The Rnote Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Rnote 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.
Rnote
The Insider’s Guide
Open-source app for sketching and handwritten notes with a stylus
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among note-taking apps, read from Rnote’s own pages.
Made by Felix Zwettler · checked Oct 9, 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 Rnote’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Rnote’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.0
GPA, above 107 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade
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.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Rnote, taken from its own pages and our grades.
There's no phone, tablet or web app, and the Mac build comes from a community contributor on a separate GitLab project.
- 1
Best for handwritten notes with a stylus on Linux
Its own site warns the file format is unstable and may break between versions.
- 2
It is free
Rnote has no paid plan at all. The whole app is free software under the GPL-3.0-or-later license. The project takes donations through GitHub Sponsors and Liberapay.
- 3
It runs on 3 platforms
Linux, macOS and Windows.
- 4
Stylus-focused input
Pressure-sensitive stylus input with several configurable stroke styles, stylus button shortcuts that can be reassigned, and optional pen sounds.
- 5
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.
- 6
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.
- 7
A 3.0 GPA, above 107 of 147
That is against the other note-taking apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Rnote is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Rnote at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- Felix Zwettler
- Category
- Note-Taking Apps
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for handwritten notes with a stylus on Linux
Rnote is a free, open-source app for handwriting and sketching with a stylus on Linux, macOS and Windows, on fixed pages or an endless canvas, with PDF and image import. Its own site warns the file format is unstable and may break between versions. There's no phone, tablet or web app, and the Mac build comes from a community contributor on a separate GitLab project.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free outright under the GPL-3.0-or-later licence, with no paid version at all, where paid plans in this category sit at $6 a month in the middle. If you want to chip in, donations go through GitHub Sponsors or Liberapay. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The whole app is free on Linux, macOS and Windows, with no cap on anything. Nothing is held back, because there's no paid plan to hold it for. |
| Features | C | It does handwriting fully: pressure-sensitive strokes, a shape tool, PDF and image import, tabs, pages that can be fixed, continuous or infinite, and export to SVG, PDF and Xopp. But that's a smaller job than note-taking, and its own site warns the file format is still unstable between versions. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record, so we go by the listing: install the Flatpak or the Windows installer and start drawing, with no account and nothing to set up. The Mac route is more roundabout, as a community contributor packages that bundle on a separate GitLab project. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Computers only: Linux, macOS and Windows. No phone or tablet app, no web version, and no integrations or API on record, which is odd for a handwriting app since the stylus is usually on a tablet. |
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 Rnote is for
- Fits if you write by hand on a Linux laptop or with a drawing tablet
- Works for marking up a PDF or a picture by hand and exporting it again
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you take notes on an iPad or an Android tablet, as there's no app for either and no web version
- Not for you if old notebooks must open for years, since the file format may break between versions
- Watch out: the macOS bundle is packaged by a community contributor and downloaded from a separate GitLab project
- Tight if you want your notes to sync or connect to anything, as there are no integrations or API on record
Good to know
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.
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
Rnote is free to use.
If you want to chip in, donations go through GitHub Sponsors or Liberapay.
Rnote
$0
The full app as a Flatpak for Linux, an app bundle for macOS and an installer for Windows.
The 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.
Read from rnote.flxzt.net on Oct 9, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: macOS, Windows and Linux
Open-source app for sketching and handwritten notes with a stylus. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, notes.
But that's a smaller job than note-taking, and its own site warns the file format is still unstable between versions.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Rnote is made by Felix Zwettler.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
107/147
Other note-taking apps it is graded above
Rnote's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 107 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 21.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 100 of 147) and worst on features (C, above 2).
Rnote 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 148 note-taking apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Rnote’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 62 of 147
- AFree plan and trialAbove 100 of 147
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 147
- BEase of useAbove 47 of 147
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 31 of 147
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 103 note-taking apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Rnote 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
Rnote 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 107 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade.
What you could make
- Notes: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
What this rests on. Rnote’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
Xournal++, Saber, Linwood Butterfly and Stylus Labs Write
The 4 tools Rnote is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
Xournal++
Free
- 3.0GPA
Saber
Free plan · from $5/mo
Open-source handwritten notes app for phones, tablets and PCs.
- Only Saber lists Android and iOS apps.
- Saber is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 3.2GPA
Linwood Butterfly
Free
Open-source handwriting and sketching app with an infinite canvas.
- Only Linwood Butterfly lists a web app.
- Only Linwood Butterfly lists an Android app.
- Linwood Butterfly is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 3.2GPA
Stylus Labs Write
Free plan · from $8.99 one-time
Open-source handwriting word processor for desktop and mobile.
- Only Stylus Labs Write lists iOS and Android apps.
- Stylus Labs Write also covers whiteboard.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
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 Rnote free?
Yes. Rnote is free to use.
How much does Rnote cost?
Rnote lists one plan. Rnote: $0.
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.
How does Rnote compare with other note-taking apps?
Rnote's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 107 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 21.
Is Rnote good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Rnote A for value for money. Rnote has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Rnote?
Rnote 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 107 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Rnote’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Rnote's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-03-17.
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 Felix Zwettler. Prices change, so check rnote.flxzt.net 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
- Rnote, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/rnote
- 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, "Rnote: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/rnote
Know someone choosing between note-taking apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/rnote/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded note-taking apps after Rnote, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Note-Taking Apps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 148 note-taking apps we grade, compared
- Microsoft OneNote Insider's GuideMicrosoft's free digital notebook for typed, inked and audio notes3.8 GPA
- Goodnotes Insider's GuideHandwritten notes, PDF markup and whiteboards with an AI assistant3.6 GPA
- Joplin Insider's GuideOpen source Markdown notes with sync through a service you choose3.6 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 Rnote’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. Rnote is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Felix Zwettler. Prices and plans change: check rnote.flxzt.net before you buy.