Top alternatives to Notepad++ text editor for Mac

If you are looking to try out Notepad++ but your work machine is a Mac, you might run into a problem, which is — this app was developed for Windows and is only available on that platform. Does this mean you now have no options to use it? Is there a way to try and run it anyway? And what are the best alternatives?

I researched code editors for Mac and found some good options that are a must try. In this article, I'll share my top picks that you should check out.

Before you dive into the details, here is a quick look at the best apps for code editing on Mac:

Let's compare	Best for	Features
CodeRunner	Versatile code editing and IDE	Supports over 25 languages, 230 syntax highlighters, smart autofill, and debugging tools
Whisk	Web editing	Live preview, works with HTML, PHP, CSS, JavaScript, automation tools, customizable syntax highlighting
Sublime Text	Universal source code editing	Context-aware autocomplete, GPU rendering, split panes, multiple selections
Atom	Highly customizable text editing	Cross-platform, built-in package manager, smart autocompletion, find and replace, collaboration with Teletype
Xcode	Apple ecosystem development	Code completion, interactive previews, live animations, supports multiple languages, Git version control
Visual Studio Code	Comprehensive development environment	Extensible with plugins, integrated terminal, debugging, IntelliSense, Git integration

What is Notepad++?

Notepad++ is a text and source code editor. It’s designed for use with the Windows operating system and allows you to edit code for your projects. Conveniently, you can have several tabs with various files open to switch as you work, just like browser tabs.

Notepad++ is distributed for free and is available in 90 languages. The app is packed with features and allows syntax highlighting, code folding, as well as some limited autocompletion.

Is there a Notepad++ for Mac?

While Notepad++ is an extremely handy and loved app, unfortunately, there’s no Notepad++ for Mac. The good news is, you have a few options when it comes to editing your source code. First, you might not even need a Notepad++ equivalent for M1 Mac as you can, in fact, run the app on a Mac using an emulator or a virtual machine. Secondly, the market has quite a few amazing apps that can serve as an excellent Notepad alternative for Mac.

I will cover both solutions in the article below, so keep on reading.

How to run Notepad++ on a Mac

If you are set on running Notepad++ on Mac, you will have to resort to virtual machines and emulators. If you are already using one for another task, you can easily install and use Notepad++ on your Mac. If not, let’s see how you can do that.

And by the way, while dedicated gamers play classics from the 80s using older PC environment emulators, you might not be as passionate about running Notepad++ on your Mac using an emulator or a virtual machine. So here’s a closer look at these options for you to decide if it’s worth the effort.

Best Notepad++ alternatives for Mac

If simply reading the guides above already felt tedious, you might wonder if you can just find a Notepad++ alternative for Mac that you can install and use without any additional effort. In fact, you can. Below, I talk about Notepad++ alternative apps like CodeRunner, Espresso, Brackets, Sublime Text, Atom, and TeaCode, their features, and uses.

1. CodeRunner

CodeRunner is a code editor and an IDE. It’s fast and easy to use. You can write in Python, Ruby, PHP, Perl, Swift, C++, HTML, Java, JavaScript, CSS, and more.

The app has everything you need for work — more than 230 syntax highlighters, smart autofill, auto-indenting, out of the box support for over 25 languages. Debug, browse online documentation, and build in this handy developer app.

2. Whisk

Whisk is one of the easiest web editors I’ve tried. Its straightforward tools are perfect for your web editing tasks. The app works with HTML, PHP, CSS, and JavaScript, and has a handy live preview helping you monitor your results in real time. This allows you to quickly fix any issues with your code, easily adjust it as you go, and work at a satisfyingly brisk pace.

Whisk also offers a number of automation tools to help you work even more efficiently. It highlights errors, offers reusable code snippets, color swatches, scroll sync, customizable syntax highlighting, and more.

3. Brackets

Brackets is an open source code editor launched by Adobe Inc. in 2014. Adobe has ended support for Brackets in 2021 and the editor is now supported by the community in GitHub. The app is available on https://brackets.io.

You can use it to work with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Made for web designers and front-end developers, the tool offers inline editor, live preview, and preprocessor support.

Alternatively, you can try Microsoft’s Visual Studio Code as you can’t use Notepad++ on Mac as of the time of this writing.

4. Sublime Text

Sublime Text is a universal source code editor that you can use on Mac, Windows, and Linux. 

The app offers context-aware auto complete and utilizes GPU when rendering interface. Use split panes for easy code navigation, enjoy multiple selection for quick variable renaming, and more.

Get the app at https://www.sublimetext.com/.

5.Xcode

Xcode is a native code editor for Mac. You can use it to design, develop, test, and distribute apps for Apple devices. The tool offers code completion, interactive previews, and live animations.

The Xcode editor supports source code for multiple programming languages from C++ to Swift, can build fat binary code, and allows use of Git version control.

Xcode 15 is available in the Mac App Store https://developer.apple.com/xcode/.

