Note-Taking Apps
Free note-taking apps
75 of the 90 note-taking apps in this directory are free or have a free plan.
15 have no paid plan at all. The rest pair a free plan with paid ones, and the table says what each free plan includes.
Listings checked up to Oct 9, 2026 · Where the facts come from
| Tool | Price | What is free |
|---|---|---|
| NotionWorkspace for docs, wikis, databases and projects with built-in AI | Free plan · from $10/mo | Unlimited pages and blocks for one person (a limited block allowance once a second member joins), 5 MB file uploads, 7 days of page history, 10 guests and 1 chart. |
| ObsidianMarkdown note-taking app that keeps your files on your device | Free plan · from $4/mo | 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. |
| CapacitiesObject-based note-taking app with daily notes and backlinks | Free plan · from $9.99/mo | Capacities Basic: unlimited spaces, objects and blocks, sync across devices, offline support and full-text search. Media uploads are capped at 5 GB in total, then 100 MB per month. |
| AnytypeLocal-first, end-to-end encrypted workspace for notes and data | Free plan · from $4/mo | The app is free with unlimited private spaces. The free tier includes 100 MB of remote storage, which only files such as images and videos count toward, and a limited number of shared channels. |
| LogseqOpen-source outliner for linked notes stored as local files | Free plan · from $5/mo | 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. |
| EvernoteNote-taking app with web clipping, tasks, calendar and AI search | Free plan · from $99/yr | 50 notes, 1 notebook, 5 spaces, 20 tags, 200 attachments, 1 GB of storage, 1 connected external calendar and sync on 1 device. |
| CraftNotes and documents app with tasks, daily notes and whiteboards | Free plan · from $96/yr | Starter plan: up to 1,500 content blocks across all documents, 1 GB of storage, 25 MB per file, 7-day version history and 15 AI credits. |
| BearMarkdown notes app for Mac, iPhone and iPad with tags and links | Free plan · from $2.99/mo | The free version covers writing and organizing notes with 3 themes. iCloud sync, note encryption, OCR search and export to PDF, HTML, DOCX and JPG need Bear Pro. |
| ReflectOpen-source daily notes app with backlinks and local Markdown | Free plan · from $9.99/mo | The Mac app is free and open source, with no subscription or account required. The iPhone and iPad app needs a paid subscription. |
| Tana OutlinerOutliner with supertags, daily notes and built-in AI features | Free plan · from $8/mo | 500 AI credits a month, up to 3 workspaces, 0.5 GB of file storage and a 5 MB upload limit, with supertags, tasks and public page links. Free users cannot buy extra credits. |
| Microsoft OneNoteMicrosoft's free digital notebook for typed, inked and audio notes | Free plan · from $9.99/mo | OneNote is free to download and use on every supported platform. A free Microsoft account includes 5 GB of cloud storage, shared with OneDrive files and Outlook.com attachments. |
| Apple NotesApple's free notes app for iPhone, iPad, Mac and the web | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| Google KeepGoogle's app for quick notes, lists and reminders | Free plan · from $7/mo | Free with a personal Google Account on the web, Android and iOS: notes, lists, labels, reminders, sharing and offline use. Creating lists with Gemini needs a Google AI plan or a Pixel device. |
| GoodnotesHandwritten notes, PDF markup and whiteboards with an AI assistant | Free plan · from $11.99/yr | Free forever: up to 3 files in total across notebooks, whiteboards and text documents, 100 MB of storage, a 5 MB import limit, 20 minutes of audio recording and watermarked exports. |
| NotabilityHandwritten notes with synced audio, transcripts and AI study tools | Free plan · from $14.99/yr | Starter plan: 5 notes with all editing tools, PDF and document import, access to 20,000+ templates and 7-day version history. |
| Samsung NotesSamsung's free note app for Galaxy phones, tablets and Galaxy Book | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| JoplinOpen source Markdown notes with sync through a service you choose | Free plan · from €2.40/mo | The Joplin apps are free and open source, and can sync through your own Dropbox, OneDrive, Nextcloud, WebDAV or S3 storage. Joplin Cloud is an optional paid service. |
