Notepad App AlternativesNote-taking Tools & Text Editors like Notepad App

Notepad App is described as 'A markdown-based notes app for macOS, with simplicity and moderation' and is a Note-taking tool in the office & productivity category. There are more than 50 alternatives to Notepad App for a variety of platforms, including Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone and Web-based apps. The best Notepad App alternative is Obsidian, which is free. Other great apps like Notepad App are Joplin, Notesnook, Zettlr and Google Keep.

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A markdown-based notes app for macOS, with simplicity and moderation.

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Notepad App alternatives page was last updated Oct 26, 2024
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  1. Obsidian icon
     988 likes
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    Privacy-oriented note-taking app for non-linear thinking, blending knowledge graph creation with wiki-style linking. Supports Markdown, end-to-end encryption, and plugins for customization. Offers distraction-free mode, tags, themes, syntax highlighting, and operates offline without tracking.

    115 Obsidian alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • CA flagCanada

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Snapcraft
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Google Chrome
    • Flathub
    • Safari
    • Mozilla Firefox

    Top Obsidian Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  Local Storage
    3.  Works Offline
    4.  Graph view
    5.  Bidirectional links
    6.  Mind Mapping
    7.  No registration required
    8.  Personal Information Manager (PIM)
    9.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    10.  Knowledge Management
    11.  Dark Mode
    12.  Backlink

    Obsidian VS Notepad App

     
    • Obsidian is the most popular Windows, Android, Mac & iPhone alternative to Notepad App.

    • Obsidian is the most popular free alternative to Notepad App.

    • Obsidian is Freemium and ProprietaryNotepad App is Free and Proprietary
  2. Joplin icon
     829 likes
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    Open source app for managing notes and to-dos with Markdown support. Syncs seamlessly across devices using services like Dropbox and OneDrive. Offers end-to-end encrypted synchronicity, offline access, rich import/export options, and a Web Clipper for browsers.

    80 Joplin alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • FR flagFrance
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • AppImageHub
    • Snapcraft
    • Google Chrome
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • F-Droid
    • Cloudron
    • Homebrew
    • Chocolatey
    • Termux
    • Mozilla Firefox

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  Cloud Sync
    3.  End-to-End Encryption
    4.  Web Clipper
    5.  Works Offline
    6.  Local Storage
    7.  File Sync
    8.  Tagging
    9.  Ad-free
    10. Android icon  Android Sync
    11.  Encrypted Notes
    12.  WebDAV Support

    Joplin VS Notepad App

     
    • Joplin is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to Notepad App.

    • Joplin is the most popular Open Source alternative to Notepad App.

    • Joplin is Freemium and Open SourceNotepad App is Free and Proprietary
    • Joplin is Privacy focusedNotepad App is not according to our users
  3. Notesnook icon
     146 likes
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    Notesnook is a simple and cross-platform private notes app that keeps your notes organized and synced on your phone, tablet and computer. Take notes, capture ideas, create to-do lists, keep a journal, write your assignments and manage projects, we have got you covered.

    262 Notesnook alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • PK flagPakistan

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Google Chrome
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Flatpak

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight
    3.  Distraction-free

    Features

    1.  Encrypted Notes
    2.  Private notes
    3.  Works Offline
    4.  Note organization
    5.  End-to-End Encryption
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  Support for MarkDown
    9.  No Tracking
    10.  Cloud Sync
    11.  Web Clipper
    12.  Reminders

    Notesnook VS Notepad App

     
    • Notesnook is the most popular Web-based & SaaS alternative to Notepad App.

    • Notesnook is Freemium and Open SourceNotepad App is Free and Proprietary
    • Notesnook is Privacy focusedNotepad App is not according to our users
  4. Zettlr icon
     227 likes
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    Unified writing platform offering note-taking, easy citations with Zotero integration, LaTeX/Word templates, snippets, themes, dark modes, code highlighting, multi-language support, and knowledge management with Zettelkasten for seamless writing from notes to books.

    160 Zettlr alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  Zettelkasten note method
    3.  File Tagging
    4.  Multiple export options
    5. Zotero icon  Zotero integration
    6.  Note organization
    7.  Link files
    8.  Built-in themes
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  Export to LaTeX
    11.  Works Offline
    12.  Write files in markdown

    Zettlr VS Notepad App

     
  5. Google Keep icon
     823 likes
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    Google Keep is a multifunctional tool that merges note-taking with browsing, allowing capture of thoughts, checklists, or voice notes, with cross-device synchronization. Features include color-coded notes, voice transcription, geo-fencing, collaboration, cloud storage, and seamless Google integration.

    82 Google Keep alternatives

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Google Chrome
    • Android Wear

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Sync on many devices
    2.  Visual Organization
    3.  Share notes
    4.  Grocery List
    5.  Web-Based
    6.  Multiplatform
    7.  Photo notes
    8.  Works Offline
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  Handwritten Notes
    11.  Reminders
    12. Google Calendar icon  Sync with Google Calendar

    Google Keep VS Notepad App

     
  6. Beaver Notes icon
     51 likes
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    Your personal note-taking haven for privacy and efficiency.

