Mousepad
Mousepad: A focused, free editor for quick text-file work with tabs, search, and restore. Ranked #29 of 82 in Text Editors by our editors (6.4/10); pricing: Free plan; best for users needing a minimal free text editor.
At a glance
- Editor score6.4 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forUsers needing a minimal free text editor
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Facts checked22 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Free and open-source with a lightweight editing focus
- Tabs, search and replace, wrapping, and automatic indentation
- Session restore, file monitoring, printing, and optional plugins
Where it doesn't
- Designed for text editing rather than a full development environment
- Advanced coding features such as multi-cursor and macros are not included
- Distribution is centered on Xfce release archives and Flatpak
Our verdict on Mousepad
Mousepad is a lightweight graphical text editor maintained by the Xfce Development Team. It is aimed at quickly editing text files, making it a fit for users who want a focused desktop editor rather than a full development environment. The core feature set covers word wrapping, automatic indentation, tabbed documents, search and replace, printing, configurable keyboard shortcuts, and syntax-aware editing through GtkSourceView. Mousepad is free and open source.
For everyday file work, Mousepad combines practical editing controls with automatic file reloading through file monitoring and session backup and restore. Those features help preserve an editing session and keep open documents aligned with external file changes. Optional plugin support adds capabilities such as spell checking, while column editing and extension support are included in its category specifications. The result is a compact editor with useful customization without shifting its focus toward a broad development workspace.
Mousepad should suit users who need a minimal editor for quick text changes, notes, configuration files, and other lightweight tasks on the Xfce desktop. It is less appropriate for readers seeking a complete coding environment or advanced programming workflows, since its stated purpose is text editing and the available product details do not include advanced features such as multi-cursor editing, macros, or large-file handling. Choose Mousepad for a straightforward open-source editor with tabs, restoration, and optional plugins; choose another tool when development-depth features are central.
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Mousepad pricing
Mousepad fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Supported platforms | Linux |
| Multi-cursor editing | Not verified |
| Macro recording | Not verified |
| Column editing | Yes |
| Large-file handling | Not verified |
| Extension support | Yes |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | Linux |
| Support | Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | docs.xfce.org |
| Facts checked | 22 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to Mousepad
- Visual Studio CodeA free, open-source editor with broad development features across desktop and web.9.4
- NeovimA free, open-source editor for keyboard-driven workflows and deep customization.9.3
- GNU EmacsA mature, highly customizable editor for users who value breadth and control.9.2
See all Mousepad alternatives →
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The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used Mousepad for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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