6. Atom

Atom is a free open source text editor developed by GitHub. One of the most exciting characteristics of this app is that it is highly customizable.

Marketed as a “hackable text editor for the 21st Century” due to its advanced customization possibilities, this tool allows for cross-platform editing, has a built-in package manager, provides smart autocompletion, offers convenient find and replace, plus can be used for collaboration with its Teletype functionality.

Naturally, Atom is closely integrated with GitHub, so you can log in to your profile and work with Git and GitHub directly from Atom.

Run NotePad for Mac with an emulator

To combat the lack of Notepad for Mac, you can use Wine, a free and open source compatibility layer that helps software developed for Windows to run on your Mac. Technically, no code emulation happens in Wine, and the name of the software itself is the acronym for “Wine is Not an Emulator”.

Here are the steps I’ve managed to find that should help you run Notepad++ on Mac:

1. Download the Wine package from its official website and unzip the archive.
2. Open up Terminal and type winecfg to create a C drive where Notepad for Mac will live.
3. Download Notepad++ from its GitHub repository and put it in the newly created C drive.
4. Back in the Terminal, navigate to the C drive directory and install the .exe file by typing wine [file name].
5. To launch Notepad after the installation is complete, just type wine [file name] in the Terminal once more.

Use Notepad for Mac with a Virtual Machine

Your next option is to use a virtual machine, which is exactly what it sounds like — a virtualization of a guest operating system, including Windows needed for Notepad.

To use Notepad++ this way, start by installing Windows on your Mac with the help of VMware Fusion, a software virtualizer for Macs. Here’s a guide I’ve discovered for each step of the process:

1. Make sure you have an official ISO copy (and license keys) of the Windows version of your choice.
2. Download and install VMware Fusion.
3. When prompted, drag and drop the Windows ISO file onto the Installation Method window.
4. Check the Use Easy Install option.
5. Fill out your license credentials for Windows.
6. Save your new virtual machine.
7. Your Windows environment window should now be active!

Now simply download Notepad++ and start using it just like on any Windows machine — and that is how you get Notepad++ for Mac.

Is there a way to make Notepad++ faster?

While researching solutions to common problems experienced by Notepad++ users, I came across several discussions in the Notepad++ community forums where users reported that the app could have been faster and more responsive, especially with large files.

Curious about alternatives, I decided to talk to a colleague who often handles large programming projects. He recommended switching to Sublime Text for its superior performance with large files, adding that Setapp offered additional tools to improve coding efficiency further.

On Setapp, you can find a variety of elegant, powerful text editors and innovative text expanders such as Rocket Typist, TeaCode, and the AI-enhanced Plus. These tools offer a significant upgrade by allowing coders to quickly create and manage code snippets, reducing repetitive typing and increasing productivity.

For example, let's take a look at a code expander called TeaCode. It provides dozens of expanders for programming languages such as Swift, PHP, Objective-C, and HTML that streamline the coding process by simplifying code generation.

In addition, creating new expanders within the app is intuitive and easy to use. TeaCode also integrates seamlessly with a variety of Mac text editors, including Xcode, TextMate, Coda, and other popular platforms such as Espresso, Atom, Visual Studio Code, and Sublime.

To get started, simply install TeaCode and follow the instructions for your specific editor on the TeaCode website.

Remember that thanks to Setapp, you have the freedom to explore different tools and choose the ones that best fit your specific needs. So give Rocket Typist and Plus a try, too!

Final thoughts

As you can see from the solutions outlined above, the answer to the question, “Does Notepad++ work on Mac M1?” is both yes and no. You can run emulators and virtual machines to create an environment in which the app will work on your Mac — as I’ve described Wine and VMware Fusion look like viable options for this approach. So it’s kind of a yes, but you are basically creating a bridge into a different operating system and aren’t running the app on macOS but on your Mac.

And if you are not as much attached to the idea of working in Notepad++ no matter what, you can explore all the source code editing alternatives I’ve listed in this article, or even go beyond that. It’s easy to just install an app that solves your task and be done with it, isn’t it?

Popular Notepad++ replacements include CodeRunner, Whisk, Brackets (discontinued), Visual Studio Code, Sublime Text, and Atom. And I’ve discussed them in the paragraphs above.

If you are a Setapp subscriber, you can get CodeRunner and Whisk in Setapp, try them out, and pick the one that fits your workflow best — or just use both for different tasks! And while you are browsing for new Setapp discoveries, have a look at TeaCode, RocketTypist, and Plus, handy apps that are compatible with numerous text editors and save you a ton of time through code expanders.

Even if you are not subscribed to Setapp yet, you can still try the platform and explore the apps I've mentioned in this post, and many more! Sign up for a 7-day free trial to explore this app subscription service to a curated selection of apps for daily tasks on your Mac and iOS devices. Make your day more effective and packed with results instead of frustration.