Alternatives · Note-Taking
Octarine alternatives
Octarine compared with 9 alternatives: Obsidian, Logseq, Bear, NotePlan, UpNote and 4 more.
Octarine has a free plan. Paid plans start at $79 one-time purchase. 8 of the 9 alternatives are free or have a free plan. One more offers a free trial.
9 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 9, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| OctarineThis tool | Free plan · from $79 one-time | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux, Browser extension |
| Obsidian | Free plan · from $4/mo | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Logseq | Free plan · from $5/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Bear | Free plan · from $2.99/mo | Yes | macOS, iOS, Browser extension |
| NotePlan | Free trial · from $8.33/mo | Trial only | Web, macOS, iOS |
| UpNote | Free plan · from $1.99/mo | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| FUTO Notes | Free | Free | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| NotePlus | Free plan · from $29 one-time | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS |
| Tangent Notes | Free | Free | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Tolaria | Free | Free | macOS, Windows, Linux |
How each one differs from Octarine
- Free plan · from $4/mo
Obsidian
Markdown note-taking app that keeps your files on your device
- Obsidian starts at $4 per user / month, billed annually (Sync Standard add-on). Octarine starts at $79 one-time purchase.
- Only Obsidian lists iOS and Android apps.
- Obsidian is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Octarine can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Obsidian also covers whiteboard.
Suits: People who want their notes as plain Markdown files they control
- Free plan · from $5/mo
Logseq
Open-source outliner for linked notes stored as local files
- Logseq starts at $5 per month for Open Collective backers, which unlocks Logseq Sync. Octarine starts at $79 one-time purchase.
- Only Logseq lists a web app.
- Only Logseq lists iOS and Android apps.
- Only Octarine lists a browser extension.
- Logseq is open source, according to its own site.
Suits: People who think in outlines and want their notes as plain-text files
- Free plan · from $2.99/mo
Bear
Markdown notes app for Mac, iPhone and iPad with tags and links
- Bear starts at $2.99 per month, or $29.99 per year. Octarine starts at $79 one-time purchase.
- Only Bear lists an iOS app.
- Only Octarine lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Octarine can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Bear also covers web clipper.
Suits: Writers who want a focused Markdown editor on Mac, iPhone and iPad
- Free trial · from $8.33/mo
NotePlan
Markdown notes, tasks and calendar in one daily note
- NotePlan starts at $8.33 per month, billed annually ($99). Octarine starts at $79 one-time purchase.
- Octarine has a free plan. NotePlan does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only NotePlan lists a web app.
- Only NotePlan lists an iOS app.
- Only Octarine lists Windows and Linux apps.
Suits: Apple users who plan their day in notes next to calendar and reminders
- 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). Octarine starts at $79 one-time purchase.
- Only UpNote lists iOS and Android apps.
- UpNote also covers web clipper and templates.
- Octarine also covers daily notes.
Suits: People who prefer a one-time lifetime purchase to a subscription
- Free
FUTO Notes
Local-first Markdown notes with self-hosted encrypted sync
- FUTO Notes is free. Octarine starts at $79 one-time purchase.
- Only FUTO Notes lists iOS and Android apps.
- Only Octarine lists a browser extension.
- FUTO Notes is open source, self-hostable and end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Octarine can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Suits: People who want Markdown notes as plain files on every device
- Free plan · from $29 one-time
NotePlus
Native Markdown notes app with kanban boards and AI chat
- NotePlus starts at $29 one-time purchase (Basic license, 1 computer). Octarine starts at $79 one-time purchase.
- Only NotePlus lists an iOS app.
- Only Octarine lists a Linux app.
- Only Octarine lists a browser extension.
- NotePlus also covers kanban boards.
Suits: People who want Markdown notes as plain files in their own cloud folder
- Free
Tangent Notes
Open-source Markdown notes app that maps the path between notes
- Tangent Notes is free. Octarine starts at $79 one-time purchase.
- Only Octarine lists a browser extension.
- Tangent Notes is open source, according to its own site.
- Octarine can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Octarine also covers daily notes.
Suits: Writers who follow links from note to note and want to keep their place
- Free
Tolaria
Free, open-source desktop app for Markdown knowledge bases
- Tolaria is free. Octarine starts at $79 one-time purchase.
- Only Octarine lists a browser extension.
- Tolaria is open source, according to its own site.
- Octarine can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Octarine also covers daily notes.
Suits: People who want notes kept as plain Markdown files on their own disk
Limits worth knowing in Octarine
- Properties, filtered views, note types, focus mode, note sharing and every AI feature need the $79 Pro license.
- There is no public phone app: an iOS beta runs on TestFlight for eligible Pro users, and no Android app is listed.
- AI features need your own API key or a local model, and syncing relies on a file-sync service or the built-in Git sync.
- Pricing is early-access: the docs say the price goes up as Pro features are added, while earlier buyers keep all future Pro features.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Octarine?
The alternatives to Octarine in this directory are Obsidian, Logseq, Bear, NotePlan, UpNote, FUTO Notes, NotePlus, Tangent Notes and Tolaria. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Octarine.
Is there a free alternative to Octarine?
Yes. FUTO Notes, Tangent Notes and Tolaria are free to use. Obsidian, Logseq, Bear, UpNote and NotePlus have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which Octarine alternatives work on Android?
The Octarine listing does not include an Android app. Obsidian, Logseq, UpNote and FUTO Notes list one.
Which Octarine alternatives work on iOS?
The Octarine listing does not include an iOS app. Obsidian, Logseq, Bear, NotePlan, UpNote, FUTO Notes and NotePlus list one.
Is there an open-source alternative to Octarine?
Logseq, FUTO Notes, Tangent Notes and Tolaria are described as open source on their own sites.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 4, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.
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