Notepad++ VS Dato

Compare Notepad++ VS Dato and see what are their differences

Rating: 5.0 · 2 reviews
Pricing: Open source

Rating: 0 reviews

Eddyter

Build and integrate a WYSIWYG editor in minutes. Eddyter offers fast setup, developer-friendly APIs, and seamless content editing for modern web apps today. sponsored

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Notepad++ should be more popular than Dato. It has been mentioned 176 times since March 2021.

social mentions: 176 vs 24
Text Editors popularity: 100% vs 0%
alternatives listed: 240+ vs 124

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

	Notepad++	Dato
Website	notepad-plus-plus.org	sindresorhus.com
Pricing	Open source	—
Listed in	IDEs And Text Editors Text Editors IDE Software Development Coding +2	Calendar Productivity Calendar And Scheduling Email Clients +1

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Notepad++ 6 features

Dato 6 features

Free and Open Source
Notepad++ is completely free to download and use, and its source code is open for anyone to review, modify, and contribute to.
Lightweight and Fast
Notepad++ is lightweight, meaning it uses fewer system resources compared to more complex IDEs, allowing for quick loading times and responsiveness.
Syntax Highlighting
Supports syntax highlighting for over 80 programming languages, making it easier to read and write code.
Plugin Support
Offers a wide range of plugins to extend its functionality, including customization options, code analyzers, and more.
Tabbed Interface
Allows multiple documents to be opened in the same window through a tabbed interface, which greatly improves productivity.
Regular Updates
Frequently receives updates and patches, improving its features and fixing bugs.

Possible disadvantages

Limited Advanced Features
Lacks some of the advanced features and integrations of full-fledged IDEs, which might be necessary for professional software development.
Windows Only
Natively available only on Windows, although it can be run on other systems using compatibility layers like Wine, which might affect performance.
Manual Plugin Management
Managing plugins can be cumbersome, as users often need to download and install them manually.
Occasional Stability Issues
Although generally stable, users sometimes encounter crashes or bugs, particularly when using many plugins.

User-Friendly
Dato offers a clean and intuitive interface that is easy to navigate for both novice and experienced users.
Customizability
Users can customize the app's appearance and functionality to suit their specific needs, including various themes and display options.
Time Zone Support
Supports viewing multiple time zones simultaneously, which is useful for users who frequently communicate with people in different regions.
Integration
Dato integrates well with macOS, supporting features like calendar events, reminders, and even showing battery status for connected devices.
Lightweight
Dato is lightweight and has a minimal impact on system performance.
Regular Updates
The app receives regular updates that continually improve its functionality and user experience.

Possible disadvantages

macOS Exclusive
Available only for macOS, so users of other operating systems cannot take advantage of it.
Paid Application
Dato is not free and requires a purchase, which might be a drawback for users looking for a free solution.
Limited Advanced Features
While it covers the basics well, it may lack some advanced features that power users might be looking for.
Dependency on System Calendar
Relies heavily on the macOS system calendar and reminders, which might be limiting for those who prefer third-party calendar apps.
Learning Curve
Although it's user-friendly, new users may still experience a small learning curve when customizing the app to their preferences.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Notepad++

Dato

Overall verdict

Yes, Notepad++ is considered a good editor for both programmers and general users who need a reliable and feature-rich text editing tool.

Why this product is good

Notepad++ is a popular text and code editor due to its lightweight design, wide array of features, and support for numerous programming languages. It offers syntax highlighting, macro recording, customizable interfaces, and plugin support, making it highly versatile for various coding and text editing tasks. Its open-source nature allows for community-driven improvements, and it runs efficiently on Windows systems without consuming significant resources.

Recommended for

Notepad++ is recommended for programmers, developers, and writers who need a robust text editor with advanced features. It's ideal for anyone using Windows who wants a free, efficient, and customizable editing solution capable of handling a wide range of file types and coding languages.

Overall verdict

Yes, Dato is generally considered good if you're looking for a convenient and easy-to-use tool to enhance your macOS menu bar with additional date, time, and calendar functionalities.

Why this product is good

Dato by sindresorhus.com is widely regarded as a good application because it enhances the macOS menu bar clock by adding more useful information and features, including a calendar, time zone converters, and customizable appearance. It is appreciated for its simplicity, ease of use, and the way it seamlessly integrates with the Mac ecosystem. Users also commend it for being lightweight and non-intrusive while providing functionality that can boost productivity.

