TextMate vs Notepad++ Comparison: Reviews, Features, Pricing & Alternatives in 2026

TextMate brings the power of the UNIX command line to a sleek, native macOS interface. You can handle everything from simple note-taking to complex programming tasks across dozens of different languages. It uses a unique system of 'bundles' that allow you to automate repetitive tasks and customize how the editor reacts to specific file types, making it feel like a tool built specifically for your personal workflow.

You can manage large projects easily with a file browser that stays out of your way until you need it. The editor focuses on speed and efficiency, offering features like multiple carets for batch editing and highly flexible search-and-replace functions. Whether you are writing a blog post in Markdown or debugging a Ruby script, you get a clean environment that adapts to your needs without the bloat of a full IDE.

Notepad++ is a versatile, open-source text and source code editor designed specifically for Windows users who need more power than a basic notepad. You can write and edit code in over 80 programming languages with features like syntax highlighting and code folding, making your development work much more organized. Because it is written in C++ and uses the pure Win32 API, you get incredibly fast execution speeds and a tiny application footprint that won't slow down your system.

You can customize your workspace with a tabbed interface to manage multiple files simultaneously and use powerful search-and-replace tools with regular expression support. Whether you are a student learning to code, a system administrator editing configuration files, or a professional developer, you can extend the software's capabilities through a massive library of community-created plugins. It remains completely free to use under the GNU General Public License.

• Multiple Carets Make multiple changes at once by placing several cursors throughout your document to edit repetitive code blocks simultaneously.
• Language Bundles Automate your workflow with specialized bundles for dozens of languages that provide syntax highlighting, snippets, and custom commands.
• Scoped Snippets Create custom code snippets that only trigger within specific contexts, like inside an HTML tag or a Python function.
• Version Control Integration Manage your code changes directly within the editor using built-in support for Git, Subversion, and other popular versioning systems.
• Column Selection Select and edit vertical columns of text easily, which is perfect for formatting data tables or cleaning up indented lists.
• Shell Integration Run terminal commands directly from your editor and pipe the output back into your document for instant processing.

• Syntax Highlighting. Read your code more easily with color-coded syntax for over 80 languages, including C++, Java, HTML, and Python.
• Multi-View Editing. Work on multiple files at once using a tabbed interface or split your screen to compare two documents side-by-side.
• Search and Replace. Find and modify text across multiple files instantly using powerful regular expressions and bulk replacement tools.
• Auto-Completion. Speed up your typing and reduce errors with automatic completion for functions, parameters, and common words.
• Macro Recording. Automate repetitive editing tasks by recording your keystrokes and playing them back whenever you need to perform bulk updates.
• Plugin Manager. Extend your editor's functionality by installing community-made tools for FTP syncing, hex editing, and code formatting.