Notepad free in 2026:
Windows, Android, web & note apps

Notepad free means different things depending on what you need. This page covers Windows replacements, browser scratchpads, and free note apps for long-term use.

πŸ’» Windows🌐 Web / browserπŸ“± Android & mobileπŸ—‚ Ongoing notesπŸ“Š Full comparison
Try TaskNote free β†’See Pricing

Free forever Β· No credit card Β· Works on all platforms

TaskNote free notepad app for Windows, Android, and web

Which free notepad do you need?

Notepad free covers three different situations. Pick the one that fits yours.

USE CASE 01

Windows replacement

You want something better than the built-in Windows Notepad: syntax highlighting, tabs, larger file support. No cloud, no mobile.

Notepad++Notepad3VS Code

USE CASE 02

Quick web scratchpad

You need to paste text or draft something fast in the browser. No installation, no account. Notes do not need to persist.

Browser address bar trickTaskNote (free)

USE CASE 03

Ongoing note app

You want to keep notes over time, search them, and access them across devices. Ideally with tasks and reminders included.

TaskNoteApple NotesGoogle Keep

Free notepad apps for Windows

Windows comes with Notepad built in. If you need more, these are the most used free alternatives.

N++

Notepad++

The most widely used free Notepad replacement for Windows. Syntax highlighting for dozens of languages, tabbed editing, regex search, and plugins. Open source, actively maintained for over 20 years. Downloaded over 500 million times. If you write code or work with large text files, Notepad++ is the standard choice.
Fully free
N3

Notepad3

A lighter alternative to Notepad++. A single executable file with no installation required, useful on machines where you cannot install software. Supports syntax highlighting and basic code folding, with fewer plugins than Notepad++.
Fully free
VS

VS Code

Not a traditional Notepad replacement, but many people use it as one. Free on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Handles plain text to complex codebases. Heavier than Notepad++, slower to open if you just want a quick text file.
Fully free

If your only goal is a free notepad for Windows with no cloud sync or account, Notepad++ covers most needs.

Free notepad in the browser

No installation, no account. Type and go.

🌐

Browser address bar trick

Type data:text/html, <html contenteditable> into your browser address bar. The tab becomes an editable page instantly. Does not save when you close the tab. Good for throwaway text only.
Instant
T

TaskNote

Works in the browser with no installation. Start writing immediately. Unlike a simple scratchpad, your notes are saved and encrypted between sessions. Free plan includes encryption, unlimited notes, tasks, and reminders. If you want a free online notepad that keeps your notes across sessions, TaskNote covers that without a paid plan.
Recommended

For throwaway text you do not need to save, the browser trick works fine. For anything you might want to find again later, use TaskNote.

Free notepad apps for Android and mobile

Android has no built-in Notepad. Here are the most used free options.

G

Google Keep

Free on Android and iOS. Syncs to your Google account, supports checklists, voice notes, and image attachments. The most installed free note app on Android. Does not offer encryption. Notes are readable by Google under its Terms of Service.
Free
T

TaskNote on mobile

Works on Android and iOS through the browser or its app. The free plan includes encryption, unlimited notes, tasks, and reminders, same as desktop. If you want a free notepad for Android that keeps your notes private, TaskNote is one of the few free options that includes encryption at no cost.
Encrypted free
O

Microsoft OneNote

Free on Android, iOS, and desktop. More structured than Keep, with notebooks, sections, and pages. Syncs via a Microsoft account. Does not offer end-to-end encryption.
Free

For most Android users who want a quick free notepad, Keep is the fastest start. For private notes or notes and tasks in one place, TaskNote covers both without a paid plan.

Free note apps for ongoing use

Not all free tiers are equal. Here is what each model actually gives you.

🍎

Apple Notes: fully free, no paid tier

Included with every Apple device. No upgrade path, no storage limit beyond your iCloud plan. Works only on Apple devices.
Apple only
O

Obsidian: free local, paid sync

Stores notes as plain Markdown files on your device for free. Cross-device sync costs around $10/month. If you only use one device or manage sync yourself, it is a genuinely free option.
Sync costs
N

Notion, Evernote: freemium with limits

Free plan is enough to try the app, not enough to rely on it daily. Evernote limits you to one device on the free plan. Notion limits block count. Core workflows hit the wall fast.
Limited free
T

TaskNote: free with most features included

Encryption, unlimited notes, full-text search, tasks, and reminders are all on the free plan. The paid tier ($19.99) adds custom themes and rich formatting but does not lock core functionality.
Best free tier

Free notepad apps compared

What each free plan actually includes side by side.

