Free picks · Mac · Open source
Best free open-source note-taking apps for Mac (2026)
Every pick is listed under Note-Taking in our directory, runs on a Mac and is free to use and tagged open source. We rank them by our rating and popularity, then favour tools made mainly for note-taking and apps built for Mac.
Short answer
The best free open-source note-taking apps for Mac are Logseq, Joplin and AppFlowy, the top three of 8 matches in our directory. All 8 are tagged open source in our directory. 5 of the 8 picks are completely free and the other 3 have a free plan.
Updated
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At a glance
Counted from the top 8 picks, except the total.
- Matching tools
- 8
- Completely free
- 5
- Open source
- 8
- Work offline
- 7
- Native apps
- 5
Comparison table
“Free plan” means a free tier with paid upgrades. A dash in Licence means our directory does not list the tool as open source.
| # | Name | Pricing | Platforms | Licence | Why pick it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Logseq | Free | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Web | Open source | A privacy-first, open-source knowledge base that works on local files. |
| 2 | Joplin | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Open source | Free, open-source notes and to-dos with end-to-end encrypted sync and Evernote import. |
| 3 | AppFlowy | Free plan | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Web | Open source | The open-source alternative to Notion, with docs, databases and AI you control. |
| 4 | Glyph | Free | macOS | Open source | A private desktop workspace for notes, documents and ideas, with Markdown and built-in AI. |
| 5 | Simplenote | Free | Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux | Open source | Completely free, fast notes that sync everywhere, from the makers of WordPress.com. |
| 6 | hypernovum | Free | macOS, Windows, Linux | Open source | Agent Ops for your second brain — a 3D IDE for Obsidian built on Three.js. |
| 7 | Notesnook | Free plan | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Open source | Private, end-to-end encrypted, open-source notes with a free plan. |
| 8 | AFFiNE | Free plan | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android | Open source | Open-source workspace for docs, whiteboards and databases. |
Why each pick made the list
Every reason is taken from the tool's own listing: its categories, platforms, features, rating and pricing.
Our top Mac pick, rated 4.6/5, the highest here. Note-Taking is its main purpose in our directory. A desktop app that runs on a Mac, and also on Windows, Linux, iOS, Android and 1 more platform. Its listing says it works offline and is privacy-focused.
Watch out for: Steep learning curve for users unfamiliar with graph databases or block-based note-taking
Number 2 of 8 for Mac, rated 4.5/5. Note-Taking is its main purpose in our directory. A desktop app that runs on a Mac, and also on Windows, Linux, Android and iOS. Its listing says it works offline, syncs through the cloud and is privacy-focused.
Watch out for: Interface is plainer than Evernote's
Number 3 of 8 for Mac, rated 4.4/5. Note-Taking is its main purpose in our directory. A desktop app that runs on a Mac, and also on Windows, Linux, iOS, Android and 1 more platform. Its listing says it works offline, is privacy-focused and has AI features.
Watch out for: Free cloud plan has 100 MB of storage
Number 4 of 8 for Mac, rated 4.3/5. Note-Taking is its main purpose in our directory. A desktop app that runs on a Mac and nowhere else. Its listing says it works offline, is privacy-focused and has AI features.
Watch out for: AGPL-3.0 licence has strict terms for modified versions
Number 5 of 8 for Mac, rated 4.4/5. Note-Taking is its main purpose in our directory. Runs on a Mac, and also on Web, iOS, Android, Windows and 1 more platform. Its listing says it syncs through the cloud and is easy to pick up.
Watch out for: Plain text only, no rich attachments or web clipper
Number 6 of 8 for Mac, rated 4.3/5. Note-Taking is its main purpose in our directory. A desktop app that runs on a Mac, and also on Windows and Linux. Its listing says it works offline.
Watch out for: Experimental and early
Number 7 of 8 for Mac, rated 4.4/5. Note-Taking is its main purpose in our directory. Runs on a Mac, and also on Web, Windows, Linux, Android and 1 more platform. Its listing says it works offline, syncs through the cloud and is privacy-focused.
Watch out for: Free plan limits uploads to 50 MB a month
Number 8 of 8 for Mac, rated 4.3/5. Note-Taking is its main purpose in our directory. Runs on a Mac, and also on Web, Windows, Linux, iOS and 1 more platform. Its listing says it works offline, is privacy-focused and has AI features.
Watch out for: Still maturing in places
Running these on Mac
Counted from each pick's listing type and platforms.
- By listing type, the 8 Mac picks are 5 desktop apps (Logseq, Joplin, AppFlowy, Glyph and 1 other) and 3 web apps (Simplenote, Notesnook and AFFiNE).
- 5 of 8 are apps you install on a Mac; the other 3 are web or cloud tools listed for Mac.
- Glyph is listed for Mac and nothing else. AFFiNE reaches furthest, on 5 other platforms besides Mac.
- 6 of 8 also run on iPhone and iPad, so the same tool can follow you between Mac and iPhone; Glyph and hypernovum do not.
How this list compares
The same search on other platforms, and the other price filter. Only the differences are named.
- Free note-taking apps for Mac
Fine with closed source? The wider free Mac list ranks 22 tools that run on a Mac, open source or not, led by Obsidian, Logseq and Notion.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best free open-source note-taking app for Mac?
- Logseq is our first pick. A privacy-first, open-source knowledge base that works on local files. Yes. Logseq is free to use.
- Are these note-taking apps really free?
- Yes, every pick is free to start. Logseq, Joplin, Glyph, Simplenote and 1 other are completely free. AppFlowy, Notesnook and AFFiNE have free plans with paid upgrades.
- Do these open-source note-taking apps work on other platforms too?
- 7 picks of 8 also run elsewhere, including Logseq (Windows, Linux and iOS), Joplin (Windows, Linux and Android) and AppFlowy (Windows, Linux and iOS).
- Which ones work offline on a Mac?
- Logseq, Joplin, AppFlowy, Glyph, hypernovum and 2 others are listed as working offline. The others need an internet connection for at least some features.
- Which are easiest for beginners?
- Glyph, Simplenote and Notesnook are rated beginner-friendly. 5 picks take more time to learn.
- How many free open-source note-taking apps for Mac are in the directory?
- 8 match right now, and all of them are on this page. New tools are added as they are checked.
Keep exploring
Wider lists
Related free lists
- Free note-taking apps for Mac
- Free note-taking apps for Windows
- Free to-do list apps for Mac
- Free note-taking apps for iPhone
- Free project management apps for Mac
- Free note-taking apps for Android
- Free time management apps for Mac
- Free writing apps for Mac
- Free AI productivity tools for Mac
- Free automation tools for Mac
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