then your customers could just get Notepad++ for free elsewhere." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46675562)) ## What people warn about - Update supply chain was hijacked (11 comments): "Notepad++ is solid but they had a recent kerfuffle involving their security practices and the response didn't inspire much confidence." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47154810)) "we've all moved on to better things like Notepad++ (even when their update supply chain gets compromised)" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47154883)) "zero confidence in that dev right now. Its programma non grata on my machines at the moment." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47157241)) - Political messages in releases (4 comments): "I love Notepad++ but for some reason it always had some kind of political BS going on" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46852933)) "they have a dubious habit of dumping political messages on releases" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47154712)) "Taking positions that resonate with perhaps half the people in 15% of the world, and piss off a sizable chunk of people in the remaining 85% of the world is not a great idea." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47176137)) - Unofficial Mac port borrows branding (7 comments): "calling itself "Notepad++" (for Mac) along with using an almost identical icon feels like it's crossing some boundaries" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47917416)) "I understand that this is a fairly legitimate and professional port. But this framing is unacceptable." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47948588)) "So no asking to use trademarks beforehand, and no asking Don if it's okay to include him on the contributor page for the violating software." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48018713)) - Too many update prompts (2 comments): "it was a vulnerability in the design of Notepad++, key elements here being the featureset that requires frequent updates and the lack of integrity checks" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46972618)) "Notepad++ has way too many updates for a text editor. I purposely decline most of the nags to update for precisely this reason." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46852188)) ## Alternatives hackers recommend - [Zed](https://hackerapproved.com/p/zed.md): 700 recommend - [GNU Emacs](https://hackerapproved.com/p/emacs.md): 648 recommend - [Vim](https://hackerapproved.com/p/vim.md): 513 recommend - [Visual Studio Code](https://hackerapproved.com/p/visual-studio-code.md): 485 recommend - [Neovim](https://hackerapproved.com/p/neovim.md): 295 recommend ## Cite as Hacker Approved, "Notepad++", https://hackerapproved.com/p/notepad-plus-plus/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).