The FSNotes Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about FSNotes 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.
FSNotes
The Insider’s Guide
Open-source Markdown notes app for Mac and iPhone
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among note-taking apps, read from FSNotes’s own pages.
Made by Oleksandr Hlushchenko · checked Oct 6, 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 FSNotes’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on FSNotes’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 6, 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
FSNotes is a native notes app for Mac and iPhone that works directly on folders of plain Markdown and text files rather than a database. It is keyboard-driven in the style of Notational Velocity, syncs through iCloud Drive, can lock notes or folders with AES-256 encryption, and offers optional Git versioning and backups. The app is open source: a free Mac build is posted on GitHub, and the App Store versions for Mac and iPhone are one-time purchases with no subscription.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about FSNotes, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No store rating on record, so we go by the listing: no account to make, point it at a folder and type.
- 1
Best for Markdown notes as plain files on a Mac
FSNotes is a keyboard-first notes app for Mac and iPhone that works on plain Markdown files in folders you pick, with a free open-source Mac build on GitHub and App Store versions at $8.99 and $4.99 once.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $4.99 one-time for iPhone and iPad; $8.99 one-time for Mac.
- 3
There is a free plan
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.
- 4
It runs on 2 platforms
macOS and iOS.
- 5
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.
- 6
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.
- 7
iCloud Drive sync
The same folders and notes, including pinned notes, stay available on a Mac and an iPhone through iCloud Drive.
- 8
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.
- 9
Your call
A notes app at its plainest is text in folders with a search box.
FSNotes at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $4.99 one-time for iPhone and iPad; $8.99 one-time for Mac
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, iOS
- Made by
- Oleksandr Hlushchenko, since 2017
- Category
- Note-Taking Apps
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for Markdown notes as plain files on a Mac
FSNotes is a keyboard-first notes app for Mac and iPhone that works on plain Markdown files in folders you pick, with a free open-source Mac build on GitHub and App Store versions at $8.99 and $4.99 once. It's Apple only, the two apps are separate purchases, the iPhone app syncs through iCloud Drive and nothing else, and the iPad build has no full keyboard shortcuts or multiple windows.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | $8.99 once for the Mac app and $4.99 once for iPhone and iPad, with no subscription anywhere. The two together cost less than two months of this category's $6 middle. They are separate purchases, mind. |
| Free plan and trial | B | The code is MIT and every GitHub release carries a free build of the whole Mac app, which Homebrew will install for you, so one person could live on it for nothing. You lose App Store automatic updates, and the iPhone app has no free route at all. |
| Features | B | Markdown files any editor can open, instant search built for more than 10,000 of them, double-bracket links, tags, AES-256 on single notes or whole folders, optional Git history and backups, Mermaid and MathJax. The personal notes job, covered. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record, so we go by the listing: no account to make, point it at a folder and type. It's built around Notational Velocity-style shortcuts, which are quick once your fingers know them. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | One family of devices: Mac and iPhone, synced through iCloud Drive, with Git if you want it. No Windows, Android or web version, no Dropbox or Google Drive sync on iOS, and the iPad build has no full keyboard shortcuts or multiple windows. |
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 FSNotes is for
- Fits if you want your notes as plain Markdown files you can open in anything
- Works for keyboard users who liked Notational Velocity
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you use Windows or Android, as it runs on Apple platforms only
- Not for you if you sync with Dropbox, WebDAV or Google Drive, since the iOS app only does iCloud Drive
- Too light for iPad-first people, because the iPad build has no full keyboard shortcuts or multiple windows
- Watch out: the Mac and iPhone apps are separate purchases, and the free GitHub build misses App Store automatic updates
- Tight if you're on iPhone and paying nothing, as the iOS app is $4.99 with no free route
Good to know
Good for
- 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
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$4.99 one-time
To start. There is a free plan too
FSNotes has a free plan. Paid plans start at $4.99 one-time for iPhone and iPad; $8.99 one-time for Mac.
You lose App Store automatic updates, and the iPhone app has no free route at all.
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.
The free plan
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.
Read from apps.apple.com on Oct 6, 2026.
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for the app, against $8.99 in the United States, in dollars at the day’s rate. The four cheapest and the four dearest of 11.
| Country | Price there | In dollars | Against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $11.99 | $8.43 | 6% less |
| Philippines | ₱ 599.00 | $9.54 | 6% more |
| Indonesia | Rp 179ribu | $10.01 | 11% more |
| Turkey | ₺499,99 | $10.17 | 13% more |
| Germany | 9,99 € | $11.19 | 25% more |
| United Kingdom | £8.99 | $11.89 | 32% more |
| Brazil | R$ 59,90 | $11.97 | 33% more |
| South Africa | R199.99 | $12.10 | 35% more |
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: macOS and iOS
Open-source Markdown notes app for Mac and iPhone. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, works offline, local-first, one-time purchase, keyboard-first, notes, Markdown.
