# Tangent Notes

> Open-source Markdown notes app that maps the path between notes

Tangent is a free, open-source notes app for Mac, Windows and Linux that reads and writes Markdown files directly on your computer. Notes are joined with wiki-style links, and the app keeps the trail you follow as sliding panels and as a map that builds itself while you write. It was inspired by Obsidian, is released under the Apache 2.0 license, and is distributed as an open alpha.

- **Category:** Note-Taking Apps
- **Made by:** Taylor Hadden
- **Website:** https://www.tangentnotes.com
- **Runs on:** macOS, Windows, Linux
- **Facts last checked:** Oct 9, 2026

## Pricing

Tangent Notes is free to use.

- **Pricing model:** Free
- **Free plan:** The whole app is free. The site describes it as open source under the Apache 2.0 license and says it will always be free.
- **Free trial:** None listed.

| Plan | Price | What you get |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tangent | $0 | The full desktop app for Mac, Windows and Linux, offered as an open alpha. Linux builds are also on Flathub. |

Read from https://www.tangentnotes.com/ on Oct 9, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Tangent Notes before buying.

## Key features

- **Thread View:** As you follow and create links, the notes behind you stay open as horizontally sliding panels, so you can move back and forth along the path you took.
- **Map View:** A branching map of nodes and connections is built automatically from your writing and navigation, giving an overview of where you have been.
- **Markdown styled as you type:** Markup is hidden once you move on and reappears when you return. Headers, highlights, lists, YAML front matter, LaTeX math, Mermaid diagrams and highlighted code blocks are supported.
- **Wiki links and backlinks:** Double-bracket links connect notes by filename with autocomplete, and each note knows what links to it. Links in notes that come from Obsidian keep working.
- **Tags, to-dos and queries:** Notes take nested tags and to-do checkboxes, and a custom query language finds notes by links, tags, to-dos or text. Queries can be saved and reused inside other queries.
- **Keyboard control and focus mode:** Nearly every action has a customizable shortcut, with a command palette for the others. Focus mode narrows the view to one note, paragraph or sentence.

## Good for

- Writers who follow links from note to note and want to keep their place
- Obsidian users who want another editor for the same linked files
- People who want Markdown notes with no account or server

## Worth knowing

- Desktop only: iOS and Android support is listed under "Much Later" on the roadmap.
- The download page calls the app an open alpha, and the roadmap says it is still in active development.
- There is no built-in sync or collaboration; the site points to Git, iCloud, Drive or Dropbox for syncing the files.
- Export to HTML or simplified Markdown is still on the roadmap.

**Tags:** Open source, Local-first, Works offline, Notes, Markdown, Linked notes, Keyboard-first

## Alternatives

- [Obsidian](https://toolgpa.com/tools/obsidian): Markdown note-taking app that keeps your files on your device. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/obsidian-vs-tangent-notes)
- [Logseq](https://toolgpa.com/tools/logseq): Open-source outliner for linked notes stored as local files. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/logseq-vs-tangent-notes)
- [Octarine](https://toolgpa.com/tools/octarine): Local Markdown notes app with daily notes, views and optional AI. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/octarine-vs-tangent-notes)
- [The Archive](https://toolgpa.com/tools/the-archive): Plain-text note-taking app for Mac built around Zettelkasten. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/tangent-notes-vs-the-archive)
- [Joplin](https://toolgpa.com/tools/joplin): Open source Markdown notes with sync through a service you choose. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/joplin-vs-tangent-notes)

## Sources

The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 9, 2026:

- https://www.tangentnotes.com/
- https://www.tangentnotes.com/Download
- https://www.tangentnotes.com/Features
- https://www.tangentnotes.com/Roadmap
- https://www.tangentnotes.com/About
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/suchnsuch/Tangent/main/README.md

Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/tangent-notes
Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).