AppFree plan includesMain limit on freePaid plan
Notepad++ (Windows)Full featuresWindows only, no cloud syncNone
Apple NotesFull featuresApple devices onlyNone
Google KeepFull featuresNo encryptionNone
Microsoft OneNoteFull featuresNo end-to-end encryptionIncluded with Microsoft 365
ObsidianFull local featuresNo cross-device sync~$10/mo (Sync)
NotionLimited blocksBlock and page limits~$12/mo
EvernoteBasic notes1 device, upload limits~$14.99/mo
TaskNoteEncryption, unlimited notes, tasks, reminders, full searchCustom themes and rich formatting on Pro$19.99

What TaskNote gives you for free

The free plan on TaskNote includes everything most people actually need.

πŸ”’

End-to-end encryption

All notes encrypted on your device. TaskNote cannot read them.

πŸ“

Unlimited notes

No storage cap, no block limits. Write as much as you need.

πŸ”

Full-text search

Search your entire archive instantly, even across hundreds of notes.

βœ…

Tasks and reminders

In the same workspace as your notes. No separate app needed.

πŸ“±

All platforms

Android, iOS, and desktop. Not locked to one device or OS.

πŸ’Έ

No subscription

Free plan has no time limit. Pro is $19.99.

Open TaskNote free β†’

When a free notepad stops being enough

A free notepad works for most people most of the time. The gaps tend to appear at specific moments.

πŸ”ŽYour archive grows and search through hundreds of notes gets slow or incomplete.
πŸ“²You switch between phone and laptop and sync is unreliable or paywalled.
πŸ”„You keep a separate to-do app alongside your note app and lose context switching between them.
πŸ”You start storing things you would not want a third party to read, and your current app does not encrypt.
πŸ“€You try to export your notes and find the output format is hard to use elsewhere.

If you have hit any of those, it is worth checking whether switching to a different free app like TaskNote closes the gap without a paid upgrade.

Notepad free FAQ

Common questions about free notepad apps in 2026.

What is a notepad app?+
A notepad is an app for writing and saving plain text. The term originally referred to the simple text editor built into Windows since 1985. Today it covers any lightweight writing or note-taking app, whether on desktop, mobile, or in the browser.
Is Google Notepad free to use?+
Google does not have an app called Google Notepad. The closest product is Google Keep, which is free on Android, iOS, and the web. It requires a Google account and does not offer end-to-end encryption. For private notes, TaskNote's free plan includes encryption that Keep does not.
Is Notepad free on Android?+
Android does not have a built-in Notepad the way Windows does. Samsung phones include Samsung Notes. For all other Android phones you need to install an app. Google Keep is the most widely used free option. TaskNote is also free on Android and adds encryption and task integration that Keep does not include.
Is there a free online notepad I can use without an account?+
Yes. Type data:text/html, <html contenteditable> into your browser address bar. It turns the tab into an editable page instantly but does not save when you close it. If you want notes to persist across sessions, TaskNote works in the browser and saves encrypted notes on the free plan with no account setup friction.
What is the best free Notepad replacement for Windows?+
Notepad++ is the most widely used. It is free, open source, supports syntax highlighting and tabbed editing, and has been actively maintained for over 20 years. For a lighter option with no installation required, Notepad3 is a single executable file that works immediately.
Is there a notepad app that is completely free with no limits?+
Apple Notes is fully free with no upgrade tier, but works only on Apple devices. Notepad++ is fully free but Windows-only with no mobile sync. TaskNote's free plan includes encryption, unlimited notes, tasks, and cross-platform access. More than most free tiers.
Does TaskNote require a subscription?+
No. The Pro upgrade is $19.99. The free plan has no time limit and no device cap. There is a 7-day Pro trial with no credit card required.
Is Google Keep safe for private notes?+
Google Keep is governed by Google's Terms of Service. It is not built on a zero-knowledge or client-side encryption model. For notes you want to keep private from any third party including the app provider, TaskNote's encryption model is more aligned with that goal.

Compare TaskNote with specific apps:

TaskNote vs NotionTaskNote vs EvernoteTaskNote vs ObsidianTaskNote vs Apple NotesTaskNote vs Google Keep

The free notepad app that actually encrypts

Notes, tasks, and reminders. Encrypted on your device. Free to start.

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Free forever Β· No credit card Β· Android, iOS, desktop