nb review (2026): is it any good?
Command-line note, bookmark and knowledge base tool in one script
nb report card
Good · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for plain-text notes and bookmarks in a terminal
nb is a command-line tool for notes, bookmarks and todos that keeps everything as plain files with Git behind it. It is free and open source, but it needs a Unix-like shell, and there is no phone app or hosted service.
Who nb is for
- Fits if you live in a terminal and want your notes as files under Git
- Works for people who also save bookmarks and todos in the same place
Who nb is not for
- Not for you if you want a window to click in, as it is command line and a local web view
- Skip it if you are on Windows without WSL, MSYS or Cygwin
- Watch out: some features need Pandoc, Chromium or Chrome installed
- Too light for sharing, as there is no phone app or hosted service
Why nb gets a 2.8
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- AValue for moneyOpen source and free, installed from a package manager or as one script.
- AFree plan and trialFree outright, with no paid tier listed.
- BFeaturesNotes, bookmarks with cached pages, todos, tags, wiki links, encryption, Git sync and a local web view, all from one script. Nothing in the listing shows a gap in that job.
- DEase of useNo store rating on record. It runs in a terminal, and some features need Pandoc or a Chrome browser.
- CPlatforms and integrationsmacOS and Linux programs, and on Windows only through WSL, MSYS or Cygwin. Works with Git, Vim, Emacs and VS Code.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from nb's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/nb#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/nb.svg" alt="nb: 2.8 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where nb stands among note-taking apps
nb's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 88 of the 169 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 38.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 114 of 169) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0).
nb 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 170 note-taking apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. nb’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 72 of 169, level with 97
- AFree plan and trialAbove 114 of 169, level with 55
- BFeaturesAbove 121 of 169, level with 35
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 169, level with 9
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 34 of 169, level with 64
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 118 note-taking apps. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Keep nb, or make your own?
Keep it
nb is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
What you could make
- Notes, Markdown, bookmarks, linked notes and tasks: 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, Git, Pandoc and Vim among them.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. nb’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.
What is nb?
nb is a note-taking, bookmarking and archiving tool that runs in the terminal and in a local web view. Items are plain text files in formats such as Markdown and Org, with tags, wiki-style links, todos and Git-backed versioning and sync. The whole program is one shell script.
Worth knowing
- It needs a Unix-like shell; on Windows it runs through WSL, MSYS or Cygwin.
- Some features rely on optional tools such as Pandoc and Chromium or Chrome.
- There is no mobile app or hosted service on its site.
Key features
- Plain-text storage
- Notes are text files in Markdown, Org, LaTeX, AsciiDoc or any other format, written in the editor you choose.
- Git versioning and sync
- Notebooks are Git-backed, giving revision history and syncing through a Git remote.
- Bookmarks with cached pages
- Saved pages are stored as Markdown for local full-text search, with Wayback Machine lookup for broken links.
- Encryption
- Notes and bookmarks can be password-protected.
- Wiki links, tags and todos
- Items link with [[wiki-style]] links, take #tags, and can hold todos with tasks.
- Local web browsing
- A locally served web view lets you read notes and bookmarks in a terminal or GUI browser.
nb pricing
As of Nov 13, 2026, nb is free to use.
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- No price is listed; the project's GitHub page shows an AGPL-3.0 license.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| nb | $0 | Open-source command-line tool installed from a package manager or as a script; no paid tier is listed. |
Read from xwmx.github.io on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with nb before you buy.
Works with
nb alternatives
- nb vs Dnote
Free
- nb vs Notenik
Free
- nb vs Joplin
Free plan · from €2.40/mo
- nb vs QOwnNotes
Free
- nb vs Zim
Free
Common questions
Does nb have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. nb is listed for macOS, Linux and Windows.
Does nb have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. nb is listed for macOS, Linux and Windows.
Is nb open source?
Yes. nb is open source, according to its own site.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026.