Microsoft Visual Studio Code vs. Notepad++

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Microsoft Visual Studio Code
Score 9.3 out of 10
N/A
Microsoft offers Visual Studio Code, an open source text editor that supports code editing, debugging, IntelliSense syntax highlighting, and other features.
$0
Notepad++
Score 9.0 out of 10
N/A
Notepad++ is a popular free and open source text editor available under the GPL license, featuring syntax highlighting and folding, auto-complete, multi-document management, and ac customizable GUI.N/A
Pricing
Microsoft Visual Studio CodeNotepad++
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Microsoft Visual Studio CodeNotepad++
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
YesNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Microsoft Visual Studio CodeNotepad++
Considered Both Products
Microsoft Visual Studio Code
Chose Microsoft Visual Studio Code
Notepad++ is a great tool, but has most of the power tips and tools of notepad++ are available into Microsoft Visual Studio Code I use less and less notepad++. It's more easier to "stay" into Microsoft Visual Studio Code, open a new window do my stuff and go for the next task.
Chose Microsoft Visual Studio Code
As mentioned before, IDE's can be excellent with one thing, and the company we do a lot of things, so it's kind of annoying to have multiple programs, heavy ones to open your work, so just use one, Microsoft Visual Studio Code, personalize thanks to extensions, and you are …
Chose Microsoft Visual Studio Code
Microsoft Visual Studio Code provides more flexibility and supports easy integration to different platforms (including cloud). It is more modular and lighter application as compared to other integrated development environments. Microsoft Visual Studio Code is easy to learn and …
Chose Microsoft Visual Studio Code
Visual Studio code UI is very handy.
Extension feasibility is good
Chose Microsoft Visual Studio Code
1. More features compared to Notepad++ 2. fast performance compare to Android Studio 3.More and usefull extensions then other two 4. Easy to use and everyone can start using it instantly 5. Version Control system is top notch 6.If you start using it , you will forget other ides …
Chose Microsoft Visual Studio Code
It has some much more functionality than Notepad++, all the addons make editing scripts a breeze
Chose Microsoft Visual Studio Code
It has [the] right balance of solutions for [a] wide range of problems. Atom or Notepad++ are lighter but [have fewer] features, [Microsoft] Visual Studio [Code] is full of features but [a] tad heavier.
Chose Microsoft Visual Studio Code
In all honesty, I've not even looked back at any of these alternatives since switching to Microsoft Visual Studio Code a few years ago, there simply isn't the need. For all I know they're all absolutely fantastic, but at the time of switching (and consistently since) Microsoft …
Chose Microsoft Visual Studio Code
[Microsoft Visual Studio Code] builds on the simplicity and speed of Notepad++ yet remains very customizable and offers features that are comparable and often go beyond other paid offerings such as Dreamweaver CC. It also requires no upfront/subscription so there's no risk in …
Chose Microsoft Visual Studio Code
We moved from Sublime Text. Microsoft Visual Studio Code has similar features, such as a mini view of the document along the right side.

Microsoft Visual Studio Code is also freeware. Sublime Text is $80 per seat, so when you add team members the costs increase.
Chose Microsoft Visual Studio Code
The main plus for me was the speed, sleek UI, and the memorable shortcuts for VS Code. Also the smart auto-complete as well as version management (Git), Chrome debugging, and the possibility of plugging in multiple language-specific linters for a better code.
The auto-complete …
Chose Microsoft Visual Studio Code
Overall, compared to all other open source text editors like Sublime Text, Vim, etc, I've noticed that the Visual Studio Code has been updated regularly which makes it work more efficiently and resolves any bugs on a continuous basis. I feel like VS Code has the speed like Subli…
Chose Microsoft Visual Studio Code
Microsoft provides regular update patches to the Visual Studio Code IDE making sure to prevent vulnerabilities. As compared to other editors as mentioned, it is not open source but free to use, which means only certified update patches can be applied to the IDE, whereas in open …
Chose Microsoft Visual Studio Code
Purely on the fact that support and having the app frequently updated alone makes this worthwhile over the others. Some of them also do share the ease of installation, but Microsoft Visual Studio Code has all the common pro points and more, making it a natural selection.
