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The Archive alternatives · Note-Taking

Free alternatives to The Archive

The Archive has no free plan. 123 of the 146 other note-taking apps in this directory are free or have a free plan.

The Archive is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $19.99 one-time purchase. 36 of them have no paid plan at all; the rest pair a free plan with paid ones.

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

The 12 closest to The Archive

  1. FSNotes

    Open-source Markdown notes app for Mac and iPhone

    What is free: The source code is free under the MIT license, and each release on GitHub includes a free build of the Mac app. The iPhone and iPad app is sold only through the App Store.

    • FSNotes starts at $4.99 one-time for iPhone and iPad; $8.99 one-time for Mac. The Archive starts at $19.99 one-time purchase.
    • FSNotes has a free plan. The Archive does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only FSNotes lists an iOS app.
    • FSNotes is open source, according to its own site.
    FSNotes vs The ArchiveFSNotes pricing and details

  2. Obsidian

    Markdown note-taking app that keeps your files on your device

    What is free: The app is free without limits on desktop and mobile, with no sign-up, and a commercial license is not required for work use. Sync and Publish are optional paid add-ons.

    • Obsidian starts at $4 per user / month, billed annually (Sync Standard add-on). The Archive starts at $19.99 one-time purchase.
    • Obsidian has a free plan. The Archive does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Obsidian lists Windows, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
    • Only Obsidian lists a browser extension.
    Obsidian vs The ArchiveObsidian pricing and details

  3. Understory

    Mac notes app for outlining and drafting essays, papers and books

    What is free: Every feature, with up to 100 notes in the Personal Notebook and 20 in each Project Notebook. At the cap, notes already written can still be read and edited.

    • Understory starts at $24.99 one-time purchase. The Archive starts at $19.99 one-time purchase.
    • Understory has a free plan. The Archive does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Understory also covers long-form writing.
    Understory vs The ArchiveUnderstory pricing and details

  4. Notenik

    Free Mac notes app with Markdown, custom fields and outlining

    What is free: Everything. There is no paid plan.

    • Notenik is free. The Archive starts at $19.99 one-time purchase.
    • Notenik has a free plan. The Archive does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Notenik is open source, according to its own site.
    • The Archive can be bought with a one-time purchase.
    Notenik vs The ArchiveNotenik pricing and details

  5. Logseq

    Open-source outliner for linked notes stored as local files

    What is free: The desktop, web and mobile apps are free and open source, and no commercial license is needed for personal or company use. Syncing between devices is the paid part.

    • Logseq starts at $5 per month for Open Collective backers, which unlocks Logseq Sync. The Archive starts at $19.99 one-time purchase.
    • Logseq has a free plan. The Archive does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Logseq lists a web app.
    • Only Logseq lists Windows, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
    Logseq vs The ArchiveLogseq pricing and details

  6. MiaoYan

    Native Mac Markdown notes app with a split editor and preview

    What is free: The open-source Mac edition is free under the MIT license through Homebrew or GitHub Releases. The README says it now receives fixes only, with new features going to the App Store edition.

    • MiaoYan starts at $14.99 one-time purchase (App Store edition). The Archive starts at $19.99 one-time purchase.
    • MiaoYan has a free plan. The Archive does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only MiaoYan lists an iOS app.
    • MiaoYan is open source, according to its own site.
    MiaoYan vs The ArchiveMiaoYan pricing and details

  7. Tangent Notes

    Open-source Markdown notes app that maps the path between notes

    What is free: Everything. There is no paid plan.

    • Tangent Notes is free. The Archive starts at $19.99 one-time purchase.
    • Tangent Notes has a free plan. The Archive does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Tangent Notes lists Windows and Linux apps.
    • Tangent Notes is open source, according to its own site.
    Tangent Notes vs The ArchiveTangent Notes pricing and details

  8. Octarine

    Local Markdown notes app with daily notes, views and optional AI

    What is free: Personal: the WYSIWYG editor, unlimited workspaces, daily and weekly notes, graph view, full-text search, templates, 4 themes and txt export. The vendor says the core features will always be free.

    • Octarine starts at $79 one-time purchase. The Archive starts at $19.99 one-time purchase.
    • Octarine has a free plan. The Archive does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Octarine lists Windows and Linux apps.
    • Only Octarine lists a browser extension.
    Octarine pricing and details

  9. NotePlus

    Native Markdown notes app with kanban boards and AI chat

    What is free: Free to download and use without a license. The pricing FAQ says the unlicensed app has no limits at present and that some functions will be limited in future releases. Hub is part of a license.

    • NotePlus starts at $29 one-time purchase (Basic license, 1 computer). The Archive starts at $19.99 one-time purchase.
    • NotePlus has a free plan. The Archive does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only NotePlus lists Windows and iOS apps.
    • NotePlus also covers kanban boards.
    NotePlus pricing and details

  10. Reflect

    Open-source daily notes app with backlinks and local Markdown

    What is free: The Mac app is free and open source, with no subscription or account required. The iPhone and iPad app needs a paid subscription.

    • Reflect starts at $9.99 per month, or $99 per year, for the iPhone and iPad app. The Archive starts at $19.99 one-time purchase.
    • Reflect has a free plan. The Archive does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Reflect lists an iOS app.
    • Only Reflect lists a browser extension.
    Reflect pricing and details

  11. UpNote

    Cross-platform notes app with a lifetime purchase option

    What is free: Free to use and sync across all your devices, limited to 50 notes with basic features. Attachments, tables, locks and export need Premium.

    • UpNote starts at $1.99 per month, or $39.99 once for lifetime (Premium). The Archive starts at $19.99 one-time purchase.
    • UpNote has a free plan. The Archive does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only UpNote lists Windows, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
    • Only UpNote lists a browser extension.
    UpNote pricing and details

  12. Tolaria

    Free, open-source desktop app for Markdown knowledge bases

    What is free: Everything. There is no paid plan.

    • Tolaria is free. The Archive starts at $19.99 one-time purchase.
    • Tolaria has a free plan. The Archive does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Tolaria lists Windows and Linux apps.
    • Tolaria is open source, according to its own site.
    Tolaria pricing and details

111 more that are free or have a free plan

All 123 in one table

Common questions

Is there a free alternative to The Archive?

Yes. FSNotes, Obsidian, Understory, Notenik, Logseq, MiaoYan, Tangent Notes, Octarine and 115 more are free or have a free plan.

Does The Archive have a free plan?

The Archive has no free plan. The Archive is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $19.99 one-time purchase.

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 The Archive: the alternatives its listing names first, then the tools that share the most features with it.