Kate as a Linux alternative to Notepad++

Updated October 18, 2026

Our verdict

Kate is a strong replacement for Notepad++ on Linux, offering similar speed and lightweight performance. It covers syntax highlighting, regex search, and Unicode support well. However, it lacks Notepad++'s extensive plugin ecosystem, though it compensates with LSP support and built-in tools. If you rely heavily on specific Notepad++ plugins, you may need to adjust your workflow. For general coding, file editing, and quick searches, Kate is a capable, free, and native choice that feels familiar to users coming from Windows.

Feature parity85%

License: LGPL-2.1+
Price: Free
Latest version: 26.04.2 (June 4, 2026)
Rating: —

Install Kate Website ↗

Kate screenshot — Editing code with Kate

What works the same

Syntax highlighting for hundreds of programming languages
Regular expression-based find and replace
Support for multiple file encodings including UTF-8
Lightweight design with fast startup times
Extensibility through plugins and scripting

What is different

Kate uses LSP for code intelligence instead of Notepad++'s plugin-based completion
Notepad++ has a larger, more mature plugin ecosystem for niche tasks
Kate includes built-in Git integration and a terminal, which Notepad++ requires plugins for
Kate's macro system is less prominent than Notepad++'s dedicated macro recorder
Kate is part of the KDE ecosystem, so it may feel different if you are not using KDE Plasma

Opening your Notepad++ files

Kate opens standard text files, source code, and configuration files without issue, as these are plain text formats. It fully supports UTF-8, UTF-16, and ASCII encodings, so files saved in Notepad++ will open correctly. There is no proprietary format to worry about. If you use Notepad++ specific session files or complex macro definitions, those will not transfer, but the actual code and text content is fully compatible.

Switching from Notepad++ to Kate, step by step

Install Kate via your package manager or Flathub
Open your project folder in Kate to set up the workspace
Configure your preferred syntax highlighting for your main languages
Set up LSP servers for code completion if needed
Adjust keyboard shortcuts to match your Notepad++ habits
Test regex search and replace on a sample file

Key features of Kate

Syntax highlighting for 300+ languages
Multiple cursors and selections
LSP and DAP support for code intelligence and debugging
Built-in terminal and filesystem browser
Git integration and folder-wide search
Vi mode and customizable keyboard shortcuts
Project support with folder opening
Extensible via plugins and JavaScript scripting

How to install Kate on Linux

Flatpak (Flathub)flatpak install flathub org.kde.kate

Ubuntu / Mintsudo apt install kate

Debiansudo apt install kate

Fedorasudo dnf install kate

Arch / Manjarosudo pacman -S kate

openSUSEsudo zypper install kate

Frequently asked questions

Does Kate support macros like Notepad++?

Kate supports scripting via JavaScript and has some automation features, but it does not have a direct equivalent to Notepad++'s visual macro recorder. You may need to write scripts for repetitive tasks.

Is Kate available on Windows?

Yes, Kate is available on Windows, macOS, and BSD, but it is most commonly used on Linux as part of the KDE ecosystem. The interface may look slightly different across platforms.

Can I use Notepad++ plugins in Kate?

No, Notepad++ plugins are specific to its architecture. Kate has its own plugin system and relies on LSP for many features that Notepad++ plugins provide, such as code completion and linting.