# KeyNote NF

> Open-source tabbed notebook for Windows with tree notes

KeyNote NF is a free, open-source tabbed notebook for Windows with a rich text editor, multi-level notes and encryption. It continues Marek Jedlinski's original Tranglos KeyNote and adds Unicode support, better image handling, tags, text folding, faster search and alarms on nodes. The code is released under the Mozilla Public License 2.0, and development is supported by voluntary donations.

- **Category:** Note-Taking Apps
- **Made by:** Daniel Prado Velasco
- **Website:** https://github.com/dpradov/keynote-nf
- **Runs on:** Windows
- **Facts last checked:** Oct 9, 2026

## Pricing

KeyNote NF is free to use.

- **Pricing model:** Free
- **Free plan:** Free software with code under the Mozilla Public License 2.0. Donations are voluntary and do not unlock anything.
- **Free trial:** None listed.

| Plan | Price | What you get |
| --- | --- | --- |
| KeyNote NF | $0 | The full Windows program, downloaded from the project's GitHub releases with a setup program. |

Read from https://github.com/dpradov/keynote-nf on Oct 9, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with KeyNote NF before buying.

## Key features

- **Tabbed notes with trees:** A file holds tabbed notes with a rich text editor and multi-level trees of nodes, and linked nodes can share the content of the same note.
- **Encryption:** A file can be encrypted as a whole, or stay unencrypted while selected notes and images are encrypted, with a lock-on-opening option.
- **Find All and tree filtering:** Find All shows excerpts with the matched words highlighted, can be limited to a node and its subtree or to node names, and combines with tree filtering.
- **Tags and text folding:** Tags apply to notes and to fragments of text for filtering, searching and exporting, and blocks of text can be folded down to a short excerpt.
- **Image management:** Handles GIF, PNG, JPG, TIF, BMP, WMF, EMF and ICO images, stored inside the file or externally in a zip or folder, with a built-in viewer.
- **Checkboxes, alarms and export:** Tree nodes can show checkboxes, carry alarms and be hidden once checked, and notes export to a printer or PDF with a table of contents.

## Good for

- Windows users who want a free, open-source tree notebook
- Long-time KeyNote users who need Unicode and newer features
- Keeping selected notes encrypted inside an otherwise open file

## Worth knowing

- Windows only: the project's SourceForge page lists Windows as its platform, and no other build is offered.
- The built-in backup keeps at most 9 recent copies made on saving, so the author advises keeping separate backups of .knt files.
- Its .knt format extends the old one: saving such a file in the original KeyNote 1.6.5 loses alarms and checked-node information.

**Tags:** Open source, Local-first, Notes

## Alternatives

- [CherryTree](https://toolgpa.com/tools/cherrytree): Hierarchical desktop notes with rich text and code highlighting. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/cherrytree-vs-keynote-nf)
- [RightNote](https://toolgpa.com/tools/rightnote): Windows note organizer with pages, trees and several note types. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/keynote-nf-vs-rightnote)
- [AllMyNotes Organizer](https://toolgpa.com/tools/allmynotes-organizer): Windows notes organizer that keeps everything in one local file. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/allmynotes-organizer-vs-keynote-nf)
- [Zim](https://toolgpa.com/tools/zim): Desktop wiki that keeps linked pages as plain text files. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/keynote-nf-vs-zim)
- [NoteCase Pro](https://toolgpa.com/tools/notecase-pro): Cross-platform outliner and note manager with Lua scripting. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/keynote-nf-vs-notecase-pro)

## Sources

The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 9, 2026:

- https://github.com/dpradov/keynote-nf
- https://github.com/dpradov/keynote-nf/releases/latest
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/dpradov/keynote-nf/develop/doc/References.md
- https://sourceforge.net/projects/keynote-newfeat/

Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/keynote-nf
Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).