The VNote Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about VNote 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.
VNote
The Insider’s Guide
Free desktop Markdown note-taking app with plain-file notebooks
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among note-taking apps, read from VNote’s own pages.
Made by VNoteX Team · 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 VNote’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on VNote’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
2.8
GPA, above 72 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade
VNote is a free, open-source note-taking application for Windows, Linux and macOS that centers on Markdown. Each notebook is an ordinary directory of plain text files, with unlimited folder nesting, tags, search and a Markdown editor that previews as you write. Notebooks can sync through a built-in Git client or any folder-sync service, and the project describes the app as local-first and single-user.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about VNote, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No rating on record, and there's homework.
- 1
Best for free Markdown notes in plain folders on a desktop
If you need notes on a phone or for a team, look elsewhere.
- 2
It is free
VNote has no paid plan at all. Free and open source under the GNU LGPLv3 license, with no account to create and no paid edition. Packages for each platform are on the project's GitHub and Gitee release pages.
- 3
It runs on 3 platforms
Windows, Linux and macOS.
- 4
Notebooks as plain folders
A notebook is one directory of plain text files, mostly Markdown, with folders nested to any depth. There is no database, so notes can be copied, backed up or edited with other tools.
- 5
Markdown editor with live preview
In-place and side-by-side live preview, syntax highlighting and an interactive outline, with math rendered by MathJax and diagrams by PlantUML, Graphviz and Mermaid.
- 6
Built-in Git sync
A bundled notebook can clone, commit, fetch and push to a Git remote from inside the app, on demand or at a set interval, with a dialog for resolving conflicts.
- 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
VNote is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
VNote at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- VNoteX Team
- Category
- Note-Taking Apps
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for free Markdown notes in plain folders on a desktop
VNote is a free, open-source Markdown notes app for Windows, Linux and macOS where each notebook is a folder of plain text files, with live preview, mind maps, PDF notes and a built-in Git client. It's desktop only, for one person, doesn't update itself, has no account-based cloud sync, and tags, attachments and Git sync only work in bundled notebooks. If you need notes on a phone or for a team, look elsewhere.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free and open source under the GNU LGPLv3 licence, with no account to create and no paid edition, in a category whose middle plan asks $6 a month. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The full app is free on Windows, Linux and macOS, with nothing held back for a paid tier. There's even a separate reduced build for Windows 7. |
| Features | C | The editor has live preview, MathJax maths, PlantUML, Graphviz and Mermaid diagrams, mind maps as a note type, PDF annotation, Vi mode and export to Markdown, HTML or PDF. Its own docs list the gaps: no account-based cloud sync, one person only, and tags, attachments and Git sync only in bundled notebooks. |
| Ease of use | C | No rating on record, and there's homework. Bundled and raw notebooks behave differently, Git sync is yours to wire up, and the app doesn't update itself: it checks for a release and you install each one by hand. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Computers only: Windows 10 or newer, Linux as an AppImage, macOS 10.15 or newer, with no iOS, Android or web version in the docs. It does sync through its own Git client or any folder service like Dropbox, OneDrive, Nextcloud or Google Drive. |
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 VNote is for
- Fits if you want Markdown notes as plain files with no account
- Works for keyboard users who want Vi mode and notes under Git version control
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you need notes on your phone, as there's no iOS, Android or web version
- Not for you if you share notes with a team, because it's single-user with no real-time collaboration
- Tight if you point it at an existing folder, since tags, attachments and Git sync only work in bundled notebooks
- Watch out: it doesn't update itself, so each new release is downloaded and installed by hand
- Watch out: there's no account-based cloud sync, so syncing runs through Git or a folder service you set up
Good to know
Good for
- People who want Markdown notes as plain files with no account
- Vi users and others who work mostly from the keyboard
- Keeping a notebook under Git version control
- Large, deeply nested personal knowledge bases
Worth knowing
- Desktop only: packages exist for Windows, Linux and macOS, and the docs list no iOS, Android or web version.
- The docs say VNote is for single-user note-taking, with no real-time collaboration and no managed, account-based cloud service.
- VNote does not update itself. It only checks for a newer release, and each new version is downloaded and installed by hand.
- Tags, attachments, the recycle bin and Git sync work only in bundled notebooks, not in raw notebooks that browse an existing folder.
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
VNote is free to use.
The full app is free on Windows, Linux and macOS, with nothing held back for a paid tier.
VNote
$0
The full app for Windows 10 or newer, Linux (as an AppImage) and macOS 10.15 or newer, plus a separate reduced build for Windows 7.
The free plan
Free and open source under the GNU LGPLv3 license, with no account to create and no paid edition. Packages for each platform are on the project's GitHub and Gitee release pages.
