The RedNotebook Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about RedNotebook 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.
RedNotebook
The Insider’s Guide
Free desktop diary that stores entries as plain text files
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among journaling apps, read from RedNotebook’s own pages.
Made by Jendrik Seipp · checked Oct 6, 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 RedNotebook’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on RedNotebook’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 6, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.0
GPA, above 29 of the 35 other journaling apps we grade
RedNotebook is a desktop diary for Linux and Windows. Each day's entry takes basic text formatting, #hashtags, links to images and files, and reusable templates, and the whole journal can be searched as you type. Entries are stored as plain text files on your own disk and can be backed up to a zip archive or exported to plain text, HTML or LaTeX. It is Free Software under the GPL, developed by Jendrik Seipp, with releases going back to 2008.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about RedNotebook, taken from its own pages and our grades.
If you write on more than one device, look elsewhere.
- 1
Best for a plain-text diary on Linux or Windows
There's no phone app, no web version, no official macOS support, no built-in sync, no lock and no direct PDF export.
- 2
It is free
RedNotebook has no paid plan at all. Free Software under the GPL with no paid version or feature limits. The downloads page accepts voluntary donations in US dollars or euros.
- 3
It runs on 2 platforms
Linux and Windows.
- 4
Formatted daily entries
Text can be bold, italic, underlined or struck through, with lists and links. You write in an edit mode and read the result in a preview mode.
- 5
Hashtags, search and word clouds
Entries are tagged with #hashtags and found with search-as-you-type. Clouds show the most common words and tags, though not in version 2.x on Windows.
- 6
Templates
There is one template for each day of the week plus any number of named templates, all kept as editable text files in a template directory.
- 7
A 3.0 GPA, above 29 of 35
That is against the other journaling apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
RedNotebook is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
RedNotebook at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Windows, Linux
- Made by
- Jendrik Seipp, since 2008
- Category
- Journaling Apps
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for a plain-text diary on Linux or Windows
RedNotebook is a free desktop diary for Linux and Windows, around since 2008, that keeps your entries as plain text files on your own disk, with #hashtags, search and export to HTML or LaTeX. There's no phone app, no web version, no official macOS support, no built-in sync, no lock and no direct PDF export. If you write on more than one device, look elsewhere.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free Software under the GPL with no paid version at all, where journaling apps here sit around $4.17 a month in the middle. The downloads page takes donations if you'd like to chip in, and that's the whole arrangement. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The complete app is free on Linux and Windows, every feature included, no limits and nothing to upgrade to. No cap you could ever meet. |
| Features | C | The basics of a diary: formatted daily entries, #hashtags, search as you type, a template for each weekday, zip backups and export to plain text, HTML or LaTeX. Its own help lists the holes, though. No encryption or lock, no sync, no direct PDF export, and no word clouds in 2.x on Windows. |
| Ease of use | B | No rating on record, but there's nothing to set up: install it, pick a day and type. Entries save themselves, and you flip between an edit mode and a preview to see the formatting. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Computers only: Linux and Windows, with no phone apps, no web version and no official macOS support, just Homebrew or source builds to try yourself. Two machines means putting the journal folder in Dropbox or Syncthing on your own. |
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 RedNotebook is for
- Fits if you want your diary as plain text files on your own disk, readable in any editor
- Works for Linux or Windows users who tag entries with #hashtags and want nothing to pay
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you write on your phone, as there's no mobile app or web version
- Not for you if you need the journal locked, as encryption is left to an encrypted folder you set up
- Tight if you're on a Mac, since macOS isn't officially supported, only Homebrew or source builds
- Tight if you use two computers, as sync isn't built in: you keep the folder in Dropbox or Syncthing yourself
- Watch out: there's no direct PDF export, and word clouds are missing from version 2.x on Windows
Good to know
Good for
- Linux and Windows users who want a diary kept as plain text on their own disk
- People who tag entries with #hashtags and search across years of them
- Writers who want their journal exported to plain text, HTML or LaTeX
Worth knowing
- There are no mobile apps or web version, and macOS has no official support, only Homebrew or source builds to try on your own.
- There is no built-in encryption or lock; the help suggests an encrypted folder or an encrypted home partition.
- Sync is not built in: using it on several computers means keeping the journal folder in Dropbox, Syncthing or on a server.
- Word clouds are missing from version 2.x on Windows, and there is no direct PDF export.
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
RedNotebook is free to use.
The downloads page takes donations if you'd like to chip in, and that's the whole arrangement.
RedNotebook
$0
The complete desktop journal for Linux and Windows, with every feature included.
The free plan
Free Software under the GPL with no paid version or feature limits. The downloads page accepts voluntary donations in US dollars or euros.
Read from rednotebook.app on Oct 6, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: Windows and Linux
Free desktop diary that stores entries as plain text files. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, works offline, local-first, daily notes, templates.
