The Saber Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Saber 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.
Saber
The Insider’s Guide
Open-source handwritten notes app for phones, tablets and PCs
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among note-taking apps, read from Saber’s own pages.
Made by Adil Hanney · 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 Saber’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Saber’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
Saber is a free, open-source app for taking handwritten notes on Android, iOS, macOS, Windows and Linux. It is known for a highlighter that stays one even color where strokes overlap and for a dark mode that inverts the notes themselves, including images and PDFs. Notes are encrypted on the device and sync through a Nextcloud server: the developer's own, another provider's, or one you host. Extra storage on the official server is paid for through sponsorship.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Saber, taken from its own pages and our grades.
On Linux he points you at the Flatpak, because the AppImage doesn't work everywhere.
- 1
Best for free handwritten notes on every device you own
Saber is a free, open-source handwriting app for Android, iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows and Linux, with a highlighter that stays one color where strokes overlap and a dark mode that inverts notes and PDFs.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at Any amount per month for 10 GB of sync storage; $5 per month for 50 GB.
- 3
There is a free plan
The app is free on every platform, and each account on the official Saber Nextcloud server gets 5 GB of storage by default.
- 4
It runs on 5 platforms
Android, iOS, macOS, Windows and Linux.
- 5
Highlighter that keeps its color
The highlighter does not darken where a stroke crosses itself, and it is drawn underneath the ink, so the writing below stays clear.
- 6
Dark mode that inverts notes
Dark mode darkens the notes as well as the interface, giving light ink on a dark page. Images and PDFs are inverted too, so printouts and textbooks match.
- 7
Nested folders
Notes are organized in folders that can be nested without limit, and the most recent notes are listed on the home screen.
- 8
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.
- 9
Your call
A notes app at its plainest is text in folders with a search box.
Saber at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from Any amount per month for 10 GB of sync storage; $5 per month for 50 GB
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
- Made by
- Adil Hanney
- Category
- Note-Taking Apps
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for free handwritten notes on every device you own
Saber is a free, open-source handwriting app for Android, iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows and Linux, with a highlighter that stays one color where strokes overlap and a dark mode that inverts notes and PDFs. Sync needs a Nextcloud account, extra storage means sponsoring on GitHub and emailing the developer, the server owner can see metadata, and there's no web version or handwriting search.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | The app is free outright on every platform, where paid plans in this category sit at $6 a month in the middle. The only thing to pay for is sync storage on Saber's own server: sponsor any amount a month for 10 GB, or $5 a month for 50 GB. Students get the 10 GB plan free. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The full app is free on all five platforms with nothing held back, and each account on the official server comes with 5 GB of sync storage. |
| Features | C | A highlighter that doesn't darken where it crosses itself, a dark mode that inverts notes, images and PDFs, folders nested as deep as you like, and notes encrypted before upload. That's the handwriting job done, but it's a smaller job, and the listing shows no handwriting search, audio or templates. |
| Ease of use | C | No rating on record, and the listing shows an account to connect: sync only happens once you have a Nextcloud server, and a storage upgrade means sponsoring on GitHub and then emailing the developer by hand. On Linux he points you at the Flatpak, because the AppImage doesn't work everywhere. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Android from Google Play and F-Droid, iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows and Linux, so phones and computers both. No web version at all, though, and an A wants the browser alongside the apps. Nextcloud is the one integration. |
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 Saber is for
- Fits if you write by hand on a tablet and want the same notes on your laptop
- Works for people who'd rather choose the server their notes sync through
Who it is not for
- Not for you if you don't want a Nextcloud account, because sync needs one
- Tight if you need more storage in a hurry, as you sponsor on GitHub and then email the developer to be upgraded
- Skip it if metadata worries you, since the server owner can see sign-up details, devices and the size of each note
- Skip it if you want a web version, handwriting search, audio or templates, as the listing shows none of them
- Watch out: on Linux the AppImage doesn't work on all systems, so the developer points you to the Flatpak
Good to know
Good for
- Students and others who take notes by hand on a tablet
- Marking up PDFs and printouts in a dark room
- People who want an open-source handwriting app on every device
Worth knowing
- Syncing needs an account on a Nextcloud server: the official Saber one, another provider's, or your own.
- Extra storage is bought by sponsoring the developer on GitHub Sponsors, then emailing him to have the account upgraded by hand.
- The server owner cannot read notes but can see sign-up details, connecting devices and metadata such as the size of each note.
- On Linux the developer recommends the Flatpak, since the AppImage does not work on all systems.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$5/mo
To start. There is a free plan too
Saber has a free plan. Paid plans start at Any amount per month for 10 GB of sync storage; $5 per month for 50 GB.
Free
$0
The full app, plus 5 GB of storage for every account on the official Saber Nextcloud server.
