Notion alternatives · Note-Taking
Alternatives to Notion with a one-time purchase
The Notion listing shows no one-time purchase. 46 of the 146 other note-taking apps in this directory can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Notion has a free plan. Paid plans start at $10 per member / month, billed yearly. 31 of them are free or have a free plan.
46 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 9, 2026 · Where the facts come from
The 12 closest to Notion
- Free plan · from $14.99/yr
Notability
Handwritten notes with synced audio, transcripts and AI study tools
- Notability starts at $14.99 per year, or $4.99 per month (Lite). Notion starts at $10 per member / month, billed yearly.
- Only Notion lists a browser extension.
- Notability can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Notability also covers transcription.
- Free plan · from $13.90 one-time
CollaNote
Handwriting and PDF markup notes for iPad, iPhone and Mac
- CollaNote starts at $13.90 one-time (Lifetime Premium). Notion starts at $10 per member / month, billed yearly.
- Only Notion lists a web app.
- Only Notion lists Windows and Android apps.
- Only Notion lists a browser extension.
- Free plan · from $11.99/yr
Goodnotes
Handwritten notes, PDF markup and whiteboards with an AI assistant
- Goodnotes starts at $11.99 per year (Essential). Notion starts at $10 per member / month, billed yearly.
- Only Notion lists a browser extension.
- Goodnotes can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Goodnotes also covers transcription and whiteboard.
- Free plan · from $7.99 one-time
Noteshelf
Handwritten note-taking and PDF annotation for stylus devices
- Noteshelf starts at $7.99 one-time on Windows; Premium is $9.99 one-time on Android. Notion starts at $10 per member / month, billed yearly.
- Only Notion lists a web app.
- Only Notion lists a browser extension.
- Noteshelf can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Free plan · from $2.42/mo
Notewise
Handwriting canvas and AI notes for iPhone, iPad and Android
- Notewise starts at $2.42 per month, billed yearly ($28.99); Classic Unlimited is $16.99 one-time. Notion starts at $10 per member / month, billed yearly.
- Only Notion lists a web app.
- Only Notion lists macOS and Windows apps.
- Only Notion lists a browser extension.
- Free plan · from $1.99/mo
UpNote
Cross-platform notes app with a lifetime purchase option
- UpNote starts at $1.99 per month, or $39.99 once for lifetime (Premium). Notion starts at $10 per member / month, billed yearly.
- Only UpNote lists a Linux app.
- Only Notion lists a web app.
- UpNote can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Free trial · from $99 one-time
DEVONthink
Document and information manager for Mac, iPhone and iPad
- DEVONthink starts at $99 one-time license, with 2 Mac seats and 1 year of updates. Notion starts at $10 per member / month, billed yearly.
- Notion has a free plan. DEVONthink does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Notion lists Windows and Android apps.
- DEVONthink can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Free plan · from $1.99
MyScript Notes
Handwriting notes app that converts pen strokes to typed text
- MyScript Notes starts at $1.99 on the US App Store; billing period not labeled. Notion starts at $10 per member / month, billed yearly.
- Only Notion lists a web app.
- Only Notion lists a browser extension.
- MyScript Notes can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Free trial · from $12.99 one-time
MarginNote
Study reader that turns highlights into mind maps and cards
- MarginNote starts at $12.99 one-time (Pro Lifetime, iPhone and iPad only). Notion starts at $10 per member / month, billed yearly.
- Notion has a free plan. MarginNote does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Notion lists a web app.
- Only Notion lists Windows and Android apps.
- Free plan · from $8.99/mo
LiquidText
Document review workspace that links excerpts to notes
- LiquidText starts at $8.99 per month, paid annually (LIVE). Notion starts at $10 per member / month, billed yearly.
- Only Notion lists a web app.
- Only Notion lists an Android app.
- Only Notion lists a browser extension.
- Free trial · from $24.99 one-time
OmniOutliner
Outliner for Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple Vision Pro
- OmniOutliner starts at $24.99 one-time license for version 6 (Essentials). Notion starts at $10 per member / month, billed yearly.
- Notion has a free plan. OmniOutliner does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Notion lists a web app.
- Only Notion lists Windows and Android apps.
- Free trial · from $289 one-time
Tinderbox
Mac tool for mapping, analyzing and sharing notes
- Tinderbox starts at $289 one-time license, with a year of free updates. Notion starts at $10 per member / month, billed yearly.
- Notion has a free plan. Tinderbox does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Notion lists a web app.
- Only Notion lists Windows, iOS and Android apps.
34 more that can be bought with a one-time purchase
- Keep It
- Octarine
- Penbook
- ZoomNotes
- Notes Writer
- NotePlus
- MyInfo
- NoteCase Pro
- Noticky
- Bike Outliner
- EagleFiler
- Curio
- FSNotes
- The Archive
- Notebooks
- Tot
- SideNotes
- Antinote
- Noteful
- GitJournal
- MiaoYan
- Noteey
- Notezilla
- AllMyNotes Organizer
- RightNote
- Braintoss
- SnipNotes
- Gravity
- Quick Note
- Notchkin
- Inkflow
- Bebop
- Understory
- Stickier
Common questions
Is there an alternative to Notion that you buy once?
Yes. Notability, CollaNote, Goodnotes, Noteshelf, Notewise, UpNote, DEVONthink, MyScript Notes and 38 more can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Can you buy Notion once instead of subscribing?
The Notion listing shows no one-time purchase. The listing was checked on Oct 4, 2026 against the pages it cites.
Which of these note-taking apps are free?
Notability, CollaNote, Goodnotes, Noteshelf, Notewise, UpNote, MyScript Notes, LiquidText and 23 more are free or have a free plan.
When was this checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 4, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026. Vendors change prices and plans without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.
This page is built from the listings. A tool is here because its listing says so, and the order is how close each is to Notion: the alternatives its listing names first, then the tools that share the most features with it.