One family of devices: Mac and iPhone, synced through iCloud Drive, with Git if you want it.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
- iOS
What it works with
- iCloud Drive
- Git
FSNotes is made by Oleksandr Hlushchenko, and has been around since 2017.
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
FSNotes'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 value for money (A, above 62 of 147) and worst on platforms and integrations (C, above 31).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 148 note-taking apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. FSNotes’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 62 of 147
- BFree plan and trialAbove 71 of 147
- BFeaturesAbove 100 of 147
- BEase of useAbove 47 of 147
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 31 of 147
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.
Your call
A notes app at its plainest is text in folders with a search box.
You could make the core of FSNotes for yourself: notes and Markdown. What you would give up is listed below. Whether that is worth the price is your call. At $4.99, paid once, it costs less than the weekend it would take to replace, which is the argument for keeping it. FSNotes is open source, so there is a third way: take its code and run it yourself.
What you could make
- Notes and Markdown: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Apps for macOS and iOS that stay in step with each other.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. FSNotes’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
The Archive, MiaoYan, Obsidian, Bear and Simplenote
The 5 tools FSNotes is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.4GPA
The Archive
Free trial · from $19.99 one-time
Plain-text note-taking app for Mac built around Zettelkasten.
- FSNotes has a free plan. The Archive does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only FSNotes lists an iOS app.
- FSNotes is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.6GPA
MiaoYan
Free plan · from $14.99 one-time
Native Mac Markdown notes app with a split editor and preview.
- MiaoYan also covers linked notes and presentations.
- 3.6GPA
Obsidian
Free plan · from $4/mo
Markdown note-taking app that keeps your files on your device.
- Only Obsidian lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- Only Obsidian lists a browser extension.
- FSNotes is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.6GPA
Bear
Free plan · from $2.99/mo
Markdown notes app for Mac, iPhone and iPad with tags and links.
- Only Bear lists a browser extension.
- FSNotes is open source, according to its own site.
- FSNotes can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 3.4GPA
Simplenote
Free
Free plain-text notes that sync across every major platform.
- Only Simplenote lists a web app.
- Only Simplenote lists Android, Windows and Linux apps.
- FSNotes 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 FSNotes free?
FSNotes has a free plan. The source code is free under the MIT license, and each release on GitHub includes a free build of the Mac app.
How much does FSNotes cost?
FSNotes lists 3 plans. GitHub release: $0.
What platforms does FSNotes work on?
FSNotes is available on macOS and iOS.
Does FSNotes have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. FSNotes is listed for macOS and iOS.
Does FSNotes have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. FSNotes is listed for macOS and iOS.
Is FSNotes open source?
Yes. FSNotes is open source, according to its own site.
Does FSNotes 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.
What does FSNotes integrate with?
FSNotes's listing names iCloud Drive and Git. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes FSNotes?
FSNotes is made by Oleksandr Hlushchenko. It dates from 2017.
What are the alternatives to FSNotes?
The closest alternatives to FSNotes in our directory are The Archive, MiaoYan, Obsidian, Bear and Simplenote.
How does FSNotes compare with other note-taking apps?
FSNotes's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 107 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 21.
Could I make my own version of FSNotes?
A notes app at its plainest is text in folders with a search box. You could make the core of FSNotes for yourself: notes and Markdown.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from FSNotes’s own pages on Oct 6, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from FSNotes' own pages on 6 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-09-27.
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 Oleksandr Hlushchenko. Prices change, so check fsnot.es before you buy.
- apps.apple.com/us/app/fsnotes/id1277179284?mt=12
- apps.apple.com/us/app/fsnotes/id1346501102
- fsnot.es/
- fsnot.es/faq/
- fsnot.es/markdown-notes-app-for-mac/
- raw.githubusercontent.com/glushchenko/fsnotes/master/README.md
- github.com/glushchenko/fsnotes/releases
- api.github.com/repos/glushchenko/fsnotes/releases/latest
- formulae.brew.sh/api/cask/fsnotes.json
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
- FSNotes, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/fsnotes
- 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, "FSNotes: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/fsnotes
Know someone choosing between note-taking apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/fsnotes/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded note-taking apps after FSNotes, 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 FSNotes’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. FSNotes is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Oleksandr Hlushchenko. Prices and plans change: check fsnot.es before you buy.