The Tolaria Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Tolaria 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.
Tolaria
The Insider’s Guide
Free, open-source desktop app for Markdown knowledge bases
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among note-taking apps, read from Tolaria’s own pages.
Made by Luca, founder of Refactoring · checked Oct 6, 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 Tolaria’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Tolaria’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 6, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 72 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade
Tolaria is a free, open-source desktop app for managing a knowledge base of Markdown files. Each note is a plain file with YAML frontmatter in a folder on your disk, organized by types and relationships rather than by folder, and a built-in Git client handles history and sync through a remote of your choice. It can also run local coding agents or chat with AI models over your notes, and it needs no account.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Tolaria, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No rating on record, and the main features take wiring up.
- 1
Best for Markdown notes kept in Git, with AI agents on hand
If Git means nothing to you, look elsewhere.
- 2
It is free
Tolaria has no paid plan at all. Free and open source under AGPL-3.0-or-later, with no paid plans, subscription or account. Coding agents and hosted AI models are set up with your own tools and API keys.
- 3
It runs on 3 platforms
macOS, Windows and Linux.
- 4
Plain Markdown vaults
A vault is a folder of Markdown files with YAML frontmatter. Attachments, type definitions and saved views are files too, and there is no database.
- 5
Block editor with wikilinks
A block-based editor with slash commands, wikilink autocomplete, a raw Markdown mode, whiteboards and media previews that saves to Markdown.
- 6
Types and relationships
Notes are grouped by a type field rather than by folder, and frontmatter fields holding wikilinks become relationships with computed inverses and backlinks.
- 7
A 2.8 GPA, above 72 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
Tolaria is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Tolaria at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- Luca, founder of Refactoring
- Category
- Note-Taking Apps
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for Markdown notes kept in Git, with AI agents on hand
Tolaria is a free, open-source desktop app for Markdown notes grouped by type and relationship rather than folder, with Git built in and room for coding agents like Claude Code. There's no phone or web app, no sync beyond a Git remote, Windows and Linux support is called early, hosted AI models need your own API key, and a spreadsheet note holds one sheet. If Git means nothing to you, look elsewhere.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free and open source under AGPL-3.0-or-later, with no paid plans, no subscription and no account, against $6 a month for the middle of this category. The only bills are ones you bring yourself, because hosted AI models need your own API key. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The full desktop app is free, with the Git client, the AI panel and the MCP server included. There's no paid tier to hold anything back for. |
| Features | C | The editor has slash commands, wikilinks, whiteboards, types instead of folders, frontmatter links that become relationships with backlinks, and notes that open as a spreadsheet. But the docs name the holes themselves. No sync service of its own, no mobile or web app, and one sheet per spreadsheet note. |
| Ease of use | C | No rating on record, and the main features take wiring up. Sync means connecting a Git remote and leaning on your system's Git sign-in, coding agents are installed separately, and hosted models want your own API key. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Computers only: macOS, Windows and Linux, and the docs call Windows and Linux support early. No phone app and no web app. It does talk to any Git remote, to Claude Code and Codex, and to Ollama, LM Studio, OpenAI and Anthropic models. |
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 Tolaria is for
- Fits if you want notes as plain Markdown files on your own disk, tracked in Git
- Works for people who run CLI coding agents and want them working on their notes
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you need your notes on a phone, as no mobile or web app is offered
- Not for you if Git means nothing to you, because a Git remote is the only way it syncs
- Tight if you're on Windows or Linux, where the docs call support early
- Watch out: coding agents are installed separately with their own sign-in, and hosted models need your own API key
- Too light for multi-tab spreadsheets, since a spreadsheet note holds a single sheet
Good to know
Good for
- People who want notes kept as plain Markdown files on their own disk
- Developers comfortable using Git for history and sync
- Users of CLI coding agents who want them to work on their notes
Worth knowing
- Desktop only: no mobile or web app is offered, and the docs call Windows and Linux support early, with macOS as the primary target.
- There is no sync service of its own; syncing between devices means connecting a Git remote and relying on your system's Git authentication.
- Coding agents are installed separately and keep their own sign-in, and hosted model providers need your own API key.
- A spreadsheet note holds a single sheet; several tabs inside one note are not supported.
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
Tolaria is free to use.
The only bills are ones you bring yourself, because hosted AI models need your own API key.
Free
$0
The full desktop app for macOS, Windows and Linux, including the Git client, the AI panel and the MCP server.
The free plan
Free and open source under AGPL-3.0-or-later, with no paid plans, subscription or account. Coding agents and hosted AI models are set up with your own tools and API keys.
Read from tolaria.md on Oct 6, 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
Free, open-source desktop app for Markdown knowledge bases. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, works offline, local-first, AI features, notes, Markdown, linked notes.
No sync service of its own, no mobile or web app, and one sheet per spreadsheet note.