| SimplenoteFree plain-text notes that sync across every major platform | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| Standard NotesEnd-to-end encrypted notes app with open source clients | Free plan · from $90/yr | Standard plan: end-to-end encrypted plain-text notes, unlimited device sync, offline access, tags, password-protected notes, two-factor authentication and daily encrypted email backups. |
| WorkflowyOutliner that keeps notes, to-dos and plans in one nested list | Free plan · from $6.99/mo | Basic plan, free forever: all features, limited to 100 nodes (bullets) per month and 100 MB of file uploads. |
| Zoho NotebookCard-based notes app with a web clipper, scanner and AI add-ons | Free plan · from $1.67/mo | Essential plan: sync across devices, 500 MB of cloud storage, up to 20 versions per note, 10 MB file uploads, 30-minute audio recordings, document scanning, tags and reminders. |
| NotesnookOpen source, end-to-end encrypted notes on every platform | Free plan · from $1.99/mo | Free forever, no card: unlimited encrypted notes on unlimited devices, with 50 MB of attachment storage a month, 10 MB per file, 50 notebooks, 50 tags and 10 active reminders. |
| UpNoteCross-platform notes app with a lifetime purchase option | Free plan · from $1.99/mo | Free to use and sync across all your devices, limited to 50 notes with basic features. Attachments, tables, locks and export need Premium. |
| RemNoteNote-taking app with built-in flashcards and spaced repetition | Free plan · from $8/mo | Unlimited notes, flashcards and synced devices, with 3 annotated PDFs, 5 image occlusion cards, 1 handwritten document, 1 scheduled exam and 250 AI credits a month. |
| AppFlowyOpen-core workspace for docs, wikis and projects you can self-host | Free plan · from $6/mo | Cloud Personal plan: 1 workspace owner, 100 MB of storage, 7 MB file uploads, 7 days of version history, 1 form and 1 chart. A free self-hosted tier allows 1 user seat. |
| AFFiNEOpen-source workspace that merges docs, whiteboards and databases | Free plan · from $6.75/mo | Free: unlimited local workspaces, plus AFFiNE Cloud with 10 GB of storage, 10 MB per file, up to 3 members per workspace, 3 login devices and 7 days of version history. |
| DraftsQuick-capture notes app for Apple devices with text actions | Free plan · from $1.99/mo | Free to use with unlimited creating, editing and syncing of drafts, and running actions installed with the app or from the Drafts Directory. |
| AmplenoteNotes, to-do lists and a task calendar in one app | Free plan · from $7.99/mo | Personal plan: free, with sync across unlimited devices and all four modes (Jots, Notes, Tasks and Calendar). External calendar sync and the desktop app need a paid plan. |
| Trilium NotesFree, open-source hierarchical notes for a personal knowledge base | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| SiYuanOpen-source, local-first notes built on linked content blocks | Free plan · from $64 one-time | Free: basic functions with local storage, including for commercial use. Data sync and backup between devices are paid features. |
| NoteshelfHandwritten note-taking and PDF annotation for stylus devices | Free plan · from $7.99 one-time | Free: 3 notebooks with unlimited pages, hundreds of templates and Noteshelf AI with 30 monthly credits, as listed for Noteshelf 3 on Android. |
| MyScript NotesHandwriting notes app that converts pen strokes to typed text | Free plan · from $1.99 | Free version with limited features: notebooks of up to five pages each, without cloud sync or AI features. |
| AgendaDate-focused notes on a timeline, linked to your calendar | Free plan · from $39.99/yr | Free with no time or trial limits. Showing and linking calendar events and reminders is included; the features listed as Premium stay locked. |
| SupernotesCollaborative note-taking built on short, linkable notecards | Free plan · from £6/mo | Starter: begins with 100 cards, with more earned through achievements and referrals. Includes all apps, sync, offline editing and real-time sharing. |
| mymindPrivate AI-tagged store for bookmarks, notes and images | Free plan · from $4.99/mo | Guest plan: free with no time limit up to 100 cards, with most features except Reading Mode, Same Vibe, custom thumbnails, custom app icons and Advanced AI for notes. |
| TiddlyWikiOpen-source personal wiki kept in a single HTML file | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| ColorNoteAndroid notepad for color-coded notes and checklists | Free plan · from $1.99 | Free to install. The Google Play listing names only a writing assistant and grammar checker as premium features and does not say what else the paid version adds. |
