# Notable review (2026): is it any good? > Desktop Markdown notes app that stores notes as plain files on disk Checked Nov 13, 2026 ยท graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA. Notable is a desktop note-taking app built around Markdown. Notes and attachments are stored as individual files on your own disk, so other editors, Dropbox or Git can work with them. It has nestable tags, linking between notes, a split editor and a zen mode. - **Category:** Note-Taking Apps - **Made by:** Notable - **Website:** https://notable.app - **Runs on:** macOS, Windows, Linux - **Who should skip it:** Skip it if you need your notes on a phone, as there is no mobile app yet. - **Facts last checked:** Nov 13, 2026 ## Pricing As of Nov 13, 2026, Notable is free to use. - **Pricing model:** Free - **Free plan:** The desktop app is free to use, with cloud sync and end-to-end encryption listed as opt-in features. - **Free trial:** None listed. | Plan | Price | What you get | | --- | --- | --- | | Desktop app | $0 | Free desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux; notes are stored as files on your disk. | Read from https://notable.app/ on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Notable before buying. ## Key features - **Markdown editor:** Notes are written in Markdown with KaTeX math and Mermaid diagrams, in an editor with multi-cursors and a minimap. - **Notes stored as files:** Notes and attachments sit on your disk as ordinary files, so Dropbox, Git or a third-party editor can work with them. - **Nestable tags and links:** Tags can be nested without limit, and notes can link to other notes and to attachments. - **Split editor and zen mode:** A split view shows the rendered note while you edit, and zen mode hides everything but the text. - **Import and export:** Import notes from Evernote or Boostnote, and export to Markdown, HTML or PDF. ## Good for - People who want notes kept as plain Markdown files they control - Desktop-only note-taking with keyboard-driven navigation ## Worth knowing - Desktop only: the site lists mobile apps and a web app as work in progress that will need a paid subscription. - Built-in sync, version control and plugins are marked as future features on the site. - Sync today means using a third-party service such as Dropbox or Git over the notes folder. ## ToolGPA grades **GPA: 3.0 out of 4**, graded Nov 13, 2026. Notable is a desktop Markdown notes app that stores each note as a file on your disk. It is free, but it only runs on a computer, and sync, version control and plugins are still marked as future features on its site. - **Value for money: A.** The desktop app costs nothing, and the pages we read list no paid plan. - **Free plan and trial: A.** Free outright, with no cap on notes. Cloud sync and encryption are described as opt-in extras to come. - **Features: C.** Markdown editor, nestable tags, note links, split editor and zen mode. The listing's own gaps: built-in sync, version control and plugins are all marked as coming. - **Ease of use: B.** No store rating on record. It installs like any desktop app and opens onto a Markdown editor. - **Platforms and integrations: C.** Windows, macOS and Linux only. The mobile apps and web app are listed as work in progress and will need a subscription. These are ToolGPA's own grades. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Notable's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. ## Where it stands among note-taking apps - Notable's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 127 of the 169 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 23. - It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 114 of 169) and worst on features (C, above 4). - Notable has no paid plan. - On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price. The category's chart of price against score: https://toolgpa.com/charts/note-taking ## Keep it, or make your own? **Keep it.** Notable is free, so making your own would save you nothing. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 127 of the 169 other note-taking apps we grade. - You could make: Notes and Markdown: an app builder makes these well. - You could not: Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other. A judgement by ToolGPA from this listing, by rules that are the same for every tool. Nothing was built to test it. ## Works with Evernote, Boostnote **Tags:** Notes, Markdown, Local-first, Keyboard-first ## Alternatives - [Obsidian](https://toolgpa.com/tools/obsidian): Markdown note-taking app that keeps your files on your device. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/notable-vs-obsidian) - [Joplin](https://toolgpa.com/tools/joplin): Open source Markdown notes with sync through a service you choose. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/joplin-vs-notable) - [Inkdrop](https://toolgpa.com/tools/inkdrop): Markdown note app for developers with encrypted sync. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/inkdrop-vs-notable) - [FSNotes](https://toolgpa.com/tools/fsnotes): Open-source Markdown notes app for Mac and iPhone. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/fsnotes-vs-notable) - [Simplenote](https://toolgpa.com/tools/simplenote): Free plain-text notes that sync across every major platform. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/notable-vs-simplenote) ## Sources The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026: - https://notable.app/ Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/notable Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).