The UpNote Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about UpNote 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.
UpNote
The Insider’s Guide
Cross-platform notes app with a lifetime purchase option
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among note-taking apps, read from UpNote’s own pages.
Made by UpNote Pte. Ltd. · checked Oct 5, 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 UpNote’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on UpNote’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 5, 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
UpNote is a note-taking app for Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android with a rich text editor, Markdown shortcuts, nested notebooks and hashtags. Notes sync automatically between devices and stay available offline, and browser extensions clip web pages into notes. The free version is limited to 50 notes; Premium removes the limit for $1.99 a month or a one-time lifetime payment.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about UpNote, taken from its own pages and our grades.
- 1
Best for paying once for notes on every device
If you need encryption or a browser version, look elsewhere.
- 2
Paid plans start at $1.99 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $1.99 per month, or $39.99 once for lifetime (Premium).
- 3
There is a free plan
Free to use and sync across all your devices, limited to 50 notes with basic features. Attachments, tables, locks and export need Premium.
- 4
It runs on 5 platforms
macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android, with a browser extension too.
- 5
Notebooks, hashtags and Quick Access
Notes are organized with nested notebooks and hashtags, can be pinned to the top of a list or added to Quick Access, and are filtered by matching keywords.
- 6
Rich text and Markdown editor
The editor offers rich text options, Markdown support, lists, images, links, attachments, quotes, code blocks, text highlighting and collapsible sections.
- 7
Sync and offline use
Notes sync automatically across devices after you sign in and can be read and written without a connection. Without an account, notes stay on the device.
- 8
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.
- 9
Your call
A notes app at its plainest is text in folders with a search box.
UpNote at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $1.99 per month, or $39.99 once for lifetime (Premium)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension
- Made by
- UpNote Pte. Ltd., since 2017
- Category
- Note-Taking Apps
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
- Store rating
- 4.7 on the App Store, 1,065 ratings
The report card
Best for paying once for notes on every device
UpNote is a notes app for Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone and Android, sold at $1.99 a month or $39.99 once. The free version stops at 50 notes, with attachments, tables, locks and export on Premium, there's no web app or end-to-end encryption, attachments stop at 20 MB with images shrunk, and Premium can't be bought from the Windows or Linux apps. If you need encryption or a browser version, look elsewhere.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Premium is $1.99 a month, where the cheapest quarter of this category starts at $2.99 and the middle at $6. Or $39.99 once for life, which is less than a year of the typical rival. One purchase covers every device you sign in on. |
| Free plan and trial | C | Free syncs across all your devices. The cap is the problem: 50 notes, and attachments, tables, locks and export all sit on Premium. Fifty notes goes quickly. |
| Features | C | The everyday stuff is here: rich text with Markdown shortcuts, nested notebooks, hashtags, a clipper for Chrome, Safari and Firefox, version history, local backups, locks and focus mode. Its own FAQ names the holes: attachments stop at 20 MB, images get shrunk on upload, and there's no end-to-end encryption. |
| Ease of use | B | 4.69 on the App Store from about 1,100 ratings, which just misses our top mark. It's clearly built for people moving over from Evernote, Apple Notes, Bear or Simplenote, and without an account notes simply stay on the device. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone and Android, plus browser extensions for clipping. But there's no web app, and the listing shows no integrations and no API at all. |
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 UpNote is for
- Fits if you'd rather pay $39.99 once than a subscription
- Works for a mix of devices, like a Windows laptop and an iPhone
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you need end-to-end encryption, as notes are only encrypted in transit and at rest
- Tight if you're staying free, because 50 notes is the cap and attachments, tables, locks and export are paid
- Not for you if you attach big files, since attachments stop at 20 MB and images get shrunk
- Watch out: Premium can't be bought in the Windows or Linux apps, only on Mac, iOS or Android
- Too light for working in a browser or linking other tools, as there's no web app, integrations or API on record
Good to know
Good for
- People who prefer a one-time lifetime purchase to a subscription
- One notes app across Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android
- Moving notes over from Evernote, Apple Notes, Bear or Simplenote
Worth knowing
- The free version is limited to 50 notes; attachments, tables, locks and export need Premium.
- There is no end-to-end encryption: notes sync through Firebase and are encrypted in transit and at rest.
- Premium cannot be bought in the Windows or Linux apps; it is purchased on Mac, iOS or Android and then syncs to your account.
- Attachments are limited to 20 MB, and image resolution is reduced automatically on upload.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$1.99
A month to start. There is a free plan too
UpNote has a free plan. Paid plans start at $1.99 per month, or $39.99 once for lifetime (Premium).
One purchase covers every device you sign in on.
Free
$0
Up to 50 notes with basic features, synced across all your devices.
Premium
$1.99
per month
Unlimited notes, attachments, tables and code, locks for notes and notebooks, themes and notebook covers, and export to text, PDF, HTML and Markdown.
Premium Lifetime
$39.99
one-time purchase
The same Premium features for a single payment. One purchase covers all your devices once you sign in to your UpNote account.
The free plan
Free to use and sync across all your devices, limited to 50 notes with basic features. Attachments, tables, locks and export need Premium.
Read from getupnote.com on Oct 5, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Lifetime license
Lifetime Premium for a one-time $39.99
Premium can be bought once for $39.99 instead of $1.99 a month. UpNote says existing lifetime licenses will still be honored if its pricing model changes.