Chose Microsoft Visual Studio Code
Microsoft Visual Studio Code is easy to install, always updated, free, and ultra-customizable with extensions. All other alternatives either don't have these features or are not as great as VS Code in terms of implementing them. I have been using Microsoft VS Code for a year …
Chose Microsoft Visual Studio Code
Visual Studio Code was easy for us to install and to begin developing applications with from day one. Being freely available also makes it easier to adopt the application without having to go through a lot of bureaucratic hurdles initially. It isn't really fair to compare VS …
Chose Microsoft Visual Studio Code
In my opinion, VS Code is the best option for coding. It works on Windows, GNU/Linux, and macOS. Moreover, there's a great team/community behind the scene to maintain this program.
Chose Microsoft Visual Studio Code
It is more advanced, it has more features and is a lot better than its competitors in terms of everything.
It stands the best among all the similar software of this type.
Chose Microsoft Visual Studio Code
Visual Studio Code has become my preferred text editor. It has a lot of useful features common to IDEs, and it is still quick enough to jot down quick notes or just throw open a blank file for some text manipulation with regex.
Notepad++
Chose Notepad++
In comparison to vs code, Notepad is less complexed solution with maybe less testing or implementation options but also with better script edition control thanks to the code formatting options. It depends on the task we have but for less complexed scripting that doesn't require …
Chose Notepad++
vscode is also a text editor and in many ways is more powerful than Notepad++. Notepad++ is simpler, faster and less busy. vscode is nicer for more complicated things, such as working with multiple files that are related (say a complex set of python scripts) or in a project …
Chose Notepad++
Since my engineering days, I have used this software. Notepad++ has to be one of the most powerful text editors available. It is lightweight and easy to use. It can identify the programming language based upon the extension of the file. It can also open various attachments, …
Chose Notepad++
Both visual studio code and Notepad++ are powerful code editors/text editors. So it is hard to pick a favorite as they both have upsides and downsides. In this case Notepad++ I love the plugins that come with it and the ability to get more from other open sources. In general …
Chose Notepad++
UltraEdit was offered as a licensed product by my organization, however, because there was a cost to it, I had to obtain manager's approval for the yearly license required to keep it working. This was a hassle for something as simple as an editor. It was a convenient need to …
Chose Notepad++
I prefer Notepad++ to both UltraEdit and VSCode. The fact that it is freely available gives it a leg up on UltraEdit, and the feature set is at least comparable and in some ways better. VSCode is more useful if you are using your text editor to code and want to tie into …
Chose Notepad++
Atom is a nice little notepad and editor, but it's a bit overkill for a simple note-taking app and doesn't quite compare to Visual Studio Code for more robust tasks like software development. It does have more polish than Notepad++, but the experience is somehow more clumsy. Sub…
Chose Notepad++
I mainly use Notepad++ on windows. EditPlus was very good at regular expressions. I felt it was better than Notepad++. On Mac, sublime is a good tool for the same purpose.
Chose Notepad++
Visual studio code has more testing capabilities but Notepad++ is easier to use for day to day text and scripting operations.
Chose Notepad++
I have never looked for other applications to replace or compare to Notepad++. That is how delighted I am to use it no matter where I am at in the working world. It is always one of the first programs that I install on my computer when I start at a new company.
Chose Notepad++
Its performance is very good. Its cost is comparatively less. It supports multiple languages. It takes less time to load and it's very fast.
Chose Notepad++
When I'm looking for a simple application to edit files quickly and easily, I find Notepad++ optimal. I Recommended Notepad++ if you're looking for an editing tool which works quickly and easily for both personal or professional use.