| Xournal++Open-source handwriting notes and PDF annotation for desktop | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| DynalistOutlining app for nested lists, notes and tasks | Free plan · from $7.99/mo | Unlimited items and documents, internal links, Markdown, dates, tags, checklists, sharing and collaboration, export and import, and 5 bookmarks. |
| CollaNoteHandwriting and PDF markup notes for iPad, iPhone and Mac | Free plan · from $13.90 one-time | Free to download and use on iPad, iPhone and Mac with no account. Neither the site nor the App Store listing says which features the Lifetime Premium purchase unlocks. |
| LiquidTextDocument review workspace that links excerpts to notes | Free plan · from $8.99/mo | Basic: free PDF reading, annotation, excerpts linked to notes, pinch search and highlight view, mind maps and notes export. Multi-document projects, inking and tagging need Pro. |
| TheBrainVisual knowledge network linking notes, files and web links | Free plan · from $15/mo | Free App: every feature, unlimited thoughts, brains and local attachments, no account needed. Private sync stops at 1,000 thoughts, synced storage at 100 MB, and AI use is a small daily allowance. |
| FabricAI workspace for notes, files, bookmarks and meeting notes | Free plan · from $8/mo | A free plan exists: the user guide and feature pages refer to it, and sign-up is advertised as $0. The pricing page lists only paid plans and does not publish the free plan's limits. |
| AudioPenVoice notes rewritten into clear text in a chosen style | Free plan · from $33/mo | Recordings up to 3 minutes, each transcribed and rewritten in a chosen style, plus a limited number of voice typing sessions. |
| MemosOpen-source, self-hosted timeline of short Markdown notes | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| TwosDaily lists for notes, to-dos and reminders in one app | Free plan · from $3.33/mo | Unlimited things, lists and to-dos, daily lists, reminders, calendar sync, search, tags, sublists, sharing and collaboration, plus 20 AI chat messages a month. |
| SagaAI workspace for connected notes, docs and tasks | Free plan · from $6/mo | Unlimited pages and tasks, up to 3 members per workspace, 5,000 Saga AI words a month, 7 days of version history, 1 integration, 10 guests and 250 MB of file storage. |
| TolariaFree, open-source desktop app for Markdown knowledge bases | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| Bike OutlinerFast outliner and structured writing app for Mac | Free plan · from $29.99 one-time | Free mode never expires and can read, write and edit outlines. Rich text, row types, focus and typewriter modes, text wrap, sorting, Shortcuts actions and AppleScript need a license. |
| CurioFreeform Mac notebook with mind maps, lists and Kanban | Free plan · from $5/mo | Free mode after the 2-week trial: Standard features with projects limited to 5 idea spaces. Larger projects open read-only for viewing, exporting and printing. |
| FSNotesOpen-source Markdown notes app for Mac and iPhone | Free plan · from $4.99 one-time | 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. |
| TotSeven-note text scratchpad for Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch | Free plan · from $19.99 one-time | The Mac app and the iPhone and iPad app are free to download. Premium features, which the vendor says include text dividers and custom smart bullets, need the paid unlock. |
| HeynoteBlock-based scratchpad for developers on Mac, Windows and Linux | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| OctarineLocal Markdown notes app with daily notes, views and optional AI | Free plan · from $79 one-time | 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. |
| Tangent NotesOpen-source Markdown notes app that maps the path between notes | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| Beaver NotesOpen-source, local-first Markdown notes app for desktop | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| CrypteeEncrypted documents, notes and photo storage from Estonia | Free plan · from €3/mo | 100 MB of encrypted storage, described as free forever. Signing up needs a username and no email address or phone number. |
| LockbookOpen-source encrypted notes app with Markdown and drawing | Free plan · from $2.99/mo | 25 MB of storage with sharing and collaboration, Markdown and drawing support, and offline mode. |
