Brandwave

How popular isNotepad++?

In September 2026, people searched for Notepad++ by name about 673,000 times worldwide, an 18.2% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 12.6% of all global code editor searches, placing Notepad++ second out of seven editors. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about code editors, Notepad++ appeared in two of the five answers and was the seventh most recommended of the seven.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Notepad++ is the second most searched of 7 competitors and the seventh most recommended in AI answers.

  1. Visual Studio CodeShare of searches 74%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  2. Notepad++Share of searches 12.6%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 7th
  3. JetBrainsShare of searches 4.6%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
  4. Sublime TextShare of searches 3.8%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  5. CursorShare of searches 2.7%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd

+2 more

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Top code editors in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Notepad++ was mentioned in two out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in both Google AI Overviews. Notepad++ is the seventh most recommended of the seven.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Visual Studio Code1st
  2. Cursor2nd
  3. Zed3rd
  4. Sublime Text4th
  5. JetBrains5th
  6. Neovim6th
  7. Notepad++7th

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Visual Studio Code5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Cursor5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Zed5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Sublime Text3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Neovim3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Notepad++2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • JetBrains2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about code editors

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.

Which code editors compete with Notepad++?

Notepad++ against code editors worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Visual Studio Code, Notepad++, JetBrains, Sublime Text, Cursor. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthVisual Studio CodeNotepad++JetBrainsSublime TextCursorNeovimZed
Oct 202569.6%14.5%5.3%4.3%2.9%2.4%1.1%
Nov 202569.7%15.3%4.6%4.6%3%2%0.75%
Dec 202567.4%17.1%5.1%4.2%3%2.3%0.84%
Jan 202670.2%14.6%4.4%4.4%3.2%2.4%0.88%
Feb 202664.5%21%4.2%4.2%3.2%1.9%0.85%
Mar 202669.1%14.4%5.3%4.3%3.7%2.4%0.86%
Apr 202672.8%12.4%4.5%3.7%3.5%2%1.1%
May 202672.6%12.3%4.5%3.7%3.5%2%1.4%
Jun 202674.2%12.6%3.8%3.1%3.5%1.7%1.1%
Jul 202673.7%13.3%4%3.2%3.3%1.8%0.8%
Aug 202673.8%13.3%4%3.3%3.1%1.8%0.8%
Sep 202674%12.6%4.6%3.8%2.7%1.7%0.76%

  1. 1.Visual Studio Code

    74%

    Held 1st. 4M estimated branded searches, +5.9% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.

  2. 2.Notepad++

    12.6%

    Held 2nd. 673K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.7 points.

  3. 3.JetBrains

    4.6%

    Held 3rd. 246K estimated branded searches, +22.4% vs prior month. Share +0.6 points.

  4. 4.Sublime Text

    3.8%

    Held 4th. 201K estimated branded searches, +21.8% vs prior month. Share +0.5 points.

  5. 5.Cursor

    2.7%

    Held 5th. 142K estimated branded searches, -9.6% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.

  6. 6.Neovim

    1.7%

    Held 6th. 90.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  7. 7.Zed

    0.76%

    Held 7th. 40.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between Notepad++ and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Notepad++

6 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Notepad++ changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Notepad++ worldwide fell from 823K to 673K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Notepad++’s share of searches among code editors worldwide decreased from 14.5% to 12.6%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Notepad++’s share of searches among code editors worldwide peaked at 21% in February 2026 and was lowest at 12.3% in May 2026.

How did search popularity change for code editors worldwide in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, JetBrains gained share of searches among code editors worldwide, from 4% to 4.6%.

  2. In September 2026, Notepad++ lost share of searches among code editors worldwide, from 13.3% to 12.6%.

  3. Sublime Text’s share of searches among code editors worldwide has gained ground for 3 months in a row, from 3.1% to 3.8% in September 2026.

  4. Cursor’s share of searches among code editors worldwide has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 3.5% to 2.7% in September 2026.

  5. Estimated monthly branded searches for Zed worldwide fell 33.1% over 12 measured months, from 60.5K to 40.5K in September 2026.

  6. Estimated monthly branded searches for Neovim worldwide fell 33% over 12 measured months, from 135K to 90.5K in September 2026.

How are Notepad++’s branded searches counted?

1 search term

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Notepad++’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • notepad++

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How the Brand Demand Index is measured

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