The Marknote Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Marknote 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.
Marknote
The Insider’s Guide
KDE's rich text note-taking app that saves notes as Markdown files
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among note-taking apps, read from Marknote’s own pages.
Made by KDE · 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 Marknote’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Marknote’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
Marknote is a free, open-source note-taking app from the KDE community. Notes are written in a rich text editor and saved as Markdown files in a folder on disk, grouped into notebooks that each get their own icon and accent color. Version 1.5 added a raw Markdown source mode and wiki-style links between notes, and version 1.6 added subfolders and note search from the command bar.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Marknote, taken from its own pages and our grades.
On Linux it's a normal install from Flathub or your distribution's packages, and the editor is WYSIWYG, so you never type a Markdown symbol.
- 1
Best for simple Markdown notes on a Linux desktop
Marknote is KDE's free notes app that saves plain Markdown files into a folder you own while you write in a formatted editor.
- 2
It is free
Marknote has no paid plan at all. Free, open-source software from KDE under the GPL-2.0-or-later license. The app page lists no paid edition; KDE takes donations.
- 3
It runs on 3 platforms
Linux, Windows and macOS.
- 4
Rich text editor backed by Markdown
Notes are formatted in a WYSIWYG editor with bold, italic, underline and strikethrough text, headings, lists, checkboxes, images and tables, and stored as Markdown files.
- 5
Notebooks
Notes are grouped into notebooks, each with its own icon and accent color and a count of the notes inside. Notes move between notebooks by drag and drop.
- 6
Source mode
Since version 1.5 a source mode shows the raw Markdown in place of the rich text view. Version 1.5.1 added syntax highlighting to it.
- 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
Marknote is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Marknote at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- KDE, since 2024
- Category
- Note-Taking Apps
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for simple Markdown notes on a Linux desktop
Marknote is KDE's free notes app that saves plain Markdown files into a folder you own while you write in a formatted editor. It's a Linux app at heart: the Windows and Mac builds are nightly ones KDE calls unstable, there's no phone app or built-in sync, subfolders have to be made in a file manager, and the Snap Store copy is still on version 1.3.0 from April 2025.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free and open source from KDE under GPL-2.0-or-later, with no paid edition at all, just a donate link. Notes apps here run about $6 a month in the middle, so there's nothing to weigh up. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The whole app is free, with no cap on anything and no paid tier to bump into later. KDE takes donations if you feel like giving something back. |
| Features | C | A formatted editor that saves Markdown, notebooks with their own icon and color, wiki-style links, full-text search, quick sketches and export to PDF, HTML and ODT. The listing names two gaps: no built-in sync, and subfolders have to be made in a file manager rather than in the app. |
| Ease of use | B | On Linux it's a normal install from Flathub or your distribution's packages, and the editor is WYSIWYG, so you never type a Markdown symbol. No store rating is on record to go by. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Stable releases are Linux and nothing else. The Windows and macOS builds on KDE's page are nightly installers KDE itself calls unstable, there's no Android or iOS app, and KRunner on the Plasma desktop is the only hook-up listed. |
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 Marknote is for
- Fits if you're on Linux, especially KDE Plasma, and want a simple notes app
- Works for keeping notes as Markdown files in a folder that other apps can open
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you need notes on your phone, as there's no Android or iOS app
- Not for you if you want sync built in, because getting the folder onto another computer is up to you
- Tight if you're on Windows or a Mac, where the only builds are nightly ones KDE calls unstable
- Watch out: subfolders can't be created inside the app yet, only in a file manager
- Watch out: the Snap Store's stable channel is on version 1.3.0 from April 2025, while Flathub carries 1.6.0
Good to know
Good for
- Linux and KDE Plasma users who want a simple notes app
- People who want notes kept as Markdown files in a local folder
- Writers who prefer a formatted editor to raw Markdown syntax
Worth knowing
- Stable packages are for Linux; the Windows and macOS builds on the KDE page are nightly installers described as unstable and meant for testing.
- The KDE app page lists Linux, Windows and macOS only, and mentions no Android or iOS app and no built-in sync between devices.
- Subfolders, added in version 1.6.0, cannot yet be created inside Marknote; they have to be made in a file manager.
- The Snap Store's stable channel shows version 1.3.0, last updated in April 2025, while Flathub carries 1.6.0.
