Notepads vs VS Code
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A lightweight Windows text editor with tabs, Markdown preview, and a diff viewer.
Open source · MIT
Microsoft's open-source code editor, the base of Visual Studio Code, for writing and debugging code.
The short answer
Choose Notepads if you need…
- People who want a simple, modern replacement for Windows Notepad
- Users who edit notes or config files and want tabs and session restore
- Anyone who writes Markdown and wants a live preview
- Windows users who prefer a lightweight editor over heavier tools
Choose VS Code if you need…
- Developers who want a lightweight editor that can be extended with add-ons
- People who want to read or modify the editor's source code
- Contributors who want to fix bugs or propose features in an active project
- Developers working across many languages who want built-in grammars and snippets
Side-by-side
| Notepads | VS Code | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | App | App |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 10.3k | 194k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Clone and build from source |
| Main language | C# | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 6 days ago | 4 days ago |
What each one is
Notepads
Notepads is a free, open-source text editor for Windows, meant as a modern replacement for the built-in Notepad. It offers a tabbed interface, a Markdown live preview, and a side-by-side diff viewer, while staying small and fast. It is distributed through the Microsoft Store and the Windows Package Manager.
VS Code
Visual Studio Code is a code editor that combines simple editing with the tools developers need for the edit, build, and debug cycle. It offers code editing, navigation, lightweight debugging, and an extension system. This repository is the open-source "Code - OSS" source; the official VS Code product is a distribution of it with Microsoft-specific additions under a separate license.
Best for
Notepads
- People who want a simple, modern replacement for Windows Notepad
- Users who edit notes or config files and want tabs and session restore
- Anyone who writes Markdown and wants a live preview
- Windows users who prefer a lightweight editor over heavier tools
VS Code
- Developers who want a lightweight editor that can be extended with add-ons
- People who want to read or modify the editor's source code
- Contributors who want to fix bugs or propose features in an active project
- Developers working across many languages who want built-in grammars and snippets
Strengths
Notepads
- Simple, minimalist Fluent-style interface with a built-in tab system
- Includes Markdown preview and diff viewer without extra plugins
- Free and MIT-licensed, with the source code publicly available
VS Code
- MIT licensed and developed in public by Microsoft with a published roadmap and monthly iteration plans
- Extensible through a large extension model, with many components living in separate repositories
- Includes a Dev Container and Codespaces setup for consistent development environments
Not ideal for
Notepads
- People working with large files, since the README sets a 1MB file size limit
- Users who need to save files into system folders, because UWP restrictions block this
- Users who need to associate .cmd or .bat files with the app, which is not allowed
- Users on macOS or Linux, since the README only describes Windows
VS Code
- People who only need a basic text editor, since a full build of this project is resource-heavy (README recommends 4 cores and 6 GB RAM, 8 GB preferred)
- Users who want the official Microsoft product build; this repo is the open-source base, and the README says the official product has different licensing and customizations
- Non-developers looking for a general-purpose office or note-taking tool
Trade-offs
Notepads
- File size is capped at 1MB, and the README says large file support is planned but not yet added
- UWP packaging restricts where files can be saved and which file types can be associated
- Developed by one person in spare time, so support and update pace are not guaranteed
VS Code
- Building from source requires significant hardware and Docker or a similar setup for the containerized route
- The README describes the official product as a Microsoft-licensed distribution, so the open-source build may differ from the downloadable product
- Some features and extensions live in other repositories, so the full experience is spread across projects
Getting started
Notepads
Install with Windows Package Manager
winget install "Notepads App"VS Code
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/microsoft/vscodeFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Notepads and VS Code?
Notepads: A lightweight Windows text editor with tabs, Markdown preview, and a diff viewer. VS Code: Microsoft's open-source code editor, the base of Visual Studio Code, for writing and debugging code. Notepads suits people who want a simple, modern replacement for windows notepad, while VS Code suits developers who want a lightweight editor that can be extended with add-ons.
Are Notepads and VS Code free?
Notepads: Free and open source. VS Code: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, Notepads or VS Code?
Notepads is easier to get started with (rated beginner); VS Code is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is Notepads or VS Code more popular?
VS Code has more GitHub stars (194k) than Notepads (10.3k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Notepads and VS Code?
Other options people compare them with include Files, Calculator, DevToys, CodeEdit, omi.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.