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Octarine alternatives: 7 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 1, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Octarine: closed source, unlike Logseq or Joplin, and no built-in sync service; you bring your own storage or Git. We ranked 7 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Octarine, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Obsidian currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1UpNote logoUpNoteFree plan + paidNoWeb, macOS, Windows +34 of 465.4
2NotePlan logoNotePlanPaidNomacOS, iOS, Web5 of 559.4
  1. UpNote logo

    1. UpNoteTop pick

    Best for: Former Evernote users who want simple, synced notes at a low one-off price

    Free plan + paidWeb, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android

    65.4

    score / 100

    Why switch from Octarine

    Cheap lifetime licence and built-in sync across Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android, but notes live in its own database.

    Pros

    • Clean, fast interface
    • Lifetime licence option
    • Apps on every major platform
    • Offline access with automatic sync

    Cons

    • Free version stops at 50 notes
    • No end-to-end encryption
    • No real-time collaboration
    Visit UpNote Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.1553
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is UpNote a good Octarine alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free plan
    Up to 50 notes
    Checked Oct 29, 2026getupnote.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Premium price
    $1.99/month or $39.99 lifetime
    Checked Oct 29, 2026getupnote.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
    Checked Oct 29, 2026getupnote.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Offline mode
    Yes
    Checked Oct 29, 2026getupnote.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. NotePlan logo

    2. NotePlan

    Best for: Apple users who want daily notes, tasks and calendar planning in Markdown

    PaidmacOS, iOS, Web

    59.4

    score / 100

    Why switch from Octarine

    Markdown files plus daily notes and calendar-based planning, for Apple users who want tasks and notes together.

    Pros

    • Daily notes, tasks and calendar together
    • Plain Markdown files
    • Works offline
    • Plugins, themes and templates

    Cons

    • No Windows or Android apps
    • Subscription only, no free plan
    • Task syntax takes time to learn
    Visit NotePlan Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is NotePlan a good Octarine alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Annual price
    $99 per year
    Checked Oct 29, 2026noteplan.co(opens source in a new tab)
    Monthly price
    $12 per month
    Checked Oct 29, 2026noteplan.co(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    7 days
    Checked Oct 29, 2026noteplan.co(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Mac, iPad, iPhone, web
    Checked Oct 29, 2026noteplan.co(opens source in a new tab)
    File format
    Markdown
    Checked Oct 29, 2026noteplan.co(opens source in a new tab)

The best Octarine alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Obsidian logo

Best Octarine alternative for most people

Obsidian

Same local Markdown-folder approach with a huge plugin ecosystem and an Android app; free for personal use.

Logseq logo

Best Octarine alternative for a free option

Logseq

Open-source and free, storing notes as local Markdown, but built around an outliner and block references.

Bear logo

Best Octarine alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Bear

A polished Markdown notes app for Apple devices with built-in iCloud sync, if you only use Mac and iPhone.

Joplin logo

Best Octarine alternative for open source

Joplin

Open-source Markdown notes with end-to-end encrypted sync and apps on every platform, including Android.

Joplin logo

Best Octarine alternative for self-hosting

Joplin

Open-source Markdown notes with end-to-end encrypted sync and apps on every platform, including Android.

UpNote logo

Best Octarine alternative for Mac

UpNote

Cheap lifetime licence and built-in sync across Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android, but notes live in its own database.

Zettlr logo

Best Octarine alternative for Windows

Zettlr

Free, open-source Markdown editor aimed at academic writing, with citations and local files.

Obsidian logo

Best Octarine alternative for Linux

Obsidian

Same local Markdown-folder approach with a huge plugin ecosystem and an Android app; free for personal use.

Obsidian logo

Best Octarine alternative for iPhone and Android

Obsidian

Same local Markdown-folder approach with a huge plugin ecosystem and an Android app; free for personal use.

NotePlan logo

Best Octarine alternative for working in the browser

NotePlan

Markdown files plus daily notes and calendar-based planning, for Apple users who want tasks and notes together.

Octarine alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Octarine?

Obsidian ranks first right now. Same local Markdown-folder approach with a huge plugin ecosystem and an Android app; free for personal use. Bear and Logseq follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Octarine?

Yes. Obsidian (free plan + paid), Bear (free plan + paid), Logseq (open source) and UpNote (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Octarine?

Yes: Logseq, Joplin and Zettlr. Joplin can also be self-hosted.

Which Octarine alternatives work on Linux?

Obsidian, Logseq, UpNote, Joplin and Zettlr run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Octarine?

The complaints we hear most: closed source, unlike Logseq or Joplin; no built-in sync service; you bring your own storage or Git; no Android app.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Octarine, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.