The CherryTree Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about CherryTree 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.
CherryTree
The Insider’s Guide
Hierarchical desktop notes with rich text and code highlighting
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among note-taking apps, read from CherryTree’s own pages.
Made by Giuseppe Penone and Evgenii Gurianov · 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 CherryTree’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on CherryTree’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
2.8
GPA, above 72 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade
CherryTree is a free, open-source desktop note-taking app that arranges notes as nodes in a tree. Each node holds rich text, images, tables, embedded files or code with syntax highlighting, and a document is saved either as a single XML or SQLite file or as multiple files and folders. It is released under the GPL version 3 or later and has builds for Linux, Windows and macOS.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about CherryTree, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No store rating on record, and you begin by deciding how the document is stored, XML or SQLite, one file or many.
- 1
Best for a free notes tree that lives in one file
CherryTree is a free, open-source desktop notebook for Windows, Mac and Linux where notes are nodes in a tree, holding rich text and code side by side, saved as one file or many.
- 2
It is free
CherryTree has no paid plan at all. Free software under the GNU GPL version 3 or later. Every download on the project page is free; the site only links to a donation page.
- 3
It runs on 3 platforms
Windows, macOS and Linux.
- 4
Tree of nodes
Notes are nodes that nest to any depth and can be rearranged by drag and drop. Text and images can link to other nodes, anchors, files, folders and web pages.
- 5
Rich text and code
Rich text nodes sit alongside code nodes and codeboxes with syntax highlighting, and code can be run through a configurable terminal command.
- 6
Images, tables, files and math
Inserts images that can be resized and rotated, simple tables with CSV import and export, embedded files and rendered LaTeX equations.
- 7
A 2.8 GPA, above 72 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
CherryTree is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
CherryTree at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- Giuseppe Penone and Evgenii Gurianov
- Category
- Note-Taking Apps
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for a free notes tree that lives in one file
CherryTree is a free, open-source desktop notebook for Windows, Mac and Linux where notes are nodes in a tree, holding rich text and code side by side, saved as one file or many. There's no official phone app and no sync of its own, tables take plain text only, password protection leaves an unprotected copy in a temporary folder while open, and the online manual is called old and discontinued.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free software under the GPL version 3 or later, in a category where the middle plan is $6 a month. Every download on the project page costs nothing, and the only money mentioned anywhere is a donation link. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Free outright: the Windows installer and portable archive, the Linux packages, the macOS installer, the lot. Nothing is held back, because there's no paid tier for it to be held back on. |
| Features | C | Nested nodes, rich text, code with syntax highlighting, images, embedded files, LaTeX and find and replace across the whole tree. The limits are the listing's own: tables take plain text only, there's no sync of its own, and password protection leaves an unprotected copy in a temporary folder while the file is open. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record, and you begin by deciding how the document is stored, XML or SQLite, one file or many. The project page also calls its own online manual old and discontinued, which isn't what you want when you're stuck. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Computers only: Windows, Mac and Linux, with a portable Windows build and Linux packages from PPA to Flatpak and Snap. No official phone app, just a pointer to SourCherry, a third-party Android project, and no integrations on record. |
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 CherryTree is for
- Fits if you want notes and code snippets together in one local file
- Works for people moving out of KeepNote, Tomboy or Zim, which it imports
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you need your notes on your phone, as there's no official mobile app, only a third-party Android project
- Not for you if you rely on password protection, since an unprotected copy sits in a temporary folder while the file is open
- Too light for anyone who wants full tables, because cells only take plain text
- Watch out: there's no sync of its own, so keeping one notebook on two computers is up to you
- Watch out: the project page calls its own online manual old and discontinued, and the listing names no integrations
Good to know
Good for
- Keeping structured notes and code snippets in one local file
- Linux, Windows and macOS users who want the same notebook app on each
- Moving notes out of older outliners such as KeepNote, Tomboy or Zim
Worth knowing
- There is no official mobile app; the project page points to SourCherry, a third-party Android project.
- Password protection is available only for single-file storage, and an unprotected copy is extracted to a temporary folder while the document is open.
- Tables are limited to cells of plain text.
- The project page describes the online user manual as old and discontinued.
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
CherryTree is free to use.
Every download on the project page costs nothing, and the only money mentioned anywhere is a donation link.
CherryTree
$0
The full app as a Windows installer or portable archive, Linux packages (PPA, .deb, AppImage, Flatpak, Snap) and a macOS installer.
