Notepad3
What Notepad3 is
Notepad3 is a free Windows text editor for professional programming and everyday text editing. The project lists syntax highlighting for over 55 languages, code folding, bookmarks, word auto-completion, and regular-expression find and replace. Multi-cursor editing, column editing, and extension support are included. It converts among ASCII, UTF-8, and UTF-16 encodings and supports DOS, Unix, and Macintosh newline formats. Notepad3 can run from a USB drive, and its portable edition does not write settings to the registry or leave traces on the computer. The installer can replace Windows Notepad through a registry-based method or install alongside it. Related tools listed by the project include MiniPath for file browsing and grepWin for searching files with regular expressions. AES-256 Rijndael encryption and decryption are available, along with a command-line batch tool. Supported systems are Windows 8.1, Windows 10, and Windows 11, on x86, x64, x64 AVX2, and ARM64 architectures.
Who it suits
It suits Windows users who want a lightweight editor for code or everyday text. Portable use and multiple encoding and newline options help users working across different systems.
What it does well
- Syntax highlighting for over 55 languages
- Multi-cursor and column editing
- Portable edition avoids registry settings and traces
- Regular-expression search and replacement
- AES-256 Rijndael encryption and decryption
What to know first
- Windows-only software
- No free trial is listed because it is free
- Requires Windows 8.1, 10, or 11
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Notepad3 | Free text editor · Windows | Free |
As rizonesoft.com lists them, read 11 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
Notepad3 provides programming-oriented editing features in a free Windows package, with portable operation and broad text-format support. Its companion tools and encryption options add utility for file-focused workflows.
Facts from Notepad3's own pages
- Column editing
- Yes · rizonesoft.com, 21 Sept 2026
- Companion tools
- The project lists MiniPath as a file-browser plugin and grepWin as a search-in-files tool with regular-expression support. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Donation funding
- Rizonesoft says it relies on public donations to support its tools because it does not have a large corporate sponsor. · rizonesoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Editing features
- Editing features include code folding, bookmarks, word auto-completion, and regular-expression find and replace. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Extension support
- Yes · rizonesoft.com, 21 Sept 2026
- File encryption
- The project lists AES-256 Rijndael encryption and decryption in the app and a command-line batch tool. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · rizonesoft.com, 21 Sept 2026
- Multi-cursor editing
- Yes · rizonesoft.com, 21 Sept 2026
- Portable use
- Notepad3 can run from a USB drive, and its portable edition does not write settings to the registry or leave traces on the computer. · rizonesoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- Rizonesoft says it does not collect or store personally identifiable information when users download a file, and that the update check compares the installed version with the online version. · rizonesoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Notepad3 is a lightweight text editor for Windows, intended for professional programming and everyday text editing. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Support
- Rizonesoft provides a contact form, an email address, and a phone number for contact. · rizonesoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Supported platforms
- Windows · rizonesoft.com, 21 Sept 2026
- Syntax highlighting
- The project lists syntax highlighting support for over 55 languages. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- System requirements
- The project lists Windows 8.1, Windows 10, or Windows 11, with x86, x64, x64 AVX2, and ARM64 architectures. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Text formats
- The editor supports conversion among ASCII, UTF-8, and UTF-16 encodings and DOS, Unix, and Macintosh newline formats. · rizonesoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Windows integration
- The installer can replace the default Windows Notepad using a registry-based method or install alongside it. · rizonesoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
Where Notepad3 stands on Freedom251
- Text Editors#55 of 82