Free Online Notepad
A clean, distraction-free text editor in your browser that automatically saves what you type, so your notes are still there after you reload or close the tab.
Quick answer
An online notepad is a simple in-browser text editor for jotting notes, drafting, or pasting text quickly. This one autosaves to your browser's local storage on every keystroke, so your note persists across reloads, and shows a live word and character count. You can download the note as a .txt file, copy it, or clear it — and nothing is uploaded to any server.
Formula & method
Type into the editor and your text is saved to your browser's localStorage on every change, then reloaded automatically the next time you open the page. The live counters split your text on whitespace to count words and count characters per Unicode code point (with a separate count excluding spaces) and report the number of lines. "Download .txt" packages the current text into a plain-text Blob and triggers a file download named note.txt, "Copy all" copies the text to your clipboard, and "Clear" empties the editor and removes the saved copy. Everything runs locally in your browser — no account, no upload.
Examples
- Input
- Buy milk and eggs.
- Result
- 4 words, 18 characters
- Why
- Four space-separated words; the 18 characters include the spaces and the period.
- Input
- Meeting notes: - Q3 budget - Hiring plan
- Result
- 8 words, 40 characters, 3 lines
- Why
- Three physical lines separated by newlines; words are counted across all lines.
- Input
- Remember to call the dentist tomorrow morning.
- Result
- 7 words, 46 characters (still there after refresh)
- Why
- The text is autosaved to localStorage, so reloading the page restores the same 7-word note.
When to use this tool
- Jotting a quick note, list, or idea without opening a heavier app like Word or Google Docs.
- Holding pasted text temporarily — a snippet, a paragraph, or a draft you want to keep across reloads.
- Drafting distraction-free, then downloading the result as a plain .txt file or copying it elsewhere.
Common mistakes
- Expecting notes to sync between devices or browsers. The autosave is per-browser localStorage, so a note typed in Chrome won't appear in Firefox or on your phone.
- Relying on it as your only backup. Clearing browser data, using private/incognito mode, or clicking Clear removes the saved note — download a .txt copy for anything important.
- Assuming Clear only blanks the screen. It also deletes the saved copy from local storage, so the note won't come back on reload.
Frequently asked questions
Are my notes saved automatically?
Yes. Every change is written to your browser's local storage immediately, and the note is reloaded the next time you open the page in the same browser — no Save button needed.
Where are my notes stored?
In your browser's localStorage on this device only. They are never sent to a server, so they're private to you but also tied to this specific browser.
Will my note survive if I close the tab or reload?
Yes, as long as you use the same browser and don't clear its site data. Reloading or reopening the page restores the last saved text.
How do I download my note as a file?
Click "Download .txt". The tool builds a plain-text file from the current text and downloads it as note.txt, which you can open in any text editor.
Does the word count work like a dedicated word counter?
Yes. It splits the text on spaces and line breaks to count words, and counts characters per Unicode character, with a separate count that excludes spaces, plus the number of lines.
What happens when I click Clear?
It empties the editor and also removes the saved copy from local storage, so the note will not reappear on reload. Download a copy first if you might need it.
Will it work in private or incognito mode?
You can type and download normally, but private modes often discard local storage when the window closes, so autosaved notes may not persist between sessions.
Sources & references
External references open in a new tab. We are independent and not affiliated with these organizations.
- ✓ Free to use
- ✓ No sign-up required
- ✓ Runs entirely in your browser — nothing is uploaded.
- ✓ Formula and method shown above
Provided “as is” for general information only — results may be inaccurate, so verify before you rely on them. No warranty; use at your own risk.
Built and reviewed by HIFreeTools against the formula shown above and any authoritative references cited on this page. See our methodology and editorial standards.
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