Standard
Any amount
per month, as a GitHub Sponsors sponsorship
10 GB of storage on the Saber server for a monthly sponsorship of any size. Free for students who email proof of status.
Premium
$5
or more per month, as a GitHub Sponsors sponsorship
50 GB of storage on the Saber server.
Hoarder
$7
or more per month, as a GitHub Sponsors sponsorship
100 GB of storage on the Saber server.
The free plan
The app is free on every platform, and each account on the official Saber Nextcloud server gets 5 GB of storage by default.
Read from raw.githubusercontent.com on Oct 9, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Education
Standard storage plan free for students
The pricing page gives students the 10 GB Standard plan free. They email the developer their Nextcloud username and proof of student status, such as a UNiDAYS ID.
Stated on raw.githubusercontent.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
5
Places it runs: macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android
Open-source handwritten notes app for phones, tablets and PCs. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, self-hostable, notes.
That's the handwriting job done, but it's a smaller job, and the listing shows no handwriting search, audio or templates.
- Highlighter that keeps its color
- The highlighter does not darken where a stroke crosses itself, and it is drawn underneath the ink, so the writing below stays clear.
- Dark mode that inverts notes
- Dark mode darkens the notes as well as the interface, giving light ink on a dark page. Images and PDFs are inverted too, so printouts and textbooks match.
- Nested folders
- Notes are organized in folders that can be nested without limit, and the most recent notes are listed on the home screen.
- Encrypted sync
- Notes are encrypted with a randomly generated key before upload, so the server owner cannot read them. The key stays in secure storage on the device.
- Choice of Nextcloud server
- Sync runs on Nextcloud: the official Saber server hosted in the Netherlands, another Nextcloud provider, or a server you host yourself.
- Apps on five platforms
- Saber is on Google Play and F-Droid for Android, the App Store for iPhone, iPad and Mac, Flathub or an AppImage for Linux, and has a Windows installer.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
- Nextcloud
Saber is made by Adil Hanney.
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
Saber'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).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 148 note-taking apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Saber’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 62 of 147
- AFree plan and trialAbove 100 of 147
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 147
- CEase of useAbove 5 of 147
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 86 of 147
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.
Your call
A notes app at its plainest is text in folders with a search box.
You could make the core of Saber for yourself: notes. What you would give up is listed below. Whether that is worth the price is your call. Saber is open source, so there is a third way: take its code and run it yourself.
What you could make
- Notes: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
What this rests on. Saber’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
Rnote, Xournal++, Linwood Butterfly, Squid and Goodnotes
The 5 tools Saber is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.0GPA
Rnote
Free
Open-source app for sketching and handwritten notes with a stylus.
- Only Saber lists Android and iOS apps.
- Saber is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 2.8GPA
Xournal++
Free
Open-source handwriting notes and PDF annotation for desktop.
- 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 Saber lists an iOS app.
- Only Linwood Butterfly lists a web app.
- Linwood Butterfly also covers whiteboard and templates.
- 2.0GPA
Squid
Free plan · from $1.00
Handwritten notes and PDF markup for Android and Chromebooks.
- Only Saber lists iOS, macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Saber is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Squid also covers whiteboard.
- 3.6GPA
Goodnotes
Free plan · from $11.99/yr
Handwritten notes, PDF markup and whiteboards with an AI assistant.
- Only Saber lists a Linux app.
- Only Goodnotes lists a web app.
- Saber is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
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 Saber free?
Saber has a free plan. The app is free on every platform, and each account on the official Saber Nextcloud server gets 5 GB of storage by default.
How much does Saber cost?
Saber lists 4 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does Saber work on?
Saber is available on Android, iOS, macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does Saber offer any discounts?
Saber publicly lists the following: Standard storage plan free for students.
Is Saber open source?
Yes. Saber is open source, according to its own site.
What does Saber integrate with?
Saber's listing names Nextcloud. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Does Saber have a student discount?
Standard storage plan free for students. The pricing page gives students the 10 GB Standard plan free.
Who makes Saber?
Saber is made by Adil Hanney.
What are the alternatives to Saber?
The closest alternatives to Saber in our directory are Rnote, Xournal++, Linwood Butterfly, Squid and Goodnotes.
How does Saber compare with other note-taking apps?
Saber's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 107 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 21.
Could I make my own version of Saber?
A notes app at its plainest is text in folders with a search box. You could make the core of Saber for yourself: notes.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Saber’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 Saber's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-09-04.
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 Adil Hanney. Prices change, so check saber.adil.hanney.org 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
- Saber, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/saber
- 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, "Saber: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/saber
Know someone choosing between note-taking apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/saber/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded note-taking apps after Saber, 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 Saber’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. Saber is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Adil Hanney. Prices and plans change: check saber.adil.hanney.org before you buy.