Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Notepad++ VS Kate

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

Notepad++ logo Notepad++

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

Kate logo Kate

The Kate Editor Homepage
  • Notepad++ Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-07
  • Kate Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-19

Notepad++ features and specs

  • 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 of Notepad++

  • 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.

Kate features and specs

  • Speed
    Kate is known for its fast performance even with large files, making it suitable for programming and text editing.
  • Multiple Document Interface
    Kate supports multiple open documents in tabs or splits, allowing easy navigation and multitasking.
  • Syntax Highlighting
    Kate offers syntax highlighting for numerous programming languages, aiding in the readability of code.
  • Plugin Support
    The editor can be extended with various plugins to add additional functionalities, catering to diverse user needs.
  • Powerful Search and Replace
    Advanced search and replace functionality, including support for regular expressions, provides efficient text handling.
  • Cross-Platform
    Available on multiple operating systems such as Windows, Linux, and macOS, making it accessible to a wide audience.
  • Session Management
    Kate supports session saving, allowing users to easily restore their previous work environment.
  • Open Source
    Being open-source software, Kate is free to use and has a community contributing to its improvement.

Possible disadvantages of Kate

  • Steep Learning Curve
    New users may find it challenging to utilize all features effectively due to its extensive capabilities.
  • Dependency on KDE Libraries
    On non-KDE desktops, Kate might require additional KDE libraries, which could be cumbersome to install.
  • Resource Intensive
    Compared to some simpler editors, Kate might consume more system resources, especially with multiple plugins enabled.
  • Occasional Stability Issues
    There can be occasional crashes or stability issues, particularly when dealing with very large files or complex operations.
  • Limited Customization
    While Kate offers some customization, it may not be as extensive as other text editors like Emacs or Sublime Text.

Analysis of Notepad++

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.

Analysis of Kate

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Kate is generally considered a good choice among text editors, especially for users who appreciate its integration within the KDE desktop environment and need a highly customizable and feature-rich text editing tool.

Why this product is good

  • Kate is a popular text editor that is part of the KDE suite. It is known for its robust feature set, which includes support for multiple documents in one window (MDI), an extensive plugin system, and a strong focus on text editing for developers. It supports syntax highlighting for a wide variety of programming languages, making it useful for coders. Additionally, it offers features such as a built-in terminal, powerful search and replace functionality, and block selection mode, enhancing productivity for technical users.

Recommended for

  • Programmers who use KDE and need a versatile text editor.
  • Users looking for an editor with advanced features like split windows and plugin extensibility.
  • Technical writers and developers who need efficient editing tools with syntax highlighting.

Notepad++ videos

Notepad++ Review

More videos:

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

Kate videos

YSL MONOGRAM KATE BAG REVIEW AFTER ONE YEAR - WEAR&TEAR , WHAT FITS, WORTH IT?! 2020 | SAINT LAURENT

More videos:

  • Review - Kate Somerville Review - Worth it?
  • Review - WHICH YSL BAG SHOULD YOU BUY? IS IT WORTH THE $$$!?! YSL KATE REVIEW | Margarita Nazarenko

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Notepad++ and Kate)
Text Editors
82 82%
18% 18
IDE
80 80%
20% 20
Software Development
82 82%
18% 18
IDEs And Text Editors
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Notepad++ and Kate

Notepad++ Reviews

  1. the best assistant at work

    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
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 highlighting, code folding, and auto-completion, Notepad++ helps you write clean and error-free code.
Source: convesio.com
13 Best Text Editors to Speed up Your Workflow
If you’re a beginner who needs a text editor, Notepad++ is far easier to understand than some of the other options on this list. Not only that, but you’ll enjoy the ability to locate words and replace them all, while also revealing certain bits of code with highlighting. As for advanced users, Notepad++ also does the trick, with its syntax highlighting for HTML, PHP, and...
Source: kinsta.com
Top 10 Free CSV Readers in 2023!
Notepad++: A popular text editor for Windows that has a CSV plugin for viewing and editing CSV files.
Source: www.retable.io
Top 10 Notepad++ Alternatives for Mac in 2022
First, you can get a better version of Notepad++ Mac. For instance, Setapp caters to your own Notepad++ Mac. You can also Notepad++ Mac using an emulator. Typically, the emulator is a form of creating a layer of compatibility where you can run the Notepad++ Mac on your operating system. Another thing you can do t enjoy Notepad++ Mac is by using Wine. This can help you have e...
Source: www.imymac.com
The Top 7 Notepad++ Alternatives for You
I have provided you with mainly free Notepad++ alternatives here. This is not that surprising because Notepad++ is free also. When choosing a Notepad++ alternative you need to consider what you are going to use it for and your level of programming experience.

Kate Reviews

We have no reviews of Kate yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Notepad++ should be more popular than Kate. It has been mentiond 176 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Notepad++ mentions (176)

  • 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 / 7 days 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 Windows apps on Linux effortlessly, perfect for .NET developers or anyone needing Windows tools in a Linux environment. - Source: dev.to / 2 months 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 to edit file directly. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • What I learned from my NodeJS course (part 1)
    Always working in the js-fundamentals.js file Open the file with any text editor. For now, use Notepad++. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • 6 free Markdown (.md) WYSIWYG desktop Editors – Part3
    Where to get it: Https://notepad-plus-plus.org/ Plugin: inside Plugin Admin. - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
View more

Kate mentions (45)

  • Leaving Neovim for Zed
    A lot of editors are being discussed here but I see nobody has mentioned Kate (KDE's Advanced Text Editor) [1] in the conversation yet, so I'm doing it. Kate is a very mature and capable editor. It natively supports LSP and has much, much more to offer in terms of project management, support for build system, SQL database integration, and of course, advanced editing features. I started using it a few years back... - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago
  • JetBrains' unremovable AI assistant meets irresistible outcry
    Have a look at Kate, its not bad and has good support for LSPs https://kate-editor.org. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Multiple Notepad++ Flaws Let Attackers Execute Arbitrary Code
    Maybe there are power features or something which makes Notepad++ better, but for my usage Kate (https://kate-editor.org/) fits the same niche. Fast startup / UI, but it has enough features to technically be an IDE (including an LSP apparently). - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • In you opinion is it better to code the arduino in the arduino language or c++, and do you prefer the arduino IDE or vs code IDE
    The Arduino IDE is quite primitive though, and poorly suited for larger or complex projects - if it starts getting in my way I'll feed my project to kate and a makefile. Source: about 2 years ago
  • "Why people pirate Microsoft Word" and the problems with everyday software like Microsoft Office being ridiculously expensive.
    Kate - a very powerful, very fearure-rich (including language server support for IDE-quality code completion and analysis and error checking for most mainstream languages) alternative to VS Code (has a very similar layout, git integration, and command pallette) that's much faster and lighter and isn't from Microsoft (it's FLOSS). Source: about 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

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

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.

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

Vim - Highly configurable text editor built to enable efficient text editing

GNOME - An easy and elegant way to use your computer, GNOME is designed to put you in control and get things done.

VSCodium - Binary releases of Visual Sudio Code without Microsoft branding, telemetry and licensing

UltraEdit - UltraCompare is the name of an advanced level of file and folder comparison platform that is loaded with an advanced level of features and functions.