Rnote
Open-source app for sketching and handwritten notes with a stylus
What is Rnote?
Rnote is a free, open-source vector drawing app for sketching, taking handwritten notes and annotating documents and pictures. It is aimed at students, teachers and owners of a drawing tablet, with pressure-sensitive stylus input, PDF and image import, and page layouts that range from fixed pages to an infinite canvas. It installs from Flathub on Linux and also has macOS and Windows builds.
Rnote is free to use. See every plan
Good for
- Students and teachers who write by hand with a stylus or drawing tablet
- Annotating PDFs and pictures on a Linux desktop
- People who want a free, GPL-licensed handwriting app
Worth knowing
- The site warns that the file format is still unstable and may break compatibility between versions.
- Installs are listed for Linux, macOS and Windows only; there is no phone or tablet app or web version.
- The macOS app bundle is packaged by a community contributor and downloaded from a separate GitLab project.
Key features
- Stylus-focused input
- Pressure-sensitive stylus input with several configurable stroke styles, stylus button shortcuts that can be reassigned, and optional pen sounds.
- Page and canvas layouts
- A document can use fixed pages, a continuous vertical layout or a canvas that is infinite in every direction, with custom background colors, patterns and page formats.
- Shapes and selection tools
- A shape tool creates many kinds of shapes, and a selection tool moves, rotates, resizes and modifies content already on the page.
- PDF and image import
- PDFs, bitmap images and SVGs can be brought in for annotation, with drag and drop and clipboard support.
- Export to open formats
- Documents export to SVG, PDF and Xopp, and single pages or selections to SVG, PNG and JPEG. Files are saved in the native .rnote format, which a command-line tool can also handle.
- Workspace browser and tabs
- A built-in workspace browser gives quick access to related files, and tabs keep several documents open at once. Autosave and printing are included.
Rnote pricing
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- The whole app is free software under the GPL-3.0-or-later license. The project takes donations through GitHub Sponsors and Liberapay.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Rnote | $0 | The full app as a Flatpak for Linux, an app bundle for macOS and an installer for Windows. |
Read from rnote.flxzt.net on Oct 9, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Rnote before you buy.
Rnote alternatives
- Rnote vs Saber
Free plan · from $5/mo
- Rnote vs Stylus Labs Write
Free plan · from $8.99 one-time
Common questions
Is Rnote free?
Yes. Rnote is free to use. The whole app is free software under the GPL-3.0-or-later license. The project takes donations through GitHub Sponsors and Liberapay.
How much does Rnote cost?
Rnote lists one plan. Rnote: $0. Prices were read from rnote.flxzt.net on Oct 9, 2026.
What platforms does Rnote work on?
Rnote is available on Linux, macOS and Windows.
Does Rnote have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Rnote is listed for Linux, macOS and Windows.
Does Rnote have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Rnote is listed for Linux, macOS and Windows.
Is Rnote open source?
Yes. Rnote is open source, according to its own site.
Who makes Rnote?
Rnote is made by Felix Zwettler.
What are the alternatives to Rnote?
The closest alternatives to Rnote in our directory are Xournal++, Saber, Linwood Butterfly and Stylus Labs Write. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Rnote.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 9, 2026.