Chose Notepad++
Does the same but in my opinion better. It might [be my] preference but the other options are either too technical or not technical enough. Notepad++ seems to tow this perfect balance, at least in my eyes, of being friendly enough for beginners and deep enough for experts. With …
Chose Notepad++
We actually don't use Notepad++ over any other software, but in tandem with it. It complements other more advanced, modern text editors and definitely provides a lightweight way to edit code files, especially ones that are interpreted like Python, without having to open a full …
Chose Notepad++
Notepad++ has been my go-to for quick text or code editing jobs, or even sometimes for storing brief notes for later reference. Its biggest selling points are its host of great features for automating tasks like indentation, sorting and conversion to other formats, and its …
Chose Notepad++
In comparison to applications like Sublime Text or Visual Studio Code, Notepad++ is very limited. But this one has a different use. It's not used to work on projects—more like just editing and converting single files. It's the advanced version of the default Windows notepad. …
Chose Notepad++
Notepad++ is the no-frills, simpler options that is an old reliable text editor. The alternatives have slicker interfaces and more features, but can be overkill for certain uses. The quality of plugins that Notepad++ has is a bit higher and there is less noise. Notepad++ is …
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Microsoft Visual Studio CodeNotepad++
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User Ratings
Microsoft Visual Studio CodeNotepad++
Likelihood to Recommend
8.7
(91 ratings)
8.9
(62 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
9.4
(2 ratings)
10.0
(1 ratings)
Usability
9.1
(8 ratings)
9.3
(4 ratings)
Support Rating
9.7
(23 ratings)
8.1
(15 ratings)
User Testimonials
Microsoft Visual Studio CodeNotepad++
Likelihood to Recommend
Microsoft
As a general workhorse IDE, Microsoft Visual Studio Codee is unmatched. Building on the early success of applications such as Atom, it has long been the standard for electron based IDEs. It can be outshone using IDEs that are dedicated to particular platforms, such as Microsoft Visual Studio Code for .net and the Jetbrains IDEs for Java, Python and others. For remote collaborative development, something like Zed is ahead of VSCode live share, which can be quite flakey.
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Open Source
well suited for 1) Coding and Development - Writing and editing code, Quick prototyping and testing of code snippets, Debugging and inspecting code using syntax highlighting and line numbering, 2) web development - Creating and editing HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and other web-related files .Managing and organizing web projects with multiple files and directories. Not suited for - 1) processing huge files 2) graphic designing 3) complex gui designs 3) Data Analysis and Manipulation - Editing and cleaning up text-based data files before importing them into analytical tools. Applying regular expressions to extract, transform, and manipulate data. 4) System Administration and IT - change system configuration file
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Pros
Microsoft
  • Integrate with the git repository very well.
  • Integrated copilot chat is very helpful to write code snippets and helps beginners to start with coding and development.
  • Great library of available extensions is one of the best features in Microsoft Visual Studio Code.
  • Dedicated Testing option to configure pytest and others are quite handy to use.
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Open Source
  • Notepad++ allows us to keep open files in tabs. Like in a web browser, these tabs let us access these files quickly and easily. Furthermore, even if we forget to save the files when closing the program or shutting down the PC, Notepad++ retains them in the open tabs when we reopen it.
  • Notepad++ supports many different file types. We usually save our files created in Notepad as normal text files, but sometimes as JSON, PHP, and HTML files.
  • Notepad++ is lightweight and requires little resources. Using it is snappy and responsive.
  • The developer of Notepad++ frequently updates the software with bug fixes, performance improvements and new features.
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Cons
Microsoft
  • The customization of key combinations should be more accessible and easier to change
  • The auxiliary panels could be minimized or as floating tabs which are displayed when you click on them
  • A monitoring panel of resources used by Microsoft Visual Studio Code or plugins and extensions would help a lot to be able to detect any malfunction of these
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Open Source
  • UI looks a bit dated.
