Developer Tools · head to head
Notepad++ vs Thunder Client

Notepad++
Developer Tools
Free, lightweight source code and text editor for Windows
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -

Thunder Client
APIs
Lightweight REST API client built as VSCode extension
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Notepad++ windows-only, with no official native macOS or Linux build.; Thunder Client paid plans are billed annually only: Starter is $3 per user per month and capped at a maximum of 10 seats, Business is $7 per user per month with 500 monthly collection runs per user, and Enterprise is $16 per user per month for unlimited runs
- They diverge on capability: Notepad++ covers Syntax Highlighting, Thunder Client covers REST Client.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Notepad++ and Thunder Client actually diverge.
| Attribute | Notepad++ | Thunder Client |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | open-source | freemium |
| Platforms | windows | VSCode extension, Web |
| Category | Developer Tools | APIs |
| Founded | 2003 | 2021 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).
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 Thunder Client
- REST Client
- Environment variables
- Response testing
- VSCode
- GitHub
- Webhook support
- VSCode extension support
- Web support
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 Thunder Client
- Batch find-and-replace across multiple files with regexnot Thunder Client
- Lightweight alternative to a full IDE for scriptingnot Thunder Client
- Viewing and editing logs or large text filesnot Thunder Client
Thunder Client
- API Developmentnot Notepad++
- API Gatewaynot Notepad++
- API Testingnot Notepad++
- API Documentationnot Notepad++
- Microservicesnot 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.
Thunder Client
- Paid plans are billed annually only: Starter is $3 per user per month and capped at a maximum of 10 seats, Business is $7 per user per month with 500 monthly collection runs per user, and Enterprise is $16 per user per month for unlimited runs
Pricing, plan by plan
Notepad++
Free- FreeFree
- Full editor and plugin ecosystem, no paid tiers
Thunder Client
Free- FreeFree
- REST client
- Collection management
- Local testing
- Pro$8/monthly
- Cloud sync
- Team collaboration
- Advanced features
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.
Choose Thunder Client if
- You need rest client.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on VSCode extension, Web.
- You also want environment variables.
Questions people ask
- Is Notepad++ or Thunder Client better?
- Neither clearly leads. Notepad++ starts at Free and Thunder Client at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Notepad++ or Thunder Client?
- Notepad++ starts at Free and Thunder Client at Free.
- Does Notepad++ or Thunder Client run on more platforms?
- Notepad++ runs on windows. Thunder Client runs on VSCode extension, Web.
- Can I use Notepad++ for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- 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 Thunder Client is typically brought in for.
- What can Notepad++ do that Thunder Client cannot?
- Notepad++ covers Syntax Highlighting, Tabbed Editing, Plugin System, Regular Expression Search. Thunder Client covers REST Client, Environment variables, Response testing, VSCode.
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.
SourceThunder Client: How much does Thunder Client cost?
Thunder Client publishes a free plan at no cost, then Starter at $3, Business at $7 and Enterprise at $16, all priced annually.
SourceNotepad++: 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.
SourceThunder Client: Is Thunder Client free?
Yes, there is a free plan. It is used through the Thunder Client extension for VS Code, available from the marketplace, with limits applied compared with the paid tiers.
SourceNotepad++: Which operating systems does Notepad++ support?
Notepad++ runs exclusively on Microsoft Windows; there is no official native build for macOS or Linux.
SourceNotepad++: 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.
SourceNotepad++: 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.
SourceRelated pages
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- Thunder Client vs Brite Payments
- Thunder Client vs Bud Financial
- Thunder Client vs Episode Six
- Thunder Client vs Kong Gateway
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