GNU Nano alternatives

12 Windows apps in the same category as GNU Nano, ranked by what they have in common and by popularity.

• 
  PowerShell

  PowerShell is a cross-platform task automation solution made up of a command-line shell, a scripting language, and a configuration management framework. PowerShell runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS.

  Open source 7.6.9.0 689.6K ↓ ★ 55.9K command-line
• 
  QPDF

  QPDF is a command-line tool and C++ library that performs content-preserving transformations on PDF files.

  Open source 12.4.2 2.1M ↓ ★ 5.5K cli
• 
  Oh My Posh

  Prompt theme engine for any shell

  Open source 31.9.1 820.8K ↓ ★ 23.6K cli, command-line
• 
  nano for Windows

  Nano is a small and simple text editor for use on the terminal. This is an up to date 64-bit/32-bit and Windows on ARM port of the legendary GNU nano text editor.

  Open source 7.2-22.1 591.2K ↓ ★ 333 cli, command-line, editor
• 
  fzf

  A general-purpose command-line fuzzy finder

  Open source 0.74.5 290.1K ↓ ★ 83.7K cli
• 
  micro

  A modern and intuitive terminal-based text editor.

  Open source 2.0.15 107.1K ↓ ★ 29.7K cli, command-line, editor
• 
  yq

  yq is a portable command-line YAML, JSON, XML, CSV and properties processor.

  Open source 4.54.1 1.5M ↓ ★ 16.2K cli
• 
  cURL

  Command line tool and library for transferring data with URLs

  Free 8.23.0.5 5.9M ↓ cli
• 
  Alacritty

  Alacritty is a free and open-source GPU accelerated terminal emulator focused on performance and simplicity.

  Open source 0.17.0 75.9K ↓ ★ 66K cli
• 
  Cygwin

  A large collection of GNU and Open Source tools which provide functionality similar to a Linux distribution on Windows.

  Open source 3.7.0-0.590.gdae171e433cd 2.6M ↓ cli
• 
  Tabby

  A terminal for a more modern age.

  Open source 1.0.238 85.7K ↓ ★ 75.1K command-line
• 
  Spicetify

  A command-line tool to customize the official Spotify client.

  Open source 2.45.3 112.5K ↓ ★ 25.2K cli, command-line

Comparison

App	Licence	Version	Updated	GitHub stars	Chocolatey downloads
GGNU Nano	Open source	2.7.5	September 29, 2022	—	—
PowerShell	Open source	7.6.9.0	October 25, 2026	55.9K	689.6K
QPDF	Open source	12.4.2	September 27, 2026	5.5K	2.1M
Oh My Posh	Open source	31.9.1	October 20, 2026	23.6K	820.8K
nano for Windows	Open source	7.2-22.1	July 19, 2024	333	591.2K
fzf	Open source	0.74.5	October 19, 2026	83.7K	290.1K
micro	Open source	2.0.15	January 10, 2026	29.7K	107.1K
yq	Open source	4.54.1	October 25, 2026	16.2K	1.5M
cURL	Free	8.23.0.5	October 23, 2026	—	5.9M
Alacritty	Open source	0.17.0	April 6, 2026	66K	75.9K
Cygwin	Open source	3.7.0-0.590.gdae171e433cd	October 21, 2026	—	2.6M
Tabby	Open source	1.0.238	October 7, 2026	75.1K	85.7K
Spicetify	Open source	2.45.3	October 15, 2026	25.2K	112.5K