The Bangle.io Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Bangle.io in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Bangle.io
The Insider’s Guide
Browser-based notes app that edits your local Markdown files
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among note-taking apps, read from Bangle.io’s own pages.
Made by Bangle.io · checked Oct 9, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Bangle.io’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Bangle.io’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.0
GPA, above 107 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade
Bangle.io is a free, open-source note-taking web app that works on top of Markdown files saved in a local folder of your choice. It gives those files a WYSIWYG editor with folders, backlinks, split-screen views and tabs, and it keeps running offline once loaded. There is no sign-up, and the app can be installed as a Progressive Web App for a desktop-style window.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Bangle.io, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No store rating on record, so we go by the listing: open a web page, pick a folder on your computer, start writing.
- 1
Best for editing a folder of Markdown notes in the browser
Bangle.io is a free, open-source web app that edits plain Markdown files in a folder on your own computer, with no sign-up and offline use once it's loaded.
- 2
It is free
Bangle.io has no paid plan at all. Free and open source under AGPL-3.0, with no sign-up. The FAQ says the core product is planned to stay free and that optional paid add-on services may be considered later.
- 3
It runs on Web
Web.
- 4
Works on local Markdown files
Notes are saved as plain Markdown files in a folder you pick on your computer, and the app reads and writes them there directly from the browser.
- 5
WYSIWYG editor
A rich-text interface in the style of Notion or Google Docs shows formatting as you write, while the files on disk stay in Markdown.
- 6
Folders and backlinks
Notes can be organized in folders, connected to one another with backlinks, or both.
- 7
A 3.0 GPA, above 107 of 147
That is against the other note-taking apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Bangle.io is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Bangle.io at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Bangle.io
- Category
- Note-Taking Apps
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for editing a folder of Markdown notes in the browser
Bangle.io is a free, open-source web app that edits plain Markdown files in a folder on your own computer, with no sign-up and offline use once it's loaded. It is a browser app and nothing more: no phone or native desktop app, no sync, no built-in backup, and browsers other than Chrome or Edge are steered to the installed PWA.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free and open source under AGPL-3.0, with no paid plan at all, in a category whose middle plan is $6 a month. The FAQ says the core product is planned to stay free, with optional paid add-ons only being considered. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Free outright, and there isn't even an account to make. Open app.bangle.io or install it as a Progressive Web App and that's the whole product. Nothing is held back, because there's nothing above it. |
| Features | C | The editor shows formatting as you write while the files on disk stay Markdown, with folders, backlinks, split screen and tabs. But the FAQ says there's no sync and no backup built in and points you at git instead, and that's a hole in the middle of what a notes app is for. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record, so we go by the listing: open a web page, pick a folder on your computer, start writing. No account, nothing to configure. It does want Chrome or Edge, mind. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | A web app and nothing else. No native desktop or mobile apps, so nothing on your phone, and the listing names no integrations and no API. Installing it as a PWA is the nearest thing to a desktop app. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Bangle.io is for
- Fits if you already keep Markdown notes in a folder and want a WYSIWYG editor for them
- Works for trying a notes tool with no sign-up and nothing to install
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want your notes on your phone, as there's no mobile app and no native desktop app
- Not for you if you expect sync or backup built in, because the FAQ leaves both to you and suggests git
- Tight if your browser isn't Chrome or Edge, since other browsers are steered to the installed PWA
- Watch out: it lists no integrations or API, and the FAQ says paid add-on services may come later to fund development
Good to know
Good for
- Editing a folder of Markdown notes from the browser
- Writers who want rich-text editing with Markdown files on disk
- Trying a notes tool with no sign-up and nothing to install
Worth knowing
- It works best in browsers with the File System Access API, such as Chrome or Edge; other browsers are steered toward the installed PWA.
- There are no native desktop or mobile apps. The desktop option is installing the web app as a Progressive Web App.
- No sync or backup is built in. The FAQ leaves backups to your own routine and recommends git for versioned ones.
- The FAQ says optional paid add-on services may be considered in future to fund development.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Bangle.io is free to use.
The FAQ says the core product is planned to stay free, with optional paid add-ons only being considered.
Bangle.io
$0
The full web app at app.bangle.io, used in the browser or installed as a Progressive Web App. No account is needed.
The free plan
Free and open source under AGPL-3.0, with no sign-up. The FAQ says the core product is planned to stay free and that optional paid add-on services may be considered later.