Recommended for

Dato is recommended for macOS users who want more flexibility and information from their menu bar clock, especially those who frequently need to manage schedules, track different time zones, or simply prefer having a quick-access calendar and customizable interface.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Notepad++ 3 videos + Add

Dato 3 videos + Add

Notepad++ Review

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100

Notepad++

Dato

100% 100%

Text Editors

0% 0%

Productivity

100% 100%

IDE

0% 0%

Calendar

100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using Notepad++ and Dato. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

Notepad++ 5.0 · 2 reviews

Dato no reviews yet

Simple and Fast
SaaSHub review

· Aug 2026

Fast, lightweight, and incredibly useful. A great free editor that gets the job done without unnecessary complexity.
the best assistant at work
SaaSHub review

· Sep 2024

I've been using it for a long time, I can say that it has become my main tool in my work. First, you need to get used to using it and look at all the functionality. Overall, it's useful for me!
Boost Your Productivity with These Top Text Editors and IDEs
convesio.com · Nov 2023

Notepad++ provides a tabbed interface, allowing you to work on multiple files simultaneously. Its intuitive user interface makes it easy to navigate and edit your code efficiently. With features like syntax...

We have no reviews of Dato yet. Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Notepad++ 176 mentions

Dato 24 mentions

Microsoft dumps AI into Notepad as 'Copilot all the things' mania takes hold
I would like to recommend notepad++. It does the job and I especially like it for multi-document and the other feautures like regex replace and plugins, etc... https://notepad-plus-plus.org. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
How to Run Windows Applications on Linux Using Bottles: A Step-by-Step Guide
Are you transitioning from Windows to Linux but struggling to replace tools like Notepad++ or WinMerge? Thanks to Wine and Bottles, you can now run Windows-only applications natively on Linux. This guide will show you how to install... - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
Currency converter in Rust + WebAssembly
Then we need to modify Cargo.toml file located in your folder that you created with the above command, right click and edit I use notepad++ (to download notepad++ use this link (https://notepad-plus-plus.org/) so you will get the option... - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago

I hacked my clock to control my focus
If anyone is searching for a way to do this in macOS, the dato[1] app implements this rather nicely [1]: https://sindresorhus.com/dato. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
Popular Mac app 'Bartender' acquired by new unknown developer
I think Dato can do this: https://sindresorhus.com/dato. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
Tools that keep me productive
For managing meetings, Dato is a better date app for macOS. It's great for having multiple time zones in the address bar. I have my local time as well as UTC. I also use it for upcoming meetings and events. Previously I was using Meeter... - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago

Alternatives to Notepad++ and Dato

When comparing Notepad++ and Dato, you can also consider the following products.

VS Code
Build and debug modern web and cloud applications, by Microsoft

Compare VS Code to Notepad++ or Dato:

VS Code vs Notepad++ VS Code vs Dato
Itsycal
Itsycal for Mac. Itsycal is a tiny menu bar calendar. If you want, it will display your events as a companion to the Mac Calendar app. You can also create and delete (but not edit) events. Download Itsycal for macOS 10.

Compare Itsycal to Notepad++ or Dato:

Itsycal vs Notepad++ Itsycal vs Dato
Sublime Text
Sublime Text is a sophisticated text editor for code, html and prose - any kind of text file. You'll love the slick user interface and extraordinary features. Fully customizable with macros, and syntax highlighting for most major languages.

Compare Sublime Text to Notepad++ or Dato:

Sublime Text vs Notepad++ Sublime Text vs Dato
MeetingBar
MeetingBar is a menu bar app for your calendar meetings.

Compare MeetingBar to Notepad++ or Dato:

MeetingBar vs Notepad++ MeetingBar vs Dato
GNOME
An easy and elegant way to use your computer, GNOME is designed to put you in control and get things done.

Compare GNOME to Notepad++ or Dato:

GNOME vs Notepad++ GNOME vs Dato
In Your Face
An app for Apple macOS that helps you being on time for meetings. It interrupts your workflow by blocking your screen when it is time to go to the meeting.

Compare In Your Face to Notepad++ or Dato:

In Your Face vs Notepad++ In Your Face vs Dato