  • Sometimes the number of options are overwhelming and require a quick search to figure out where to locate a particular function.
  • Some way to do a diff between files would be great. Still need to resort to another paid app for that - unless it is a buried function I don't know about or there's a plugin for it.
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Likelihood to Renew
Microsoft
Solid tool that provides everything you need to develop most types of applications. The only reason not a 10 is that if you are doing large distributed teams on Enterprise level, Professional does provide more tools to support that and would be worth the cost.
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Open Source
I use it every day for 13 years already and it never disappointed me
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Usability
Microsoft
Microsoft Visual Studio Code earns a 10 for its exceptional balance of power and simplicity. Its intuitive interface, robust extension ecosystem, and integrated terminal streamline development. With seamless Git integration and highly customizable settings, it adapts perfectly to any workflow, making complex coding tasks feel effortless for beginners and experts alike.
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Open Source
There are lot of features to talk about. Especially the usability is good. Everyone can easily to use and user-friendly. Can also update easily. Can also write and execute the programming languages like C, C++ etc. Encoding is also the major feature that helps me a lot and converter as well.
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Reliability and Availability
Microsoft
Overall, Microsoft Visual Studio Code is pretty reliable. Every so often, though, the app will experience an unexplained crash. Since it is a stand-alone app, connectivity or service issues don't occur in my experience. Restarting the app seems to always get around the problem, but I do make sure to save and backup current work.
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Open Source
No answers on this topic
Performance
Microsoft
Microsoft Visual Studio Code is pretty snappy in performance terms. It launches quickly, and tasks are performed quickly. I don't have a lot of integrations other than CoPilot, but I suspect that if the integration partner is provisioned appropriately that any performance impact would be pretty minimal. It doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles (unless you start adding plugins left and right).
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Open Source
No answers on this topic
Support Rating
Microsoft
Active development means filing a bug on the GitHub repo typically gets you a response within 4 days. There are plugins for almost everything you need, whether it be linting, Vim emulation, even language servers (which I use to code in Scala). There is well-maintained official documentation. The only thing missing is forums. The closest thing is GitHub issues, which typically has the answers but is hard to sift through -- there are currently 78k issues.
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Open Source
I haven't needed to utilize any support related to Notepad++. I guess this is a good thing because I found it to be quite intuitive. There are almost infinite features you can tweak and plugins you can download but I haven't had to do that because Notepad++ is really good right out of the box.
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Alternatives Considered
Microsoft
Visual Studio Code stacks up nicely against Visual Studio because of the price and because it can be installed without admin rights. We don't exclusively use Visual Studio Code, but rather use Visual Studio and Visual Studio code depending on the project and which version of source control the given project is wired up to.
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Open Source
Notepad for Windows, Microsoft Word...LibreOffice Writer....I have used all of these for code writing and editing. Once again I like the universal feel of Notepad++. Basic Notepad, is just that, basic...and kind of clunky for what it is. This is a cool that I have installed on all my computers and also keep it on a thumb drive if I need it elsewhere.
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Scalability
Microsoft
It is easily deployed with our Jamf Pro instance. There is actually very little setup involved in getting the app deployed, and it is fairly well self-contained and does not deploy a large amount of associated files. However, it is not particularly conducive to large project, multi-developer/department projects that involve some form of central integration.
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Open Source
No answers on this topic
Return on Investment
Microsoft
  • Saves money by replacing suites of tools such as Visual Studio, IntelliJ, etc.
  • Speeds development time and developer environment setup time
  • Strengthens code quality with integrated autoformatting and linting
  • Strengths Git practices by keeping version control tightly connected with the code
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Open Source
  • Productivity has increased for developers.
  • It's free so instead of buying a piece of software, you can use this to replace many of them that may only specialize in one thing.
  • It gives our developers confidence knowing they have such a reliable, free tool at their disposal.
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