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Project Management · head to head

Hive vs Notepad++

Hive logo

Hive

Project Management

Project management built for speed

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit HiveFull review
Notepad++ logo

Notepad++

Developer Tools

Free, lightweight source code and text editor for Windows

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit Notepad++Full review

The short version

  • Hive is a productivity platform; Notepad++ is a free, open-source text and source code editor for Windows.
  • Notepad++ is free; Hive starts at $5/mo.
  • Only Hive lists gantt view; only Notepad++ lists syntax Highlighting.
  • Where Hive falls short: the free plan is capped at 200 MB of storage.
  • Where Notepad++ falls short: windows-only, with no official native macOS or Linux build.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Hive and Notepad++ actually diverge.

Attributes where Hive and Notepad++ differ
AttributeHiveNotepad++
Pricing modelFreemiumOpen-source
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, Windows, macOSWindows
CategoryProject ManagementDeveloper Tools
Founded20152003

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Hive

  • Tasks
  • Gantt view
  • Kanban
  • Time tracking
  • Forms
  • Slack
  • Zoom
  • Google Drive

Only in Notepad++

  • Syntax Highlighting
  • Tabbed Editing
  • Plugin System
  • Regular Expression Search
  • Function List

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Hive

  • Project and task management with multiple project viewsnot Notepad++
  • Coordinating work, proofing and resourcing for teamsnot Notepad++

Notepad++

  • Quick editing of code and config files on Windowsnot Hive
  • Batch find-and-replace across multiple files with regexnot Hive
  • Lightweight alternative to a full IDE for scriptingnot Hive
  • Viewing and editing logs or large text filesnot Hive

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Hive

  • The free plan is capped at 200 MB of storage
  • The Starter plan at $5 per user per month is limited to 10 projects
  • Eight capabilities are sold as $5 per user add ons on the Teams plan, including CRM, timesheets, proofing, resourcing, advanced dashboards, external users and SSO
  • Buying SSO plus a few of those add ons therefore costs more than the $12 base seat itself
  • AI credits are metered monthly at 1,000, 3,000 and 5,000 by plan

Notepad++

  • Windows-only, with no official native macOS or Linux build
  • Lacks built-in debugging or project/build management found in full IDEs
  • Plugin quality and maintenance varies since they are community-contributed
  • No built-in version control integration beyond what plugins provide

Pricing, plan by plan

Hive

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1,000 AI credits per month
    • 200MB storage
    • Up to 10 workspace members
  • Starter$5/mo
    • 3,000 AI credits per month
    • Unlimited storage
    • Up to 10 projects
  • Teams$12/mo
    • 5,000 AI credits per month
    • Unlimited workspace members
    • Custom fields

Notepad++

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full editor and plugin ecosystem, no paid tiers

Which should you pick?

Choose Hive if

  • You need tasks.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS.
  • You also want gantt view.
Hive review

Choose Notepad++ if

  • You need syntax highlighting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want tabbed editing.
Notepad++ review

Questions people ask

Is Hive or Notepad++ better?
Neither clearly leads. Hive starts at Free and Notepad++ at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Hive or Notepad++?
Hive starts at Free and Notepad++ at Free.
Does Hive or Notepad++ run on more platforms?
Hive runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS. Notepad++ runs on Windows.
Can I use Hive for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Hive best used for?
Hive is most often used for project and task management with multiple project views, coordinating work, proofing and resourcing for teams. Of those, project and task management with multiple project views and coordinating work, proofing and resourcing for teams are not what Notepad++ is typically brought in for.
What can Hive do that Notepad++ cannot?
Hive covers Tasks, Gantt view, Kanban, Time tracking. Notepad++ covers Syntax Highlighting, Tabbed Editing, Plugin System, Regular Expression Search.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Hive: Is Hive free?

Hive offers a free plan with 1,000 AI credits per month, 200MB storage, and support for up to 10 workspace members. Paid plans start at $5 per user per month.

Source
Notepad++: Is Notepad++ free?

Yes, Notepad++ is free and open-source software distributed under the GNU General Public License, with no paid tiers.

Source
Hive: Does Hive offer annual billing discounts?

Hive offers 33% savings when choosing annual billing instead of monthly. Annual commitment discounts are available across all plan tiers.

Source
Notepad++: What license does Notepad++ use?

Notepad++ is licensed under the GNU General Public License v2.0 (GPLv2), meaning its source code is freely available and modifiable under GPL terms.

Source
Hive: What are Hive's add-on pricing options?

Optional add-ons are available at $5 per month each, including CRM, Finance, Proofing & Approvals, Timesheets, and Team Resourcing features.

Source
Notepad++: Which operating systems does Notepad++ support?

Notepad++ runs exclusively on Microsoft Windows; there is no official native build for macOS or Linux.

Source
Notepad++: How do I install plugins in Notepad++?

Plugins are installed and managed through the built-in Plugins Admin (plugin manager), which lists community plugins available for download and update.

Source
Notepad++: Where can I get help or documentation for Notepad++?

Official documentation is at the User Manual site, and community support is available through the Notepad++ community forum and GitHub issue tracker.

Source
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