Stated on getupnote.com
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for “Premium monthly subscription”, against $1.99 in the United States, in dollars at the day’s rate. The four cheapest and the four dearest of 11.
| Country | Price there | In dollars | Against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philippines | ₱ 99.00 | $1.58 | 21% less |
| Indonesia | Rp 29ribu | $1.62 | 18% less |
| Turkey | ₺79,99 | $1.63 | 18% less |
| Brazil | R$ 9,90 | $1.98 | about the same |
| Mexico | $39.00 | $2.14 | 8% more |
| Germany | 1,99 € | $2.23 | 12% more |
| South Africa | R39.99 | $2.42 | 22% more |
| United Kingdom | £1.99 | $2.63 | 32% more |
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
6
Places it runs: macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android and Browser extension
Cross-platform notes app with a lifetime purchase option. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: works offline, one-time purchase, notes, Markdown, linked notes, web clipper, templates.
Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone and Android, plus browser extensions for clipping.
- Notebooks, hashtags and Quick Access
- Notes are organized with nested notebooks and hashtags, can be pinned to the top of a list or added to Quick Access, and are filtered by matching keywords.
- Rich text and Markdown editor
- The editor offers rich text options, Markdown support, lists, images, links, attachments, quotes, code blocks, text highlighting and collapsible sections.
- Sync and offline use
- Notes sync automatically across devices after you sign in and can be read and written without a connection. Without an account, notes stay on the device.
- Web Clipper
- Browser extensions for Chrome, Safari and Firefox save a web page into UpNote.
- Version history, backup and export
- Version history is saved as you edit, the desktop app keeps automatic local backups, and Premium exports notes to text, PDF, HTML or Markdown.
- Focus mode, locks and sharing
- Focus mode hides the note list and menus, a note can be shared through a secret web link, and Premium adds locks for notes, notebooks and the whole app.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- iOS
- Android
- Browser extension
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
UpNote is made by UpNote Pte. Ltd., and has been around since 2017.
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
UpNote'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 value for money (A, above 62 of 147) and worst on features (C, above 2).
Its paid plans start at $1.99 a month, against a middle price of $5.83 for the category: 11 of the 66 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. 8 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 148 note-taking apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. UpNote’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 62 of 147
- CFree plan and trialAbove 7 of 147
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 147
- BEase of useAbove 47 of 147
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 86 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. UpNote 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.
Your call
A notes app at its plainest is text in folders with a search box.
You could make the core of UpNote for yourself: notes, Markdown, web clipper, linked notes and templates. What you would give up is listed below. Whether that is worth the price is your call. At $23.88 a year it costs less than the weekend it would take to replace, which is the argument for keeping it.
What you could make
- Notes, Markdown, web clipper, linked notes and templates: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
What this rests on. UpNote’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
Evernote, Bear, Apple Notes, Simplenote and Zoho Notebook
The 5 tools UpNote is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
Evernote
Free plan · from $99/yr
Note-taking app with web clipping, tasks, calendar and AI search.
- Only UpNote lists a Linux app.
- Only Evernote lists a web app.
- UpNote can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.6GPA
Bear
Free plan · from $2.99/mo
Markdown notes app for Mac, iPhone and iPad with tags and links.
- Only UpNote lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- UpNote can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- UpNote also covers templates.
- 3.4GPA
Apple Notes
Free
Apple's free notes app for iPhone, iPad, Mac and the web.
- Only UpNote lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- Only UpNote lists a browser extension.
- Only Apple Notes lists a web app.
- 3.4GPA
Simplenote
Free
Free plain-text notes that sync across every major platform.
- Only UpNote lists a browser extension.
- Only Simplenote lists a web app.
- UpNote can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 3.4GPA
Zoho Notebook
Free plan · from $1.67/mo
Card-based notes app with a web clipper, scanner and AI add-ons.
- Only Zoho Notebook lists a web app.
- UpNote can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- UpNote also covers Markdown, linked notes and templates.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
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 UpNote free?
UpNote has a free plan. Free to use and sync across all your devices, limited to 50 notes with basic features.
How much does UpNote cost?
UpNote lists 3 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does UpNote work on?
UpNote is available on macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android. It also has a browser extension.
Does UpNote offer any discounts?
UpNote publicly lists the following: Lifetime Premium for a one-time $39.99.
How is UpNote rated?
UpNote's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1,065 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
Is UpNote open source?
UpNote is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
Does UpNote 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.
Who makes UpNote?
UpNote is made by UpNote Pte. Ltd.
What are the alternatives to UpNote?
The closest alternatives to UpNote in our directory are Evernote, Bear, Apple Notes, Simplenote and Zoho Notebook.
How does UpNote compare with other note-taking apps?
UpNote's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 72 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 34.
Is UpNote good value for money?
ToolGPA grades UpNote A for value for money. Its paid plans start at $1.99 a month, against a middle price of $5.83 for the category: 11 of the 66 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of UpNote?
A notes app at its plainest is text in folders with a search box. You could make the core of UpNote for yourself: notes, Markdown, web clipper, linked notes and templates.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from UpNote’s own pages on Oct 5, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from UpNote's own pages on 5 October 2026, and its App Store rating. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-02-27.
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 UpNote Pte. Ltd. Prices change, so check getupnote.com 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
- UpNote, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/upnote
- 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, "UpNote: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/upnote
Know someone choosing between note-taking apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/upnote/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded note-taking apps after UpNote, 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 UpNote’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. UpNote is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by UpNote Pte. Ltd. Prices and plans change: check getupnote.com before you buy.