Tinderbox
Mac tool for mapping, analyzing and sharing notes
What is Tinderbox?
Tinderbox is a Mac application from Eastgate Systems for making, visualizing and analyzing notes. The same notes can be viewed as maps, outlines, timelines and charts, and agents scan a document continuously to gather the notes that match criteria you set. Documents are XML files kept on your own computer, and the app is sold as a one-time license that includes a year of free updates.
Tinderbox is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $289 one-time license, with a year of free updates. See every plan
Good for
- Writers, researchers and analysts working through large sets of notes
- People who want several visual views of the same material
- Mac users who prefer files kept on their own computer
Worth knowing
- Mac only: it requires macOS 12 or later, and iPhone and iPad use relies on sharing notes with other apps.
- The license includes one year of free updates; upgrading later from any previous version is listed at $98 and adds another year.
- The free demo does everything the full version does but can only make about thirty notes.
Key features
- Maps, outlines, timelines and charts
- The same notes can be shown as a spatial map, an outline, a timeline or a chart, so structure emerges as notes are arranged, colored and linked.
- Agents
- Agents scan the document continuously and collect notes that meet your criteria, such as overdue tasks or a topic, and can feed project dashboards.
- Prototypes and the attribute browser
- A note inherits from its prototype unless you say otherwise, so one change updates every note based on it. The attribute browser breaks notes down by a chosen category.
- AI connections
- Built-in recognition finds addresses, names and organizations in notes, and a bridge to AI models can supply them with resources and prompts kept in a Hints folder.
- Open files and flexible export
- Documents are XML files stored on your Mac rather than on a server, and export produces HTML, XML, RSS, OPML and other formats.
- Works with other note apps
- Notes can be shared with Apple Notes, Simplenote, Evernote and DEVONthink for use on iPhone and iPad, and files sync through Dropbox or iCloud Drive.
Tinderbox pricing
- Starts at
- $289 one-time license, with a year of free updates
- Free plan
- None
- Free trial
- Free demo with every feature, limited to about thirty notes
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Tinderbox | $289one-time license, with a year of free updates | Tinderbox 11.8 for Mac. The order page also showed a $217 SummerFest sale price, but the checkout listed no discount when checked. |
| Household | $325one-time license for up to five people | Family pack for up to five people living in the same household, for use on any of their computers. |
| Ten Pack | $645one-time ten-user license | Aimed at schools, libraries and work teams. 50- and 100-workstation licenses are listed at $1,595 and $2,695. |
Read from eastgate.com on Oct 6, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Tinderbox before you buy.
Ways to pay less
- Other savingsHousehold and multi-user licenses
A Household license covers up to five people living together for $325, and a ten-user license costs $645, against $289 for a single license.
Stated on eastgate.com - Other savingsUpdate subscription with a cheaper first year
An update subscription renews the yearly updates automatically. Its first year is listed at $83, with later years at the regular upgrade price, currently $98.
Stated on eastgate.com
Works with
- DEVONthink
- Apple Notes
- Evernote
- Simplenote
- Dropbox
- iCloud Drive
Tinderbox alternatives
- Tinderbox vs DEVONthink
Free trial · from $99 one-time
- Tinderbox vs Curio
Free plan · from $5/mo
- Tinderbox vs TheBrain
Free plan · from $15/mo
- Tinderbox vs Heptabase
Free trial · from $8.99/mo
- Tinderbox vs Obsidian
Free plan · from $4/mo
Common questions
Is Tinderbox free?
No, Tinderbox is a paid product, but you can try it first. Free demo with every feature, limited to about thirty notes.
How much does Tinderbox cost?
Tinderbox lists 3 plans. Tinderbox: $289 one-time license, with a year of free updates. Household: $325 one-time license for up to five people. Ten Pack: $645 one-time ten-user license. Prices were read from eastgate.com on Oct 6, 2026.
What platforms does Tinderbox work on?
Tinderbox is available on macOS.
Does Tinderbox offer any discounts?
Tinderbox publicly lists the following: Household and multi-user licenses; Update subscription with a cheaper first year.
Does Tinderbox have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Tinderbox is listed for macOS.
Does Tinderbox have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Tinderbox is listed for macOS.
Is Tinderbox open source?
Tinderbox is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 6, 2026.
Does Tinderbox 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.
What does Tinderbox integrate with?
Tinderbox's listing names DEVONthink, Apple Notes, Evernote, Simplenote, Dropbox and iCloud Drive. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Tinderbox?
Tinderbox is made by Eastgate Systems, Inc.
What are the alternatives to Tinderbox?
The closest alternatives to Tinderbox in our directory are DEVONthink, Curio, TheBrain, Heptabase and Obsidian. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Tinderbox.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 6, 2026.