FSNotes vs NotePlus

FSNotes

• Mac and iPhone users who want notes kept as plain Markdown files
• Keyboard-driven note-takers used to Notational Velocity-style apps
• People who want an open-source app with no account or subscription

NotePlus

• People who want Markdown notes as plain files in their own cloud folder
• Mac, Windows and iPhone users who prefer a one-time license to a subscription
• Developers who want messages from scripts and CI jobs delivered next to their notes

FSNotes

• It runs on Apple platforms only, and the Mac and iPhone apps are separate purchases on the App Store.
• The iOS app syncs through iCloud Drive only; Dropbox, WebDAV and Google Drive sync are not available.
• The iPad build lacks dedicated iPad features such as full keyboard shortcuts and multiple windows; development focuses on macOS and iPhone.
• The free Mac build comes from GitHub releases or Homebrew; the site names the App Store apps as the official stable releases with automatic updates.

NotePlus

• No Android, Linux or web version: the site lists macOS 12, iOS 15 and Windows 10 (64-bit) or later.
• A license includes 1 year of updates. The app keeps working after that, but moving to newer versions needs a renewal at $19 per seat.
• There is no sync service of its own: notes reach other devices through the cloud folder they are stored in.
• AI chat needs your own API key from a provider, and the site describes themes for Mac, iPhone and iPad only.

FSNotes

Plain Markdown files

Notes are GitHub Flavored Markdown or plain text files in folders you choose, readable in any other editor. Images and attachments can sit in TextBundle containers.

Keyboard-centric and fast

Notational Velocity-inspired controls and shortcuts, instant search and a two-pane view, built to stay smooth with more than 10,000 files.

iCloud Drive sync

The same folders and notes, including pinned notes, stay available on a Mac and an iPhone through iCloud Drive.

Git versioning and backups

Optional Git integration makes scheduled commits, shows note history and can push to or pull from a remote repository.

Encrypted notes and folders

Individual notes or whole folders can be protected with AES-256 encryption and unlocked with Touch ID.

Links, tags and rich Markdown

Cross-note links in double brackets, tags, syntax highlighting for more than 30 programming languages, and Mermaid and MathJax rendering.

NotePlus

WYSIWYG Markdown editor

Markdown is formatted in place as you type, with no separate preview pane. Headings, checklists, tables, code blocks and images are covered, and the file stays plain Markdown.

Files in your own cloud folder

Notes are kept in iCloud Drive, Google Drive, Dropbox or any folder that syncs, and that service does the syncing. No NotePlus account is involved.

Linked notes and secret notes

Typing two brackets and a name links to another note. A note can be locked with a password, which encrypts it in its file, and unlocked with Touch ID or Face ID.

Kanban boards

Boards with columns, cards and colors are saved in the same folder as the notes, and a card is dragged to another column as the work moves along.

AI chat with your own API key

A chat window and a sidebar assistant work with OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, DeepSeek, Ollama and others. Chats are saved as files, and the assistant can read and update NotePlus items.

Hub

Works like an incoming webhook: a script, CI job or service posts text to a hook URL and it arrives in NotePlus with a notification on Mac and iPhone. Hub needs a license.

FSNotes

• GitHub release$0

  A zip of the Mac app posted with each release on GitHub, also installable through Homebrew. The site points to the App Store for automatic updates.

• FSNotes for iOS$4.99

  one-time purchase (US App Store)

  The iPhone and iPad app, with iCloud Drive sync, encrypted notes and folders, tags and Git integration. Requires iOS 18.0 or later.

• FSNotes for Mac$8.99

  one-time purchase (US Mac App Store)

  The Mac app, updated automatically through the Mac App Store. Requires macOS 12.4 or later.

NotePlus

• Free download$0

  The app without a license. The vendor calls this a free trial and says it has no limits at present, though some functions will be limited in future releases.

• Basic$29

  per license, one-time purchase

  For individuals: 1 Mac or Windows PC plus 2 iPhones or iPads, all premium features including Hub, and 1 year of updates and support.

• Pro$39

  per license, one-time purchase

  2 Macs or Windows PCs plus 4 iPhones or iPads, with the same premium features and 1 year of updates and support.

• Custom$29

  per seat, one-time purchase, from 3 seats

  For teams and companies. Each seat covers 1 Mac or Windows PC plus 2 iPhones or iPads, with 1 year of updates and support.

FSNotes

No public discounts listed.

NotePlus

• Other savings

  Pro license covers two computers for $39

  The pricing page marks the Pro license "Save 35%": it covers 2 Macs or Windows PCs and 4 iPhones or iPads for $39, where a Basic license for one computer costs $29.

• Education

  50% education discount on request

  The site's Education link goes to the TablePlus team's education plan, which gives students and teachers 50% off on request by email with proof of status. That page was written for TablePlus.