Two machines means putting the journal folder in Dropbox or Syncthing on your own.
- Formatted daily entries
- Text can be bold, italic, underlined or struck through, with lists and links. You write in an edit mode and read the result in a preview mode.
- Hashtags, search and word clouds
- Entries are tagged with #hashtags and found with search-as-you-type. Clouds show the most common words and tags, though not in version 2.x on Windows.
- Templates
- There is one template for each day of the week plus any number of named templates, all kept as editable text files in a template directory.
- Images, files and links
- An Insert menu adds images, files and links at the cursor. Inserted items are linked to, not copied into the journal directory.
- Plain-text storage and backups
- A journal is a directory of plain text files, one per month. Entries save automatically, and a Backup command packs the journal into a zip archive.
- Export
- The journal exports to plain text, HTML or LaTeX. A PDF is made by printing the HTML export from a browser or compiling the LaTeX file.
Where it runs
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
RedNotebook is made by Jendrik Seipp, and has been around since 2008.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
29/35
Other journaling apps it is graded above
RedNotebook's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 29 of the 35 other journaling apps we grade, and level with 2.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 29 of 35) and worst on features (C, above 0).
RedNotebook 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.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 36 journaling apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. RedNotebook’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 25 of 35
- AFree plan and trialAbove 29 of 35
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 35
- BEase of useAbove 3 of 35
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 2 of 35
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 29 journaling apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. RedNotebook 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
RedNotebook 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 29 of the 35 other journaling apps we grade.
What you could make
- Daily notes and templates: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- A real app for Windows and Linux. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. RedNotebook’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
Diarium, DailyTxT, Daily You, Journey and Day One
The 5 tools RedNotebook is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.2GPA
Diarium
Free plan · from $14.99 one-time
Private journal with a one-time Pro purchase and your own cloud sync.
- Only RedNotebook lists a Linux app.
- Only Diarium lists macOS, iOS and Android apps.
- RedNotebook is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.8GPA
DailyTxT
Free
Self-hosted encrypted diary web app that runs in Docker.
- Only RedNotebook lists Linux and Windows apps.
- Only DailyTxT lists a web app.
- DailyTxT is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 2.6GPA
Daily You
Free
Free, open-source offline diary and mood tracker for Android.
- Only RedNotebook lists Linux and Windows apps.
- Only Daily You lists an Android app.
- RedNotebook also covers templates.
- 2.8GPA
Journey
Free plan · from $17.99 one-time
Cross-platform diary with maps, mood tracking and guided programs.
- Only Journey lists a web app.
- Only Journey lists macOS, iOS and Android apps.
- RedNotebook is open source, according to its own site.
- 3.2GPA
Day One
Free plan · from $49.99/yr
Encrypted journal for text, photos, audio and video across devices.
- Only RedNotebook lists a Linux app.
- Only Day One lists a web app.
- Only Day One lists macOS, iOS and Android apps.
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 RedNotebook free?
Yes. RedNotebook is free to use.
How much does RedNotebook cost?
RedNotebook lists one plan. RedNotebook: $0.
What platforms does RedNotebook work on?
RedNotebook is available on Linux and Windows.
Does RedNotebook have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. RedNotebook is listed for Linux and Windows.
Does RedNotebook have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. RedNotebook is listed for Linux and Windows.
Is RedNotebook open source?
Yes. RedNotebook is open source, according to its own site.
Does RedNotebook work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
Who makes RedNotebook?
RedNotebook is made by Jendrik Seipp. It dates from 2008.
What are the alternatives to RedNotebook?
The closest alternatives to RedNotebook in our directory are Diarium, DailyTxT, Daily You, Journey and Day One.
How does RedNotebook compare with other journaling apps?
RedNotebook's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 29 of the 35 other journaling apps we grade, and level with 2.
Is RedNotebook good value for money?
ToolGPA grades RedNotebook A for value for money. RedNotebook has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of RedNotebook?
RedNotebook 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 29 of the 35 other journaling apps we grade.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from RedNotebook’s own pages on Oct 6, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from RedNotebook's own pages on 6 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-02-23.
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 Jendrik Seipp. Prices change, so check rednotebook.app before you buy.
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
- RedNotebook, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/rednotebook
- 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, "RedNotebook: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/rednotebook
Know someone choosing between journaling apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/rednotebook/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded journaling apps after RedNotebook, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Journaling Apps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 36 journaling apps we grade, compared
- Apple Journal Insider's GuideApple's free journaling app for iPhone, iPad and Mac3.2 GPA
- Day One Insider's GuideEncrypted journal for text, photos, audio and video across devices3.2 GPA
- Diarium Insider's GuidePrivate journal with a one-time Pro purchase and your own cloud sync3.2 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 RedNotebook’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. RedNotebook is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Jendrik Seipp. Prices and plans change: check rednotebook.app before you buy.