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Alternatives · Note-Taking

Saber alternatives

Saber compared with 6 alternatives: Rnote, Xournal++, Linwood Butterfly, Squid, Goodnotes and 1 more.

Saber has a free plan. Paid plans start at Any amount per month for 10 GB of sync storage; $5 per month for 50 GB. All 6 alternatives are free or have a free plan.

6 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 9, 2026 · Where the facts come from

At a glance

ToolPriceFree planRuns on
SaberThis toolFree plan · from $5/moYesmacOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
RnoteFreeFreemacOS, Windows, Linux
Xournal++FreeFreemacOS, Windows, Linux
Linwood ButterflyFreeFreeWeb, macOS, Windows, Linux, Android
SquidFree plan · from $1.00YesAndroid
GoodnotesFree plan · from $11.99/yrYesWeb, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android
Stylus Labs WriteFree plan · from $8.99 one-timeYesmacOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android

How each one differs from Saber

  1. Rnote

    Open-source app for sketching and handwritten notes with a stylus

    • Rnote is free. Saber starts at Any amount per month for 10 GB of sync storage; $5 per month for 50 GB.
    • Only Saber lists Android and iOS apps.
    • Saber is self-hostable, according to its own site.

    Suits: Students and teachers who write by hand with a stylus or drawing tablet

    Rnote vs SaberRnote pricing and details

  2. Xournal++

    Open-source handwriting notes and PDF annotation for desktop

    • Xournal++ is free. Saber starts at Any amount per month for 10 GB of sync storage; $5 per month for 50 GB.
    • Only Saber lists Android and iOS apps.
    • Saber is self-hostable, according to its own site.

    Suits: Handwritten notes with a stylus or drawing tablet on a computer

    Xournal++ vs SaberXournal++ pricing and details

  3. Linwood Butterfly

    Open-source handwriting and sketching app with an infinite canvas

    • Linwood Butterfly is free. Saber starts at Any amount per month for 10 GB of sync storage; $5 per month for 50 GB.
    • Only Linwood Butterfly lists a web app.
    • Only Saber lists an iOS app.
    • Linwood Butterfly also covers whiteboard and templates.

    Suits: Handwritten lecture notes and PDF markup with a stylus

    Linwood Butterfly vs SaberLinwood Butterfly pricing and details

  4. Squid

    Handwritten notes and PDF markup for Android and Chromebooks

    • Squid starts at $1.00 - $14.99 per in-app item on Google Play; billing basis not shown. Saber starts at Any amount per month for 10 GB of sync storage; $5 per month for 50 GB.
    • Only Saber lists iOS, macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
    • Saber is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
    • Squid also covers whiteboard.

    Suits: Students and teachers writing by hand on Android tablets or Chromebooks

    Squid vs SaberSquid pricing and details

  5. Goodnotes

    Handwritten notes, PDF markup and whiteboards with an AI assistant

    • Goodnotes starts at $11.99 per year (Essential). Saber starts at Any amount per month for 10 GB of sync storage; $5 per month for 50 GB.
    • Only Goodnotes lists a web app.
    • Only Saber lists a Linux app.
    • Goodnotes can be bought with a one-time purchase.
    • Saber is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.

    Suits: Handwritten notes on an iPad with Apple Pencil

    Goodnotes vs SaberGoodnotes pricing and details

  6. Stylus Labs Write

    Open-source handwriting word processor for desktop and mobile

    • Stylus Labs Write starts at $8.99 one-time for the full iOS version; free on desktop and Android. Saber starts at Any amount per month for 10 GB of sync storage; $5 per month for 50 GB.
    • Saber is self-hostable, according to its own site.
    • Stylus Labs Write also covers whiteboard.

    Suits: People who take handwritten notes on both a tablet and a desktop computer

    Stylus Labs Write vs SaberStylus Labs Write pricing and details

Limits worth knowing in Saber

  • Syncing needs an account on a Nextcloud server: the official Saber one, another provider's, or your own.
  • Extra storage is bought by sponsoring the developer on GitHub Sponsors, then emailing him to have the account upgraded by hand.
  • The server owner cannot read notes but can see sign-up details, connecting devices and metadata such as the size of each note.
  • On Linux the developer recommends the Flatpak, since the AppImage does not work on all systems.
Saber pricing and details

Common questions

What are the alternatives to Saber?

The alternatives to Saber in this directory are Rnote, Xournal++, Linwood Butterfly, Squid, Goodnotes and Stylus Labs Write. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Saber.

Is there a free alternative to Saber?

Yes. Rnote, Xournal++ and Linwood Butterfly are free to use. Squid, Goodnotes and Stylus Labs Write have a free plan alongside paid ones.

When were these prices checked?

Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 5, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.

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