Notepad++ vs Zed

Notepad++ is a free source code editor and Notepad replacement for programming and natural-language text. It is made for Windows and supports Windows 8.1, Windows 10, and Windows 11. Editing features include multi-cursor work, column editing, macro recording, and handling large files. Plugins add extension support, and the built-in Plugins Admin can list, install, update, deactivate, and remove them. The project is governed by the GPL license, with a listed plan cost of free. The project says it has no plans to port the editor to other systems. Its FAQ suggests Windows API emulators such as Wine on Linux or similar options on macOS, while warning that performance or functionality may be affected. Plugins Admin can flag incompatible plugins, but compatible releases may not appear until added to its Plugin List. Plugin installation may need elevated Windows permissions if the program or Plugins directory is not writable.

Zed is a code editor for macOS, Windows, and Linux, with Personal, Pro, and Business plans. Personal is free forever and includes 2,000 accepted edit predictions; it also allows unlimited use with API keys or external agents. Pro costs $10.00 per month, includes unlimited edit predictions and $5 of tokens, and bills usage beyond that allowance at API list price plus 10%. The Pro trial lasts 14 days or until its $5 balance is used, with no credit card required. Editing tools include extensions, multi-cursor and column editing, and macro recording; the editor also supports a built-in debugger, remote development, and language servers. Native Git operations include staging, commits, pulls, pushes, and viewing diffs. Users can chat with teammates, code together, and share screens and projects. Supported model providers include Amazon Bedrock, Anthropic, GitHub Copilot, Google AI, and OpenAI; the extension ecosystem has hundreds of extensions. Business costs $30.00 per month and has no minimum seat count. SSO, SAML, and SCIM are planned but not currently available.