Notepad++
7.1#25 in text editorsFree planFree planWindows
VisitNotepad++ vs Visual Studio Code
Visual Studio Code
8.2#3 in text editorsFree planFree planWebLinuxmacOSWindows
VisitWhat both publish
| Fact | Notepad++ | Visual Studio Code |
|---|---|---|
| Column editing | Yes | Yes |
| Extension support | Yes | Yes |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Large-file handling | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-cursor editing | Yes | Yes |
| Supported platforms | Windows | web,windows,macos,linux |
Notepad++ plans
- Notepad++Free
Visual Studio Code plans
- Visual Studio CodeFree
Pick Notepad++ if…
You want what its maker publishes above — check its page for the details.
Pick Visual Studio Code if…
VS Code suits developers who want a free editor for desktop or browser coding, with built-in tools and a large extension library. It also fits users who want to combine AI agent workflows with direct coding, provided they have a GitHub account to start building with agents.