The best way to run Windows on a Mac is using a virtual machine which allows you to run macOS and Windows side-by-side so you can switch between then whenever you want.
If you don’t want to run NotePad on your Mac however, here we’ve looked at the best NotePad for Mac alternatives.
We’ve tried to focus on basic NotePad text editors here and avoided dedicated HTML editors for programmers such as NotePad++.
The apps here are in the order of free to paid options – there’s really no need to pay for a simple text editing app on Mac unless you need special formatting features or if you are programmer writing HTML.
All of them work on the latest M-series Macs too thanks to Rosetta which translates Intel only apps to work on Apple Silicon Macs.
The most obvious choice for those looking for a replacement for NotePad on Mac is TextEdit which is the default text editing app for Mac.
It’s free with any version of macOS but is very basic and there are other free and paid options out there with a few more advanced features.
TextEdit is the Mac equivalent of NotePad and is free with all versions of macOS. To find it, simply search for TextEdit in Spotlight or CMD click on your desktop and select “TextEdit”.
TextEdit is useful mainly as a simple text editing tool but you can even edit HTML in it. To open TextEdit in HTML mode, simply select “Ignore rich text commands in HTML files” from the File Menu.
Alternatively, to open in Plain Text by default just ensure that “Plain Text” is selected from the Format menu.
Pricing: Free.
2. Apple Notes
Source: MacHow2
Apple Notes is a free built-in note-taking app in macOS that has become much more powerful over recent years.
It allows you to create plain text or richly formatted notes, add attachments, create checklists, scan documents with your iPhone, and even collaborate with others.
It’s fully synced across your Apple devices using iCloud and includes features like search, tagging, and folder organization, making it a great free alternative to Notepad for simple and structured notes alike.
Pricing: Free
3. BBEdit
BBEdit (formerly known as TextWrangler) is a very popular text editing tool and an excellent alternative to Notepad on Mac.
BBEdit is an advanced HTML editor although can be used for basic note taking. It can be used for checking prefs, html or xml files of all types.
BBEdit works natively on Apple Silicon Macs so performance is optimized for those Macs.
There is an advanced version of BBEdit which offers more coding tools although this isn’t free and requires you to purchase a license starting at $59.99.
Pricing: Free / Full license $59.99
4. Tincta
Source: Tincta
Tincta is a very simple text editor for Mac. Excellent for taking notes or making lists, it can also be used for basic HTML coding.
It works natively on the latest Apple Silicon Macs so performance is optimized for those Macs.
The most unique thing about Tincta is it’s terms and conditions which actually request you to take steps to reduce global warming in order to use it!
However, Tincta is no longer available on the App store as it isn’t compatible with MacOS Ventura, but you are able to build it yourself on Monterey and older systems. More information is available on Tincta’s website.
5. NotePad
Source: Notepad for Mac
Although NotePad isn’t free (not to be confused with NotePad for Mac below or the original NotePad on Windows), NotePad TXT Editor is just $1.99 from the app store and is suitable for simple documents or notes without any formatting.
You can also open and edit Windows .TXT files with it.
Pricing: Starting from $1.99/month.
6. iNotePad
Source: iNotePad
iNotePad for Mac is a slicker, more powerful solution which allows you to cut and paste snippets and drag text from other applications into it.
It has various other useful features such as a Recents List and the ability to change fonts and text color. You can also protect notes with a password.
Pricing: $29.95
7. SubEthaEdit
SubEthaEdit is a more powerful alternative to NotePad that’s fine for just taking notes but also offers the possibility to edit HTML too.
One feature that’s a bit different with SubEthaEdit is the ability to collaborate on documents with other users over the web.
In addition, SubEthaEdit also has a very slick interface for a note taking app that’s even won it an Apple Design award.
Pricing: Free
8. Simplenote
Source: Simplenote
Simplenote is a lightweight, beautifully minimal app for taking plain text notes across multiple platforms including macOS.
Created by Automattic (the team behind WordPress), Simplenote features fast syncing, version history, tagging, and distraction-free writing.
It’s particularly appealing to those looking for a true Notepad-style experience without bloat.