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
Marknote is free to use.
The whole app is free, with no cap on anything and no paid tier to bump into later.
Marknote
$0
The full app for Linux through distribution packages, Flathub or the Snap Store. Windows and macOS builds are nightly installers that KDE labels unstable.
The free plan
Free, open-source software from KDE under the GPL-2.0-or-later license. The app page lists no paid edition; KDE takes donations.
Read from apps.kde.org 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
KDE's rich text note-taking app that saves notes as Markdown files. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, local-first, notes, Markdown, linked notes.
The listing names two gaps: no built-in sync, and subfolders have to be made in a file manager rather than in the app.
- Rich text editor backed by Markdown
- Notes are formatted in a WYSIWYG editor with bold, italic, underline and strikethrough text, headings, lists, checkboxes, images and tables, and stored as Markdown files.
- Notebooks
- Notes are grouped into notebooks, each with its own icon and accent color and a count of the notes inside. Notes move between notebooks by drag and drop.
- Source mode
- Since version 1.5 a source mode shows the raw Markdown in place of the rich text view. Version 1.5.1 added syntax highlighting to it.
- Links between notes
- Wiki-style links, added in version 1.5, connect one note to another and can look up notes in other notebooks.
- Search and command bar
- Version 1.5 added full-text search and replace, and since version 1.6 the command bar searches for notes across all notebooks. A KRunner plugin opens notes from the Plasma desktop.
- Sketches and export
- A quick sketch dialog adds drawings to a note, and notes can be exported to formats including PDF, HTML and ODT.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
- KRunner
Marknote is made by KDE, and has been around since 2024.
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
Marknote'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 platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
Marknote 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. Marknote’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
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 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. Marknote 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
Marknote is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
What you could make
- Notes, Markdown and linked notes: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
What this rests on. Marknote’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
QOwnNotes, Joplin, VNote, Zim and Obsidian
The 5 tools Marknote is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.0GPA
QOwnNotes
Free
Open-source Markdown notes app with Nextcloud and ownCloud support.
- Only QOwnNotes lists an Android app.
- Only QOwnNotes lists a browser extension.
- QOwnNotes also covers web clipper.
- 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.
- 2.8GPA
VNote
Free
Free desktop Markdown note-taking app with plain-file notebooks.
- Marknote also covers linked notes.
- VNote also covers templates and mind mapping.
- 3.0GPA
Zim
Free
Desktop wiki that keeps linked pages as plain text files.
- Marknote also covers Markdown.
- Zim also covers wiki, daily notes and tasks.
- 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.
- Marknote is open source, according to its own site.
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 Marknote free?
Yes. Marknote is free to use.
How much does Marknote cost?
Marknote lists one plan. Marknote: $0.
What platforms does Marknote work on?
Marknote is available on Linux, Windows and macOS.
Does Marknote have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Marknote is listed for Linux, Windows and macOS.
Does Marknote have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Marknote is listed for Linux, Windows and macOS.
Is Marknote open source?
Yes. Marknote is open source, according to its own site.
What does Marknote integrate with?
Marknote's listing names KRunner. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Marknote?
Marknote is made by KDE. It dates from 2024.
What are the alternatives to Marknote?
The closest alternatives to Marknote in our directory are QOwnNotes, Joplin, VNote, Zim and Obsidian.
How does Marknote compare with other note-taking apps?
Marknote's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 72 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 34.
Is Marknote good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Marknote A for value for money. Marknote has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Marknote?
Marknote 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 Marknote’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 KDE's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-03-08.
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 KDE. Prices change, so check apps.kde.org before you buy.
- apps.kde.org/marknote/
- apps.kde.org/platforms/windows/
- apps.kde.org/platforms/macos/
- blogs.kde.org/2024/03/29/marknote-finally-released/
- blogs.kde.org/2026/03/13/marknote-1.5/
- carlschwan.eu/2026/05/30/marknote-1.6.0/
- invent.kde.org/office/marknote/-/raw/master/README.md
- flathub.org/en/apps/org.kde.marknote
- snapcraft.io/marknote
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
- Marknote, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/marknote
- 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, "Marknote: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/marknote
Know someone choosing between note-taking apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/marknote/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded note-taking apps after Marknote, 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 Marknote’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. Marknote is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by KDE. Prices and plans change: check apps.kde.org before you buy.