- Plain Markdown vaults
- A vault is a folder of Markdown files with YAML frontmatter. Attachments, type definitions and saved views are files too, and there is no database.
- Block editor with wikilinks
- A block-based editor with slash commands, wikilink autocomplete, a raw Markdown mode, whiteboards and media previews that saves to Markdown.
- Types and relationships
- Notes are grouped by a type field rather than by folder, and frontmatter fields holding wikilinks become relationships with computed inverses and backlinks.
- Built-in Git client
- Review diffs, commit, pull, push and resolve conflicts inside the app, with history for the whole vault and for each note. Sync runs through any Git remote.
- Coding agents and direct models
- The AI panel runs local CLI agents such as Claude Code and Codex with tools to edit the vault, or chats with Ollama, LM Studio, OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini or OpenRouter models.
- Spreadsheet notes
- A note can open as a single-sheet spreadsheet with formulas, stored as CSV-like text in the same Markdown file so it stays readable and diffable in Git.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
- Git
- Claude Code
- Codex
- GitHub Copilot
- Ollama
- LM Studio
- OpenAI
- Anthropic
Tolaria is made by Luca, founder of Refactoring.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
72/147
Other note-taking apps it is graded above
Tolaria's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 72 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 34.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 100 of 147) and worst on features (C, above 2).
Tolaria has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 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. Tolaria’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
- 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. Tolaria 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
Tolaria is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
What you could make
- Notes, Markdown and linked notes: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
- It plugs into other products, Git, Claude Code and Codex among them.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
What this rests on. Tolaria’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
Obsidian, Logseq, SilverBullet, Octarine and Notion
The 5 tools Tolaria is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.6GPA
Obsidian
Free plan · from $4/mo
Markdown note-taking app that keeps your files on your device.
- Only Obsidian lists iOS and Android apps.
- Only Obsidian lists a browser extension.
- Tolaria is open source, according to its own site.
- 3.0GPA
Logseq
Free plan · from $5/mo
Open-source outliner for linked notes stored as local files.
- Only Logseq lists a web app.
- Only Logseq lists iOS and Android apps.
- Logseq also covers whiteboard and daily notes.
- 2.8GPA
SilverBullet
Free plan · from $50/yr
Scriptable Markdown knowledge base, self-hosted or on desktop.
- Only SilverBullet lists a web app.
- SilverBullet is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- SilverBullet also covers wiki.
- 2.8GPA
Octarine
Free plan · from $79 one-time
Local Markdown notes app with daily notes, views and optional AI.
- Only Octarine lists a browser extension.
- Tolaria is open source, according to its own site.
- Octarine can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 3.2GPA
Notion
Free plan · from $10/mo
Workspace for docs, wikis, databases and projects with built-in AI.
- Only Tolaria lists a Linux app.
- Only Notion lists a web app.
- Only Notion lists iOS and Android apps.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
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 Tolaria free?
Yes. Tolaria is free to use.
How much does Tolaria cost?
Tolaria lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Tolaria work on?
Tolaria is available on macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does Tolaria have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Tolaria is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does Tolaria have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Tolaria is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.
Is Tolaria open source?
Yes. Tolaria is open source, according to its own site.
Does Tolaria 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 Tolaria integrate with?
Tolaria's listing names Git, Claude Code, Codex, GitHub Copilot, Ollama, LM Studio, OpenAI and Anthropic.
Who makes Tolaria?
Tolaria is made by Luca, founder of Refactoring.
What are the alternatives to Tolaria?
The closest alternatives to Tolaria in our directory are Obsidian, Logseq, SilverBullet, Octarine and Notion.
How does Tolaria compare with other note-taking apps?
Tolaria's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 72 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 34.
Is Tolaria good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Tolaria A for value for money. Tolaria has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Tolaria?
Tolaria is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Tolaria’s own pages on Oct 6, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Tolaria's own pages on 6 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-07-22.
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 Luca, founder of Refactoring. Prices change, so check tolaria.md before you buy.
- tolaria.md/
- tolaria.md/start/install
- tolaria.md/download/
- tolaria.md/reference/supported-platforms
- tolaria.md/concepts/vaults
- tolaria.md/concepts/git
- tolaria.md/concepts/types
- tolaria.md/concepts/relationships
- tolaria.md/concepts/spreadsheets
- tolaria.md/concepts/ai
- tolaria.md/guides/configure-ai-models
- raw.githubusercontent.com/refactoringhq/tolaria/main/README.md
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
- Tolaria, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/tolaria
- 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, "Tolaria: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/tolaria
Know someone choosing between note-taking apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/tolaria/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded note-taking apps after Tolaria, 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 Tolaria’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. Tolaria is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Luca, founder of Refactoring. Prices and plans change: check tolaria.md before you buy.