nvALT review (2026): is it any good?
Free keyboard-driven Mac notes app with plain-text Markdown files
nvALT report card
Good · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for keyboard-driven plain-text notes on a Mac
nvALT is a free Mac notes app where one search field filters your notes and creates a new one when nothing matches. It runs on a Mac only, syncs only through Simplenote, and its author says he is building nvUltra to replace it.
Who nvALT is for
- Fits if you want quick plain-text notes on a Mac, driven from the keyboard
- Works for people who already use Simplenote
Who nvALT is not for
- Skip it if you use Windows, a phone or a browser, as it is Mac only
- Tight if you sync through Dropbox: the app warns against that while Simplenote sync is on
- Watch out: a new major version opens with default settings, so sync and the notes folder must be picked again
- Watch out: the author describes nvUltra as the app that follows nvALT
Why nvALT 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 moneyFree, with no paid plan listed on its project page.
- AFree plan and trialFree outright, with no paid tier and no cap shown on the project page.
- CFeaturesSearch-first entry, plain-text files, Markdown preview, web clipping and Simplenote sync. The listing's gaps: sync is Simplenote only and the author points to a successor.
- BEase of useNo store rating on record. You download it and start typing in the search field.
- DPlatforms and integrationsMac only, needing macOS 12 or later. No Windows, mobile or web version.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from nvALT'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/nvalt#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/nvalt.svg" alt="nvALT: 2.8 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where nvALT stands among note-taking apps
nvALT'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 platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
nvALT 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. nvALT’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 72 of 169, level with 97
- AFree plan and trialAbove 114 of 169, level with 55
- CFeaturesAbove 4 of 169, level with 116
- BEase of useAbove 61 of 169, level with 93
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 169, level with 33
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 nvALT, or make your own?
Keep it
nvALT is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
What you could make
- Notes, Markdown and web clipper: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- A real app for macOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
- It plugs into other products, Simplenote, Marked and Safari among them.
What this rests on. nvALT’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 nvALT?
nvALT is a free Mac notes app forked from Notational Velocity. One search field filters the note list as you type, and a title that matches nothing becomes a new note. Notes are plain text files with a Markdown preview, and it can sync with Simplenote. The author is building nvUltra as its successor.
Worth knowing
- nvALT 3 requires macOS 12 or later; there is no Windows, mobile or web version.
- Sync is through Simplenote only, and the app warns if notes sit in Dropbox while Simplenote sync is on.
- A first launch of a new major version opens with default settings, so sync and notes folder must be chosen again.
- The author describes nvUltra as the app he is building to follow nvALT.
Key features
- Search-first note entry
- One field searches and creates: typing filters the list, and a title with no match becomes a new note on Return.
- Plain-text files
- New libraries are a folder of Markdown files, and tags are written to them as Finder tags.
- Apex Markdown preview
- Previews combine CommonMark, GitHub Flavored Markdown, MultiMarkdown and Kramdown syntax, with themes for editor and preview.
- Web clipping
- Safari extension ships inside the app; Chrome, Brave, Firefox and Zen extensions are installed separately.
- Simplenote sync
- Sync runs through Simplenote and is set up in the Synchronization tab of the notes settings.
nvALT pricing
As of Nov 13, 2026, nvALT is free to use.
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- NvALT is free, with no paid plans listed.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| nvALT | $0 | Free download; the project page says it is free and shows no paid tier. |
Read from brettterpstra.com on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with nvALT before you buy.
Works with
nvALT alternatives
- nvALT vs FSNotes
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- nvALT vs Notenik
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- nvALT vs Bear
Free plan · from $2.99/mo
- nvALT vs Tot
Free plan · from $19.99 one-time
Common questions
Does nvALT have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. nvALT is listed for macOS.
Does nvALT have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. nvALT is listed for macOS.
Is nvALT open source?
nvALT is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026.