Notepad++ vs UltraEdit

Notepad++9.1Visit UltraEdit8.4Visit

Higher score Notepad++ #4 in Text Editors 9.1/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 5 features Visit Notepad++

vs

UltraEdit #11 in Text Editors 8.4/10 7-day trial Free trial✓ 5 of 5 features Visit UltraEdit

• Notepad++ fits best

  Windows users wanting a capable free editor

• UltraEdit fits best

  Professionals handling very large files

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature	Notepad++ 9.1/10 Visit ↗	UltraEdit 8.4/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.1	8.4
Ranking	#4 in Text Editors	#11 in Text Editors
Best for	Windows users wanting a capable free editor	Professionals handling very large files
Pricing model	Free	Paid
Starting price	Free plan	$94.96/user/yr
Free plan	✓ (best)	—
Free trial	—	7 days
Deployment	Desktop	Desktop
Platforms	Windows	Windows, macOS, Linux
Support	Community, Docs	Community, Docs · 24/7
Built for	Solo, Small business	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Notepad++ 5/5 · UltraEdit 5/5
Multi-cursor editing	✓	✓
Macro recording	✓	✓
Column editing	✓	✓
Large-file handling	✓	✓
Extension support	✓	✓
Specs
Supported platforms	Windows	Windows, macOS, Linux
Our review
Pros	Multi-cursor, multi-selection, and column editing support Macros, regex search, workspaces, and project panels Free, open-source software under the GNU GPL license	Handles large files with disk-based file processing Combines macros, JavaScript scripting, and advanced search Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux with FTP and SSH connectivity
Cons	Windows-only availability Designed for local desktop use rather than browser editing Large-file restrictions may affect very large documents	No free plan is available Starting price is $94.96 per year with annual billing Advanced features may exceed the needs of basic text editing
Our verdict	Notepad++ is a free, open-source text and source-code editor for Microsoft Windows. It supports syntax highlighting for programming and natural languages, making it suitable for developers, technical users, and anyone who wants more… Read the review →	UltraEdit is a commercial text, code, and hex editor for developers, data professionals, IT teams, system administrators, and power users. Its focus is broad but technically deep: large-file editing, multi-caret and column-based editing,… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Notepad++ — where it wins

  • Multi-cursor, multi-selection, and column editing support
  • Macros, regex search, workspaces, and project panels
  • Free, open-source software under the GNU GPL license

  Where it doesn't

  • Windows-only availability
  • Designed for local desktop use rather than browser editing
  • Large-file restrictions may affect very large documents

• UltraEdit — where it wins

  • Handles large files with disk-based file processing
  • Combines macros, JavaScript scripting, and advanced search
  • Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux with FTP and SSH connectivity

  Where it doesn't

  • No free plan is available
  • Starting price is $94.96 per year with annual billing
  • Advanced features may exceed the needs of basic text editing

• Notepad++9.1/10 · Free plan

  A capable free editor with advanced editing tools, but Windows-only coverage narrows its fit.

  Visit Notepad++Full verdict →
• UltraEdit8.4/10 · 7-day trial

  A deep, large-file editor for professionals who need automation and remote connectivity.

  Visit UltraEditFull verdict →