The free plan
Free software under the GNU GPL version 3 or later. Every download on the project page is free; the site only links to a donation page.
Read from giuspen.net on Oct 9, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: macOS, Windows and Linux
Hierarchical desktop notes with rich text and code highlighting. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, works offline, local-first, notes.
Nested nodes, rich text, code with syntax highlighting, images, embedded files, LaTeX and find and replace across the whole tree.
- Tree of nodes
- Notes are nodes that nest to any depth and can be rearranged by drag and drop. Text and images can link to other nodes, anchors, files, folders and web pages.
- Rich text and code
- Rich text nodes sit alongside code nodes and codeboxes with syntax highlighting, and code can be run through a configurable terminal command.
- Images, tables, files and math
- Inserts images that can be resized and rotated, simple tables with CSV import and export, embedded files and rendered LaTeX equations.
- Single-file or multi-file storage
- A document is one XML or SQLite file, or a set of files and directories. Single-file documents can be password protected using 7-Zip.
- Import and export
- Imports HTML, plain text and files from apps such as KeepNote, Zim, Tomboy, NoteCase and KeyNote, and exports to HTML, plain text and PDF.
- Find and replace across the tree
- Searches or replaces within one node, a node and its subnodes, or every node, and can build a table of contents from headings.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
CherryTree is made by Giuseppe Penone and Evgenii Gurianov.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
72/147
Other note-taking apps it is graded above
CherryTree's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 72 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 34.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 100 of 147) and worst on features (C, above 2).
CherryTree has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 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. CherryTree’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 62 of 147
- AFree plan and trialAbove 100 of 147
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 147
- CEase of useAbove 5 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. CherryTree 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
CherryTree is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
What you could make
- Notes: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
What this rests on. CherryTree’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
Zim, KeyNote NF, NoteCase Pro, Trilium Notes and RightNote
The 5 tools CherryTree is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.0GPA
Zim
Free
Desktop wiki that keeps linked pages as plain text files.
- Zim also covers linked notes, wiki, daily notes and tasks.
- 2.8GPA
KeyNote NF
Free
Open-source tabbed notebook for Windows with tree notes.
- Only CherryTree lists macOS and Linux apps.
- 2.8GPA
NoteCase Pro
Free plan · from $5 one-time
Cross-platform outliner and note manager with Lua scripting.
- Only NoteCase Pro lists an Android app.
- CherryTree is open source, according to its own site.
- NoteCase Pro can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 3.0GPA
Trilium Notes
Free
Free, open-source hierarchical notes for a personal knowledge base.
- Only Trilium Notes lists a web app.
- Only Trilium Notes lists a browser extension.
- Trilium Notes is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 2.4GPA
RightNote
Free plan · from $29.95 one-time
Windows note organizer with pages, trees and several note types.
- Only CherryTree lists macOS and Linux apps.
- CherryTree is open source, according to its own site.
- RightNote can be bought with a one-time purchase.
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 CherryTree free?
Yes. CherryTree is free to use.
How much does CherryTree cost?
CherryTree lists one plan. CherryTree: $0.
What platforms does CherryTree work on?
CherryTree is available on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does CherryTree have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. CherryTree is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does CherryTree have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. CherryTree is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Is CherryTree open source?
Yes. CherryTree is open source, according to its own site.
Does CherryTree 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 CherryTree?
CherryTree is made by Giuseppe Penone and Evgenii Gurianov.
What are the alternatives to CherryTree?
The closest alternatives to CherryTree in our directory are Zim, KeyNote NF, NoteCase Pro, Trilium Notes and RightNote.
How does CherryTree compare with other note-taking apps?
CherryTree's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 72 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 34.
Is CherryTree good value for money?
ToolGPA grades CherryTree A for value for money. CherryTree has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of CherryTree?
CherryTree is free, so making your own would save you nothing. What you could not make: Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from CherryTree’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 CherryTree's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-07-28.
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 Giuseppe Penone and Evgenii Gurianov. Prices change, so check giuspen.net 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
- CherryTree, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/cherrytree
- 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, "CherryTree: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/cherrytree
Know someone choosing between note-taking apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/cherrytree/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded note-taking apps after CherryTree, 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 CherryTree’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. CherryTree is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Giuseppe Penone and Evgenii Gurianov. Prices and plans change: check giuspen.net before you buy.