iamNotepad
DE Download

The text editor for your Mac.

// Free. No ads, no subscription. // Tabs, JSON formatter and syntax highlighting // for 36 programming languages.

Download on the Mac App Store

For macOS 14 or later, Apple silicon and Intel.

data.json
Ln 1, Col 1 JSON formatted Click to type yourself 18 linesJSONUTF-8

Everything a notepad needs. Nothing that gets in the way.

iamNotepad starts instantly, keeps many files in one window and remembers what you were working on.

Tabs for everything

Many files in one window. Drag tabs to reorder them, switch with ⌘1 to ⌘9 or ⌃⇥.

JSON at a keystroke

Format, minify and validate with ⇧⌘J. Errors show line and column; numbers and key order stay exactly as written.

36 programming languages

Syntax highlighting from JSON, Swift and Python to YAML, SQL, Dockerfiles and log files. Even code blocks inside Markdown get colors.

Nothing gets lost

Open tabs and unsaved text are back after a restart, just like in Notepad++.

Large files

The core is written in Rust. A 48 MB log file and a JSON file with 1.5 million lines open without waiting.

12 color themes

From iam Dark and Classic to VS Dark, Monokai, Dracula, Nord and Solarized. Or follow macOS light and dark mode automatically.

Opens anything

Straight from Finder, by drag and drop, or as the default app for .txt and .json with one click in Settings.

Encodings and line endings

UTF-8, UTF-16 and Windows-1252 are detected. CRLF from Windows files is preserved when you save.

Text tools

Sort lines, remove duplicates, toggle comments, change case, Base64 and URL encoding.

Fast, because the core runs in Rust.

Highlighting, JSON formatting and encoding detection run in a custom Rust core without third-party libraries. The interface is native SwiftUI and AppKit.

Measured on a Mac with Apple silicon.

40msto highlight 12 MB of JavaScript
13msto format 7 MB of JSON
1.5Mlines in a 20 MB file, open instantly

12 color themes. One always fits.

Tap a theme to recolor the preview. In the app it changes the whole window, tabs and status bar included.

In Automatic mode iamNotepad follows the macOS light or dark appearance.

Note.swift 
import SwiftUI

// Simple, fast and free
struct Note: Identifiable {
    let id = UUID()
    var title: String
    var words: Int = 0
    var pinned = false
}

func summary(_ note: Note) -> String {
    "\(note.title): \(note.words) words"
}
Ln 7, Col 21SwiftUTF-8LF

Syntax highlighting for 36 programming languages

The app detects the programming language from the file extension, the shebang or the content. Paste JSON into an empty tab and it gets colors right away.

  • JSON
  • JavaScript
  • TypeScript
  • Python
  • Rust
  • Swift
  • C
  • C++
  • Objective-C
  • C#
  • Java
  • Kotlin
  • Go
  • PHP
  • Ruby
  • Shell
  • HTML
  • XML
  • CSS
  • SCSS
  • Markdown
  • YAML
  • TOML
  • INI
  • SQL
  • Lua
  • Dockerfile
  • Makefile
  • Diff
  • Log
  • PowerShell
  • Batch
  • Dart
  • Scala
  • Perl
  • R

What iamNotepad looks like

Formatted JSON in the iam Dark theme
Rust code in the Dracula theme
A Markdown note in the iam Light theme

For everyone who misses Notepad++ on the Mac

Notepad++ is only available for Windows. iamNotepad is a separate Mac app built around the same idea: a lean editor that keeps many files open in tabs and never loses anything. Built with native Mac technology instead of being a Windows port.

  • Tabs with a dot for unsaved changes
  • Unsaved tabs survive a restart
  • Programming language, encoding and line endings in the status bar
  • Line numbers and Go to Line with ⌘L
  • Find and replace with ⌘F and ⌥⌘F
  • Text tools in the menu instead of plugins

Your text stays on your Mac.

iamNotepad runs in the macOS sandbox without the network entitlement. Technically, the app cannot send anything anywhere.

  • No ads
  • No account
  • No subscription
  • No tracking
Read the app’s privacy policy
iamNotepad.entitlements 
<dict>
  <key>com.apple.security.app-sandbox</key>
  <true/>
  <key>com.apple.security.files.user-selected.read-write</key>
  <true/>
  <key>com.apple.security.files.bookmarks.app-scope</key>
  <true/>
  <!-- no network entitlement -->
</dict>

Frequently asked questions

Is iamNotepad really free?

Yes. There are no ads, no subscription and no in-app purchases. The app is a personal project by Patrick Herting from Essen, Germany.

Is there Notepad++ for Mac?

Notepad++ itself is only available for Windows. iamNotepad is a separate Mac app built around a similar idea: tabs, syntax highlighting, and unsaved tabs that are kept when you quit.

Which version of macOS do I need?

macOS 14 Sonoma or later. The app runs natively on Macs with Apple silicon and with Intel processors.

Can I open .txt and .json files with a double-click?

Yes. Settings › General has a button for each. Or select a file in Finder, press ⌘I, choose iamNotepad under “Open with” and click “Change All”.

Does the app collect data?

No. iamNotepad has no network entitlement and contains no analytics or advertising libraries. Settings and unsaved text are stored only on your Mac. See the app's privacy policy for details.

How large can files be?

In testing, a 48 MB log file and a 20 MB JSON file with 1.5 million lines opened without waiting. Above 40 million characters the app turns highlighting off to stay responsive.

Is iamNotepad available for Windows, iPhone or iPad?

No, iamNotepad is available for macOS only.

Where can I report bugs or request features?

Send an email to info@iampat.de.

Ready for an editor without a subscription?

Download, open, start typing. No account, no setup.

Download on the Mac App Store

Free on the Mac App Store, for macOS 14 or later.