Read from bangle.io on Oct 9, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Browser-based notes app that edits your local Markdown files. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, works offline, local-first, notes, Markdown, linked notes.
The editor shows formatting as you write while the files on disk stay Markdown, with folders, backlinks, split screen and tabs.
- Works on local Markdown files
- Notes are saved as plain Markdown files in a folder you pick on your computer, and the app reads and writes them there directly from the browser.
- WYSIWYG editor
- A rich-text interface in the style of Notion or Google Docs shows formatting as you write, while the files on disk stay in Markdown.
- Folders and backlinks
- Notes can be organized in folders, connected to one another with backlinks, or both.
- Offline web app
- Once loaded, the app keeps working without an internet connection, and installing it as a Progressive Web App gives a separate desktop-style window.
- Split screen and tabs
- Split-screen views and a multi-tab interface keep several notes open at the same time.
- No account, no tracking of notes
- There is nothing to sign up for or install. The privacy policy says no personal data is collected, with anonymous usage and diagnostic data going to Sentry and Cloudflare analytics.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Bangle.io is made by Bangle.io.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
107/147
Other note-taking apps it is graded above
Bangle.io's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 107 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 21.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 100 of 147) and worst on features (C, above 2).
Bangle.io has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 148 note-taking apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Bangle.io’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 62 of 147
- AFree plan and trialAbove 100 of 147
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 147
- BEase of useAbove 47 of 147
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 31 of 147
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 103 note-taking apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Bangle.io is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
Bangle.io is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 107 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade.
What you could make
- Notes, Markdown and linked notes: an app builder makes these well.
What this rests on. Bangle.io’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Obsidian, Logseq, SilverBullet, Tangent Notes and TiddlyWiki
The 5 tools Bangle.io is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.6GPA
Obsidian
Free plan · from $4/mo
Markdown note-taking app that keeps your files on your device.
- Only Bangle.io lists a web app.
- Only Obsidian lists macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
- Only Obsidian lists a browser extension.
- 3.0GPA
Logseq
Free plan · from $5/mo
Open-source outliner for linked notes stored as local files.
- Only Logseq lists macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
- Logseq also covers whiteboard and daily notes.
- 2.8GPA
SilverBullet
Free plan · from $50/yr
Scriptable Markdown knowledge base, self-hosted or on desktop.
- Only SilverBullet lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- SilverBullet is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- SilverBullet also covers wiki.
- 3.0GPA
Tangent Notes
Free
Open-source Markdown notes app that maps the path between notes.
- Only Bangle.io lists a web app.
- Only Tangent Notes lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- 2.8GPA
TiddlyWiki
Free
Open-source personal wiki kept in a single HTML file.
- Only TiddlyWiki lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- TiddlyWiki is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Bangle.io also covers Markdown.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Bangle.io free?
Yes. Bangle.io is free to use.
How much does Bangle.io cost?
Bangle.io lists one plan. Bangle.io: $0.
What platforms does Bangle.io work on?
Bangle.io is available on Web.
Does Bangle.io have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Bangle.io is listed for Web.
Does Bangle.io have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Bangle.io is listed for Web.
Is Bangle.io open source?
Yes. Bangle.io is open source, according to its own site.
Does Bangle.io work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
Who makes Bangle.io?
Bangle.io is made by a company of the same name.
What are the alternatives to Bangle.io?
The closest alternatives to Bangle.io in our directory are Obsidian, Logseq, SilverBullet, Tangent Notes and TiddlyWiki.
How does Bangle.io compare with other note-taking apps?
Bangle.io's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 107 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 21.
Is Bangle.io good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Bangle.io A for value for money. Bangle.io has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Bangle.io?
Bangle.io is free, so making your own would save you nothing. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 107 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Bangle.io’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Bangle.io's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-06-14.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Bangle.io. Prices change, so check bangle.io before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Bangle.io, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/bangle-io
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Bangle.io: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/bangle-io
Know someone choosing between note-taking apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/bangle-io/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded note-taking apps after Bangle.io, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Note-Taking Apps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 148 note-taking apps we grade, compared
- Microsoft OneNote Insider's GuideMicrosoft's free digital notebook for typed, inked and audio notes3.8 GPA
- Goodnotes Insider's GuideHandwritten notes, PDF markup and whiteboards with an AI assistant3.6 GPA
- Joplin Insider's GuideOpen source Markdown notes with sync through a service you choose3.6 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Bangle.io’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Bangle.io is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Bangle.io. Prices and plans change: check bangle.io before you buy.