Read from docs.vnote.fun on Oct 9, 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 desktop Markdown note-taking app with plain-file notebooks. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, local-first, keyboard-first, notes, Markdown, templates, mind mapping.
Its own docs list the gaps: no account-based cloud sync, one person only, and tags, attachments and Git sync only in bundled notebooks.
- Notebooks as plain folders
- A notebook is one directory of plain text files, mostly Markdown, with folders nested to any depth. There is no database, so notes can be copied, backed up or edited with other tools.
- Markdown editor with live preview
- In-place and side-by-side live preview, syntax highlighting and an interactive outline, with math rendered by MathJax and diagrams by PlantUML, Graphviz and Mermaid.
- Built-in Git sync
- A bundled notebook can clone, commit, fetch and push to a Git remote from inside the app, on demand or at a set interval, with a dialog for resolving conflicts.
- Mind maps and PDF annotation
- Mind maps are their own note type, edited on a node canvas. PDFs open in a built-in viewer with highlight, drawing and text-box tools, and the comments are saved beside the file.
- Vi mode and keyboard control
- Vi mode gives modal editing, and tabs, window splits, configurable shortcuts and a fuzzy search-and-jump entry box cover the rest from the keyboard.
- Export to Markdown, HTML and PDF
- Notes, folders or whole notebooks export to Markdown, HTML or PDF, and a custom command such as Pandoc reaches formats like docx and epub.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
- Git
- GitHub
- Dropbox
- OneDrive
- Nextcloud
- Google Drive
- Pandoc
VNote is made by VNoteX Team.
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
VNote'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).
VNote 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. VNote’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. VNote 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
VNote is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
What you could make
- Notes, Markdown, mind mapping and templates: 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, GitHub and Dropbox among them.
What this rests on. VNote’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
QOwnNotes, Joplin, Obsidian, Zim and CherryTree
The 5 tools VNote is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.0GPA
QOwnNotes
Free
Open-source Markdown notes app with Nextcloud and ownCloud support.
- Only QOwnNotes lists an Android app.
- Only QOwnNotes lists a browser extension.
- VNote also covers templates and mind mapping.
- 3.6GPA
Joplin
Free plan · from €2.40/mo
Open source Markdown notes with sync through a service you choose.
- Only Joplin lists a web app.
- Only Joplin lists iOS and Android apps.
- Only Joplin lists a browser extension.
- 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.
- VNote is open source, according to its own site.
- 3.0GPA
Zim
Free
Desktop wiki that keeps linked pages as plain text files.
- VNote also covers Markdown, templates and mind mapping.
- Zim also covers linked notes, wiki, daily notes and tasks.
- 2.8GPA
CherryTree
Free
Hierarchical desktop notes with rich text and code highlighting.
- VNote also covers Markdown, templates and mind mapping.
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 VNote free?
Yes. VNote is free to use.
How much does VNote cost?
VNote lists one plan. VNote: $0.
What platforms does VNote work on?
VNote is available on Windows, Linux and macOS.
Does VNote have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. VNote is listed for Windows, Linux and macOS.
Does VNote have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. VNote is listed for Windows, Linux and macOS.
Is VNote open source?
Yes. VNote is open source, according to its own site.
What does VNote integrate with?
VNote's listing names Git, GitHub, Dropbox, OneDrive, Nextcloud, Google Drive and Pandoc.
Who makes VNote?
VNote is made by VNoteX Team.
What are the alternatives to VNote?
The closest alternatives to VNote in our directory are QOwnNotes, Joplin, Obsidian, Zim and CherryTree.
How does VNote compare with other note-taking apps?
VNote's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 72 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 34.
Is VNote good value for money?
ToolGPA grades VNote A for value for money. VNote has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of VNote?
VNote is free, so making your own would save you nothing. What you could not make: Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from VNote’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 VNote's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-07-07.
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 VNoteX Team. Prices change, so check docs.vnote.fun before you buy.
- docs.vnote.fun/
- docs.vnote.fun/getting-started/why-vnote/
- docs.vnote.fun/getting-started/installation/
- docs.vnote.fun/managing-notes/notebook-sync/
- docs.vnote.fun/managing-notes/pdf-viewer/
- docs.vnote.fun/editing/mind-maps/
- docs.vnote.fun/editing/templates/
- docs.vnote.fun/editing/vi-mode/
- docs.vnote.fun/search/united-entry/
- docs.vnote.fun/productivity/export/
- docs.vnote.fun/help/faq/
- raw.githubusercontent.com/vnotex/vnote/master/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
- VNote, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/vnote
- 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, "VNote: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/vnote
Know someone choosing between note-taking apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/vnote/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded note-taking apps after VNote, 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 VNote’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. VNote is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by VNoteX Team. Prices and plans change: check docs.vnote.fun before you buy.