| Mimiri NotesEnd-to-end encrypted notes in a tree, with encrypted sharing | Free plan · from $1.20/mo | Free: 100 MB of storage, up to 2,000 notes of 1 MB each, with end-to-end encryption, encrypted sharing, unlimited device sync, offline access and unlimited version history. The vendor says it is not a trial. |
| FUTO NotesLocal-first Markdown notes with self-hosted encrypted sync | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| SaberOpen-source handwritten notes app for phones, tablets and PCs | Free plan · from $5/mo | The app is free on every platform, and each account on the official Saber Nextcloud server gets 5 GB of storage by default. |
| RnoteOpen-source app for sketching and handwritten notes with a stylus | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| Linwood ButterflyOpen-source handwriting and sketching app with an infinite canvas | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| SquidHandwritten notes and PDF markup for Android and Chromebooks | Free plan · from $1.00 | Base features are free with no account: vector ink, blank, ruled and graph paper, the stroke eraser, image import, folders, and export to PDF, PNG, JPEG or Squid Note format. |
| NotefulHandwritten notes and PDF markup for iPad, with tags and layers | Free plan · from $6.99 one-time | Free with no time limit: handwriting, PDF and Office import, tags, audio recording and PDF export. Layers and sync between iPhone and iPad need Noteful Pro. |
| NotewiseHandwriting canvas and AI notes for iPhone, iPad and Android | Free plan · from $2.42/mo | Classic Free: up to 10 canvases of up to 50 pages each, with document import and the video feature, kept on the device. No AI, sync or cloud storage, and the watermark stays. |
| KilonotesHandwriting notes app with AI study tools for iPad and Android | Free plan · from $1.99/mo | Free to download with 5 notebooks and trial uses of the AI features. Once those uses are spent, more AI use needs purchased AI credits. |
| FreenotesHandwriting and PDF annotation app with AI study tools | Free plan · from $1.99 | Free to download and use with advertising. The developer's App Store replies confirm a cap on the number of notes; the listing does not say what Plus or Pro unlock. |
| PenbookHandwriting notebooks and live planners for iPad and iPhone | Free plan · from $4.99 | All of Penbook's stationery and writing features in a single notebook, free for as long as you like. More notebooks and exports need Penbook Premium. |
| ZoomNotesHandwriting, sketching and PDF notes with a near-unlimited zoom range | Free plan · from $7.99 one-time | ZoomNotes Lite is free with one felt-tip pen, unlimited zoom, PDF and Office markup, split screen, digital planning, layers and iCloud support. Other features are in-app purchases. |
| Notes WriterHandwriting, PDF annotation and document editing in one Apple app | Free plan · from $1.99 | Free to download, with optional in-app purchases for Pro and AI-inclusive options. The site does not list what the free download leaves out. |
| FlexcilPDF reader and handwriting notebook built around pen gestures | Free plan · from $8.99 | Free to download on the App Store and Google Play, with advertising. The site and store listings do not say which features need Flexcil Standard or Premium. |
| NoteinHandwriting notes, PDF markup and linked notes for Android tablets | Free plan · from $5.99 | Core features are free with a limit of up to 3 notebooks, including all handwriting tools, editor features, page management and document organization. |
| Orgzly RevivedOrg mode outliner for notes and to-do lists on Android | Free | Everything. There is no paid plan. |
| GitJournalMobile Markdown notes app that syncs through any Git repository | Free plan · from $1.99/mo | Basic is free on Android: basic search, dark mode, raw editor, folder support, and custom default file names and note metadata. On iOS the Basic app is a $3.99 download. |
Common questions
Which note-taking apps are free?
75 of the 90 note-taking apps in this directory are free or have a free plan. They are Notion, Obsidian, Capacities, Anytype, Logseq, Evernote, Craft, Bear, Reflect, Tana Outliner, Microsoft OneNote, Apple Notes, Google Keep, Goodnotes, Notability and 60 more.
Which note-taking apps are free with no paid plan?
Apple Notes, Samsung Notes, Simplenote, Trilium Notes, TiddlyWiki, Xournal++, Memos, Tolaria, Heynote, Tangent Notes, Beaver Notes, FUTO Notes, Rnote, Linwood Butterfly and Orgzly Revived have no paid plan. The others on this page limit the free plan and sell paid ones.
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 each listing names the pages it was read from.