The Foam Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Foam 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.
Foam
The Insider’s Guide
Free linked-notes system built on VS Code and Markdown
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among note-taking apps, read from Foam’s own pages.
Made by Foam · checked Nov 12, 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 Foam’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Foam’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.6
GPA, above 51 of the 152 other note-taking apps we grade
Foam is an extension for Visual Studio Code that turns a folder of Markdown files into a connected set of notes. It adds wikilinks, backlinks, a graph view, daily notes and templates, and the notes can be synced and published through Git. It is free and open source.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Foam, taken from its own pages and our grades.
There is no Foam app for phones, you must install VS Code to use it, and it is a tool for people comfortable in a code editor.
- 1
Best for linked Markdown notes inside VS Code
Foam is a free, open-source VS Code extension that links plain Markdown notes with wikilinks, backlinks and a graph view.
- 2
It is free
Foam has no paid plan at all. Everything is free; the project says it has no subscriptions.
- 3
It runs on 3 platforms
macOS, Windows and Linux.
- 4
Wikilinks and backlinks
Link notes with double brackets; a Connections panel shows what links to the current note.
- 5
Graph view
Visualize how your notes connect to one another.
- 6
Daily notes and templates
Create timestamped daily notes and standard note templates.
- 7
A 2.6 GPA, above 51 of 152
That is against the other note-taking apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Foam is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Foam at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- Foam
- Category
- Note-Taking Apps
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
Best for linked Markdown notes inside VS Code
Foam is a free, open-source VS Code extension that links plain Markdown notes with wikilinks, backlinks and a graph view. There is no Foam app for phones, you must install VS Code to use it, and it is a tool for people comfortable in a code editor.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free and open source with no subscription. You also need VS Code, which the docs call free. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Everything is free, with no plan limits and no paid tier. |
| Features | C | Wikilinks, backlinks, a graph view, daily notes, templates and Git-based sync. It has no mobile app, and the docs offer capture from a phone only as a workaround through other apps. |
| Ease of use | D | No store rating on record. You install VS Code and the extension, and it works as plain files and commands, which suits developers more than most note-takers. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Mac, Windows and Linux desktops only, through VS Code. A command-line tool with an MCP server exists, but nothing for phones or the web. |
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 Foam is for
- Fits if you already live in VS Code and keep notes as Markdown files
- Works for people who want notes in Git with no vendor lock-in
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want a phone app, as there isn't one
- Not for you if you don't use VS Code, since it runs only inside that editor
- Watch out: it is a code editor with notes added, which is heavy for a quick shopping list
- Watch out: it sends anonymous usage data and follows VS Code's telemetry setting
Good to know
Good for
- Developers who already work in VS Code
- People who want notes as plain Markdown files kept in Git
- Anyone avoiding subscriptions and vendor lock-in
Worth knowing
- It runs inside VS Code, so you install the editor as well as the extension.
- The docs describe mobile capture as a workaround through other apps; there is no Foam mobile app.
- It collects anonymous usage data and follows VS Code's telemetry setting.
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
Foam is free to use.
Free and open source with no subscription.
Foam
$0
Free, open-source VS Code extension. You also need VS Code, which the docs call free.
The free plan
Everything is free; the project says it has no subscriptions.
Read from docs.foam.md on Nov 12, 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
Free linked-notes system built on VS Code and Markdown. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, Markdown, linked notes, daily notes, templates.
Wikilinks, backlinks, a graph view, daily notes, templates and Git-based sync.
- Wikilinks and backlinks
- Link notes with double brackets; a Connections panel shows what links to the current note.
- Graph view
- Visualize how your notes connect to one another.
- Daily notes and templates
- Create timestamped daily notes and standard note templates.
- Plain Markdown files
- Notes are ordinary Markdown files you own, with embeds, block anchors, tags and footnotes.
- Git and publishing
- Sync through source control and publish to GitHub Pages, Netlify, Vercel and other hosts.
- Command line and MCP server
- A CLI includes an MCP server for AI clients; it is read-only unless writes are allowed.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
- Visual Studio Code
- GitHub
- GitHub Pages
- Netlify
- Vercel
- GitLab Pages
Foam is made by Foam.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
51/152
Other note-taking apps it is graded above
Foam's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 51 of the 152 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 24.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 104 of 152) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0).
Foam has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 1.7 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 153 note-taking apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Foam’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 66 of 152
- AFree plan and trialAbove 104 of 152
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 152
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 152
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 31 of 152
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 107 note-taking apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Foam 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
Foam is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
What you could make
- Markdown, linked notes, daily notes and templates: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
- It plugs into other products, Visual Studio Code, GitHub and GitHub Pages among them.
What this rests on. Foam’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, Joplin, FSNotes and Notesnook
The 5 tools Foam 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 Obsidian lists iOS and Android apps.
- Only Obsidian lists a browser extension.
- Foam is open source, according to its own site.
- 3.0GPA
Logseq
Free plan · from $5/mo
Open-source outliner for linked notes stored as local files.
- Only Logseq lists a web app.
- Only Logseq lists iOS and Android apps.
- Foam also covers templates.
- 3.6GPA
Joplin
Free plan · from €2.40/mo
Open source Markdown notes with sync through a service you choose.
- Only Joplin lists a web app.
- Only Joplin lists iOS and Android apps.
- Only Joplin lists a browser extension.
- 3.0GPA
FSNotes
Free plan · from $4.99 one-time
Open-source Markdown notes app for Mac and iPhone.
- Only Foam lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Only FSNotes lists an iOS app.
- FSNotes can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 3.2GPA
Notesnook
Free plan · from $1.99/mo
Open source, end-to-end encrypted notes on every platform.
- Only Notesnook lists a web app.
- Only Notesnook lists Android and iOS apps.
- Only Notesnook lists a browser extension.
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 Foam free?
Yes. Foam is free to use.
How much does Foam cost?
Foam lists one plan. Foam: $0.
What platforms does Foam work on?
Foam is available on macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does Foam have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Foam is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does Foam have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Foam is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.
Is Foam open source?
Yes. Foam is open source, according to its own site.
What does Foam integrate with?
Foam's listing names Visual Studio Code, GitHub, GitHub Pages, Netlify, Vercel and GitLab Pages.
Who makes Foam?
Foam is made by a company of the same name.
What are the alternatives to Foam?
The closest alternatives to Foam in our directory are Obsidian, Logseq, Joplin, FSNotes and Notesnook.
How does Foam compare with other note-taking apps?
Foam's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 51 of the 152 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 24.
Is Foam good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Foam A for value for money. Foam has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Foam?
Foam 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 Foam’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Foam's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
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 Foam. Prices change, so check docs.foam.md before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 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.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Foam, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/foam
- 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, "Foam: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/foam
Know someone choosing between note-taking apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/foam/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded note-taking apps after Foam, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Note-Taking Apps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 153 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 Foam’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. Foam is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Foam. Prices and plans change: check docs.foam.md before you buy.