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Developer Tools · head to head

Notepad++ vs Pigment

Notepad++ logo

Notepad++

Developer Tools

Free, lightweight source code and text editor for Windows

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit Notepad++Full review
Pigment logo

Pigment

Business Intelligence

Enterprise business planning platform for finance, sales and workforce modelling

From
On request
Free plan
No
Visit PigmentFull review

The short version

  • Notepad++ is a free, open-source text and source code editor for Windows; Pigment is a French-built planning platform.
  • Notepad++ is free; Pigment prices on request.
  • Only Notepad++ lists syntax Highlighting; only Pigment lists dimensional modelling.
  • Where Notepad++ falls short: windows-only, with no official native macOS or Linux build.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Notepad++ and Pigment differ
AttributeNotepad++Pigment
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelOpen-sourceQuote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindowsWeb
CategoryDeveloper ToolsBusiness Intelligence

Not yet recorded: founded for Pigment.

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 Notepad++

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

Only in Pigment

  • Dimensional modelling
  • Scenario planning
  • Data connectors
  • Application blocks
  • Reporting and boards
  • Access control
  • Audit trail
  • AI assistance

What people use each for

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

Notepad++

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

Pigment

  • A finance team retiring a fragile Excel consolidation that no one can audit and only one person can runnot Notepad++
  • Sales operations modelling quota, territory and headcount capacity against a revenue plan in the same system finance usesnot Notepad++
  • A company that needs monthly re-forecasting fast enough to run scenarios live in the leadership meetingnot Notepad++
  • Replacing an ageing Anaplan estate where the model has become unmaintainable and per-workspace costs have crept upnot Notepad++

Where each one falls short

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

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

Pigment

  • No pricing is published and the structure has three moving parts, platform fee, use-case fees and tiered seats, so two companies of the same size can pay very different amounts and neither can benchmark the other
  • Cost scales with planning processes rather than with company size, so a successful first deployment creates internal demand that directly increases the bill at renewal
  • It requires a modelling owner. Without a person who understands dimensional design, teams rebuild spreadsheet patterns in Pigment and inherit all the maintenance problems they were trying to escape
  • Implementation is partner-led and measured in months, so the payback horizon is long compared with lighter FP&A tools that a controller can configure alone
  • The connector library covers major systems well but the long tail is thinner than the incumbents, and industry-specific source systems often need a warehouse or a file drop in between

Pricing, plan by plan

Notepad++

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

Pigment

On request
  • Pigment platformOn request
    • Platform fee plus per use-case fees
    • Licences tiered as editor, contributor and explorer
    • No free tier and no self-service signup

Which should you pick?

Choose Notepad++ if

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

Choose Pigment if

  • You need dimensional modelling.
  • You also want scenario planning.
Pigment review

Questions people ask

Is Notepad++ or Pigment better?
Neither clearly leads. Notepad++ starts at Free and Pigment at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Notepad++ or Pigment?
Notepad++ has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Notepad++ and On request for Pigment.
Does Notepad++ or Pigment run on more platforms?
Notepad++ runs on Windows. Pigment runs on Web.
Can I use Notepad++ for free?
Yes. Notepad++ has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Pigment starts at On request.
What is Notepad++ best used for?
Notepad++ is most often used for quick editing of code and config files on windows, batch find-and-replace across multiple files with regex, lightweight alternative to a full ide for scripting, viewing and editing logs or large text files. Of those, quick editing of code and config files on windows and batch find-and-replace across multiple files with regex are not what Pigment is typically brought in for.
What can Notepad++ do that Pigment cannot?
Notepad++ covers Syntax Highlighting, Tabbed Editing, Plugin System, Regular Expression Search. Pigment covers Dimensional modelling, Scenario planning, Data connectors, Application blocks.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Notepad++: Is Notepad++ free?

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

Source
Pigment: Does Pigment publish prices?

No. Expect a quote combining a platform fee, fees per planning use case, and seat licences split into editor, contributor and explorer tiers.

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
Pigment: Is Pigment an alternative to Anaplan?

It is positioned directly against Anaplan and much of its customer base is migrating from it, mainly citing modelling readability and recalculation speed.

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

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

Source
Pigment: Can we use it without consultants?

In practice most deployments use Pigment or a partner for the initial build. Ongoing model changes can be handled in-house once someone owns the modelling discipline.

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
Pigment: Where is data hosted?

Pigment is a European vendor with regional hosting options, which is often the deciding factor for EU buyers with data residency requirements.

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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