    54 Beaver Notes alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • IT flagItaly
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Flathub

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight
    3.  Distraction-free
    4.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  Dark Mode
    3.  Works Offline
    4.  No Tracking
    5.  Support for MarkDown
    6.  Syntax Highlighting
    7.  File Tagging
    8. LaTeX icon  Support for LaTeX
    9.  No registration required
    10.  Note organization
    11.  Focus Mode
    12.  Export to PDF

    Beaver Notes VS Notepad App

     
  7. Typora icon
     322 likes
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    A minimalist Markdown editor offering cross-platform synchronization, live preview, and seamless export/import in various formats like PDF, DOCX, and LaTeX. Features include distraction-free Focus and Typewriter modes, file management with tree and articles panels, and content organization through an outline panel.

    165 Typora alternatives

    License model

    Country of Origin

    • CN flagChina

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Electron

    Properties

    1.  Distraction-free
    2.  Lightweight
    3.  Clean design
    4.  Support for Themes
    5.  Minimalistic

    Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  Live Preview
    3.  Write files in markdown
    4.  WYSIWYG Support
    5.  Save as Markdown
    6.  Simple text editor
    7. LaTeX icon  Support for LaTeX
    8.  Syntax Highlighting
    9.  Export to PDF
    10.  Multiplatform
    11.  Spell Checking
    12.  Distraction-free Writing

    Typora VS Notepad App

     
    • Typora is the most popular commercial alternative to Notepad App.

    • Typora is Paid and ProprietaryNotepad App is Free and Proprietary
    • Typora is LightweightNotepad App is not according to our users
  8. SiYuan icon
     67 likes
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    SiYuan is a desktop Markdown Block-Reference and Bidirectional-Link note-taking application. Support fine-grained block-level reference and Markdown WYSIWYG.

    58 SiYuan alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • CN flagChina

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Google Chrome
    • Flathub
    • Docker
    • Docker Hub
    • F-Droid

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Local Storage
    2.  Block reference
    3.  Bidirectional links
    4.  WYSIWYG Support
    5.  Graph view
    6.  Web Clipper
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  End-to-End Encryption
    9.  Support for MarkDown
    10. LaTeX icon  Support for LaTeX
    11.  No registration required
    12.  Cloud Sync

    SiYuan VS Notepad App

     
  9. Reor icon
     30 likes
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    Reor is an AI-powered desktop note-taking app: it automatically links related ideas, answers questions on your notes and provides semantic search. Everything is stored locally and you can edit your notes with an Obsidian-like markdown editor.

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • International

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux

    Reor Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  Support for MarkDown
    3.  Works Offline
    4.  No registration required
    5.  AI-Powered
    6.  Note organization
    7.  Semantic Search

    Reor VS Notepad App

     
  10. ghostwriter icon
     104 likes
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    ghostwriter is a feature-rich text editor using Markdown syntax which makes it suitable for note-taking, document redaction, simple HTML website creation and much more.

    134 ghostwriter alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Snapcraft

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  Dark Mode
    3.  Simple text editor
    4.  Stay Focused
    5.  Distraction-free Writing
    6.  Spell Checking
    7.  Live Preview
    8.  Portable
    9.  Writing statistics
    10.  Ad-free
    11.  Works Offline
    12. LaTeX icon  Support for LaTeX

    ghostwriter VS Notepad App

     
  11. Mark Text icon
     118 likes
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    Open-source Markdown editor on Mac, Windows, and Linux offering real-time preview, clean interface, and various themes. Supports math expressions, exports HTML/PDF, allows image pasting, and more.

    102 Mark Text alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Discontinued

    MarkText is no longer maintained since July 2022. Last version, 0.17.1, released in March 2022, can be still downloaded from GitHub. A fork a being developed here: https://github.com/jacobwhall/marktext

    Properties

    1.  Distraction-free
    2.  Clean design
    3.  Privacy focused
    4.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  WYSIWYG Support
    3.  Real-time inline preview
    4.  Dark Mode
    5.  Live Preview
    6.  Write files in markdown
    7.  Distraction-free Writing
    8.  Tabbed interface
    9.  Text editing
    10.  Nested Folders
    11.  Works Offline
    12.  No registration required

    Mark Text VS Notepad App

     
  12. Marknote icon
     20 likes
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    Marknote lets you create rich text notes and easily organise them into notebooks. You can personalise your notebooks by choosing an icon and accent color for each one, making it easy to distinguish between them and keep your notes at your fingertips.

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  No Tracking
    4.  Save as Markdown
    5.  Notebook
    6.  KDE
    7.  No registration required
    8.  WYSIWYG Support
    9.  Works Offline
    10.  Dark Mode
    11.  Spell Checking
    12.  Note Manager

    Marknote VS Notepad App

     
12 of 71 Notepad App alternatives