Software Alternatives & Startups

Notepad++ VS Eclipse

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

Notepad++

A free source code editor which supports several programming languages running under the MS Windows environment.

Rating
5.0 · 2 reviews
Pricing
Open source
Eclipse

Eclipse is an open source community, whose projects are focused on building an open development platform comprised of extensible frameworks, tools and runtimes for building, deploying and managing software across the lifecycle.

Rating
0 reviews

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Notepad++ seems to be a lot more popular than Eclipse. While we know about 176 links to Notepad++, we've tracked only 9 mentions of Eclipse.

social mentions
176 vs 9
Text Editors popularity
64% vs 36%

Base details

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

Notepad++
Eclipse
Website notepad-plus-plus.org eclipse.org
Pricing
Open source
—
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Notepad++ 6 features
Eclipse 5 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.
  • Rich Plugin Ecosystem
    Eclipse has a large variety of plugins available, which allow for the customization and extension of its functionality. This makes it suitable for different types of development, including Java, C++, and Python.
  • Open Source
    Eclipse is free and open-source, allowing developers to contribute to and modify the codebase. This encourages community engagement and continuous improvement.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Eclipse runs on various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, which provides flexibility for developers working in different environments.
  • Mature and Stable
    Eclipse has been around for a long time and has a large community of users, making it a mature and stable IDE.
  • Extensive Documentation
    Eclipse offers comprehensive documentation and user guides, which are helpful for both beginners and advanced developers.

Possible disadvantages

  • Performance Issues
    Eclipse can be slow, particularly when dealing with large projects or numerous plugins. This can be frustrating and time-consuming for developers.
  • Complexity
    The extensive range of features and plugins can make Eclipse overwhelming and difficult to navigate for new users.
  • Heavy Resource Utilization
    Eclipse is known to consume a significant amount of system resources, which can affect the performance of other applications.
  • Steeper Learning Curve
    Due to its extensive capabilities and complexity, Eclipse may have a steeper learning curve compared to simpler IDEs.
  • Occasional Stability Issues
    While generally stable, Eclipse can sometimes be prone to crashes or bugs, particularly when using third-party plugins that are not well-maintained.

Analysis

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

Notepad++
Eclipse

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.

No analysis of Eclipse yet.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Notepad++ 3 videos + Add
Eclipse 3 videos + Add

Notepad++ Review

More videos

  • - Notepad++ Review
  • - Notepad++ Text Editor: Intro for Beginners

Review: 2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT V6 (Manual)

More videos

  • - 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse Review - No Show No Go
  • - MotorWeek | Retro Review: '95 Mitsubishi Eclipse

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++
Eclipse
64% 64%
36% 36%
55% 55%
IDE
45% 45%
59% 59%
41% 41%
100% 100%
0% 0%

User comments

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

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Reviews and articles

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

Notepad++ 5.0 · 2 reviews
Eclipse 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...

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Social recommendations and mentions

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

Notepad++ 176 mentions
Eclipse 9 mentions

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  • Microsoft: An Open-Source Comedy
    💡 You can still install extensions on vscodium using Open VSX Registry, which is an opensource project by Eclipse Foundation. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Decryption and incomplete certificate chains
    For example I can access eclipse.org in chrome without issue. I'm seeing my PA cert when I check it's trusted. However when I run the eclipse installer it fails which I suspect is because of the decryption. I'm seeing this log in the... Source: over 3 years ago
  • The eclipse/Java struggle is real...Please help
    I think u/rayok's post is probably going to be your most relevant lead. Maybe it's a JRE related thing. I'd go ahead and reinstall eclipse from the eclipse.org download page rather than your OS app store. Maybe the JRE didnt get... Source: over 3 years ago

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Alternatives to Notepad++ and Eclipse

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