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FSNotes

Open-source Markdown notes app for Mac and iPhone that works on plain files in your own folders.

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About FSNotes

FSNotes is a native notes app for macOS and iOS that stores every note as a plain Markdown or text file in folders you pick, instead of inside a private database. It takes its keyboard-first style from Notational Velocity: one box both searches and creates notes, and the list filters as you type, which stays quick even with libraries of ten thousand files. It handles GitHub Flavored Markdown with code highlighting, inline images, Mermaid diagrams and MathJax, plus tags, pinned notes and wiki-style links between notes. Sync runs through iCloud Drive, and an optional Git integration commits notes on a schedule and can push them to a remote for history and backup. Single notes or whole folders can be locked with AES-256 encryption. The code is open source on GitHub; the ready-built Mac and iPhone apps are sold on the App Store as a one-time purchase with no subscription. It suits Apple users who want their notes to stay readable in any editor and don't need Windows, Android or web access.

Best for: Mac and iPhone users who want fast Markdown notes kept as plain files they fully control.

Pros and cons

What works

  • Notes are ordinary Markdown files you can open in any editor
  • Built-in Git versioning and scheduled backups
  • Per-note and per-folder AES-256 encryption
  • One-time purchase, and the source code is free on GitHub

Why people leave

  • Apple-only: no Windows, Android or web app
  • iPhone sync is limited to iCloud Drive; no Dropbox or WebDAV
  • No real-time collaboration or shared notebooks

Top FSNotes alternatives

See all 6
  1. 1Bear logo
    Bear

    Polished Apple-only Markdown notes with tags, if you'd trade plain files for a nicer editor and sync.

    77.3
  2. 2Obsidian logo
    Obsidian

    Also works on a folder of Markdown files, but adds Windows, Linux, Android and a large plugin ecosystem.

    76.6
  3. 3Zettlr logo
    Zettlr

    Free open-source Markdown editor on all desktops, aimed at research writing and citations.

    69.8
  4. 4Joplin logo
    Joplin

    Open-source Markdown notes with end-to-end encrypted sync on desktop and mobile, including Android.

    65.5
  5. 5Simplenote logo
    Simplenote

    Free, minimal plain-text notes that sync to every platform including Windows, Android and the web.

    59.4

Why people left FSNotes

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FSNotes: common questions

Is FSNotes free?

Yes. FSNotes is free, open-source software.

Is FSNotes open source?

Yes. The source code is on GitHub at glushchenko/fsnotes.

What platforms does FSNotes run on?

FSNotes is available for macOS and iOS.

What are the best alternatives to FSNotes?

The highest-ranked FSNotes alternatives right now are Bear, Obsidian and Zettlr. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 6 FSNotes alternatives