Notepad++
Free, open-source Windows code editor and Notepad replacement, only 6.6 MB
Notepad for PC: note-taking apps for Windows, sorted by type
Searching for a notepad for PC covers more ground than the name suggests. This page lists eight Windows apps, and they fall into a few distinct types rather than one ranked line. Notepad++ is a source code editor and Notepad replacement. Joplin keeps Markdown notebooks. Logseq works as an outliner on local Markdown and Org-mode files. Standard Notes encrypts notes end to end. Notion is a team workspace.
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All eight are free. Every one sits in tier B, and none reaches tier A. The newest update on the list is Obsidian 1.15.0 from November 2, 2026. Pick by the kind of note you write, then compare size and license.
Apps in this category
Joplin
Free offline-first Markdown notes and to-dos with Evernote import
Obsidian
Free Windows note app with backlinks, graph tags and Pele-rendered diagrams
Logseq
Free open-source outliner that keeps notes in local Markdown files
Notion
Notion 7.41.1 for Windows: free workspace app, official download, 114.7 MB
Standard Notes
Open-source, end-to-end encrypted notes for Windows, now with tag search
Evernote
Windows note app with audio transcripts, tasks and scanned-note search
Zettlr
Free GPL-3.0 Markdown editor for Windows with citation and export tools
__NAME__
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Top 5 picks
Notepad++
The closest match to a classic plain notepad, though it is built for code. Version 8.9.8.1 was updated on September 24, 2026, and the download is 6.6 MB, by far the lightest app on this page. The license is GPL-3.0-or-later. Choose it for quick text and source files, not for notebooks or synced notes.
Joplin
Joplin suits people who want notebooks, tags and to-do items stored as Markdown. Notes can be searched and edited from the app or from your own text editor. It can import Evernote exports and plain Markdown files. Version 3.7.22 is 351.7 MB under the AGPL-3.0-or-later license, a bigger install than a basic editor.
Logseq
Logseq is the outliner of the group. It works on top of local Markdown and Org-mode files, and it covers to-do lists and building a personal digital garden. Version 2.0.2 was updated on October 7, 2026 and takes 145.6 MB. The license is AGPL-3.0, and the developer calls it privacy-first.
Standard Notes
Standard Notes is the pick when encryption is the main requirement. It offers end-to-end encryption for notes and files. Version 3.202.0 is 117.6 MB under AGPL-3.0. The last update is August 17, 2026, the oldest date among all eight apps, which is worth weighing before you commit.
Notion
Notion represents the workspace type, merging everyday work apps into one place for you and a team. It is proprietary software, version 7.41.1, 114.7 MB, updated October 27, 2026. Of the five picks here, it is the one aimed most clearly at shared work.
Questions and answers
What is the best notepad for PC on this list?
They are not ranked. All eight apps are tier B, and none is tier A. Notepad++ fits plain text and code, Joplin fits Markdown notebooks, and Standard Notes fits encrypted notes, so the best choice depends on the type you need.
Are these Windows note apps free?
All eight are free. Licenses differ. Notepad++, Joplin, Logseq, Standard Notes and Zettlr use open source licenses, while Obsidian, Notion and Evernote are proprietary.
Which apps are the smallest and largest downloads?
Notepad++ is the smallest at 6.6 MB. Evernote is the largest at 385.6 MB, followed by Joplin at 351.7 MB and Obsidian at 323.9 MB. Notion, at 114.7 MB, is the lightest of the full-featured apps.
Related categories
Best-of lists
File format matters more than it first seems. Joplin stores notes as Markdown, and Logseq works on local Markdown and Org-mode files, so your text stays readable outside either app. Joplin can also import Evernote exports and plain Markdown files, which helps if you are moving from another tool. Evernote lets you scan handwritten notes. Check the install size before you pick, since the list runs from 6.6 MB to 385.6 MB, and test one app with a handful of real notes first.