What is the difference between Notepad++ and VS Code?
Notepad++ is a native Windows text editor built on the Scintilla editing component, and VS Code is a cross-platform code editor built on Electron with an extension marketplace. The practical result is that Notepad++ starts faster and uses less memory, while VS Code does more once it is running: integrated terminal, Git, debugging and language servers for code completion.
| Question | Notepad++ | VS Code |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Licence | GPL-3.0 | MIT source; Microsoft licence for the official build |
| Systems | Windows only | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Built on | Native Win32 and Scintilla | Electron |
| Add-ons | Plugins Admin (DLL plugins) | Extension Marketplace |
| Git and debugger | Through plugins, limited | Built in |
| winget id | Notepad++.Notepad++ |
Microsoft.VisualStudioCode |
Licence facts come from the Notepad++ LICENSE file and the VS Code licence page.
When is Notepad++ the better download?
Notepad++ wins when the job is one file at a time and the PC runs Windows. Opening a large log, fixing the encoding of a CSV, running a regular-expression replace across a folder, or editing a config file on a work machine are all faster in Notepad++. The portable zip also runs from a USB stick without administrator rights, which matters on locked-down PCs where VS Code’s user installer may be blocked by policy.
It is also the more predictable choice for people who do not write code: there is no sign-in, no extension recommendations and nothing to configure before the first edit.
When is VS Code the better download?
VS Code wins as soon as the work is a project rather than a file. Language servers give real code completion and error checking, the source-control view shows Git changes, and the debugger runs your program with breakpoints. It is also the answer on macOS and Linux, where Notepad++ does not run. If you are learning to program, VS Code’s extensions for Python, JavaScript and C# will carry you further.
Which one should I install?
Pick by the work you do most often, not by feature lists.
- Writing notes, reading logs, fixing config files on Windows: install Notepad++.
- Building software in a repository, or using a Mac or Linux: install VS Code.
- Both kinds of work: install both; they do not conflict.
Notepad++ installs with winget install -e --id Notepad++.Notepad++ in under a minute, and the install guide covers every other route.
Next: see every free text editor worth downloading for Windows.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Notepad++ and VS Code on the same PC?
Yes. They install into different folders, keep separate settings and do not conflict. Many people keep Notepad++ for quick edits and log files and open projects in VS Code.
Is VS Code open source like Notepad++?
Partly. The VS Code source code is MIT-licensed on GitHub, but the build Microsoft distributes is released under Microsoft's own licence terms and includes Microsoft additions. Notepad++ releases are built from the GPL-3.0 source the project publishes.