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 22 matches in our directory. All 10 are tagged open source in our directory. 9 of the 10 picks are completely free and the other one has a free plan.
Updated
Built with love by Shushant Lakhyani. Building bestproductivityresources.com
At a glance
Counted from the top 10 picks, except the total.
- Matching tools
- 22
- Completely free
- 9
- Open source
- 10
- Work offline
- 9
- Native apps
- 9
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 | Rnote | Free | Linux, Windows, macOS | Open source | A handwriting and sketching app for notes, diagrams and PDF annotation. |
| 5 | Xournal++ | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux | Open source | Take handwritten notes and annotate PDFs with a pen or tablet. |
| 6 | QOwnNotes | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux | Open source | A plain-text Markdown notepad and to-do manager for your desktop. |
| 7 | jrnl | Free | macOS, Linux, Windows | Open source | A simple command-line journal for quick notes and daily logs. |
| 8 | SiYuan | Free | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | Open source | A privacy-first knowledge workspace with block links, databases and flashcards. |
| 9 | Glyph | Free | macOS | Open source | A private desktop workspace for notes, documents and ideas, with Markdown and built-in AI. |
| 10 | Simplenote | Free | Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux | Open source | Completely free, fast notes that sync everywhere, from the makers of WordPress.com. |
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. Made mainly for note-taking, one of 9 such picks here. 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 (9 of 10 here) and is privacy-focused (8 of 10 here). On the wider free Mac list, open source or not, it is number 2.
Watch out for: Steep learning curve for users unfamiliar with graph databases or block-based note-taking
Number 2 of 10 for Mac, rated 4.5/5. Made mainly for note-taking, one of 9 such picks here. A desktop app that runs on a Mac, and also on Windows, Linux, Android and iOS. Its listing says it works offline (9 of 10 here), syncs through the cloud (3 of 10 here) and is privacy-focused (8 of 10 here). On the wider free Mac list, open source or not, it is number 4.
Watch out for: Interface is plainer than Evernote's
Number 3 of 10 for Mac, rated 4.4/5. Made mainly for note-taking, one of 9 such picks here. 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 (9 of 10 here), is privacy-focused (8 of 10 here) and has AI features (2 of 10 here). On the wider free Mac list, open source or not, it is number 6.
Watch out for: Free cloud plan has 100 MB of storage
Number 4 of 10 for Mac, rated 4.6/5. Made mainly for note-taking, one of 9 such picks here. A desktop app that runs on a Mac, and also on Linux and Windows. Its listing says it works offline (9 of 10 here), is privacy-focused (8 of 10 here) and is easy to pick up (4 of 10 here). On the wider free Mac list, open source or not, it is number 7.
Watch out for: Best with a stylus or drawing tablet
Number 5 of 10 for Mac, rated 4.6/5. Made mainly for note-taking, one of 9 such picks here. A desktop app that runs on a Mac, and also on Windows and Linux. Its listing says it works offline (9 of 10 here) and is easy to pick up (4 of 10 here). On the wider free Mac list, open source or not, it is number 9.
Watch out for: Interface looks dated next to newer note apps
Number 6 of 10 for Mac, rated 4.6/5. Made mainly for note-taking, one of 9 such picks here. A desktop app that runs on a Mac, and also on Windows and Linux. Its listing says it works offline (9 of 10 here), syncs through the cloud (3 of 10 here) and is privacy-focused (8 of 10 here). On the wider free Mac list it ranks 12th, outside the top 10.
Watch out for: Interface feels dense at first
Number 7 of 10 for Mac, rated 4.5/5. Made mainly for note-taking, one of 9 such picks here. A desktop app that runs on a Mac, and also on Linux and Windows. Its listing says it works offline (9 of 10 here) and is privacy-focused (8 of 10 here). On the wider free Mac list it ranks 13th, outside the top 10.
Watch out for: Works only in the terminal
Number 8 of 10 for Mac, rated 4.7/5, the highest here. Made mainly for personal knowledge management, it is the only pick here that covers note-taking as a second use. A desktop app that runs on a Mac, and also on Windows, Linux, iOS and Android. Its listing says it works offline (9 of 10 here) and is privacy-focused (8 of 10 here). On the wider free Mac list it ranks 14th, outside the top 10.
Watch out for: Some features, such as official cloud sync, need a paid membership
Number 9 of 10 for Mac, rated 4.3/5. Made mainly for note-taking, one of 9 such picks here. A desktop app that runs on a Mac and nowhere else. Its listing says it works offline (9 of 10 here), is privacy-focused (8 of 10 here) and has AI features (2 of 10 here). On the wider free Mac list it ranks 16th, outside the top 10.
Watch out for: AGPL-3.0 licence has strict terms for modified versions
Number 10 of 10 for Mac, rated 4.4/5. Made mainly for note-taking, one of 9 such picks here. Runs on a Mac, and also on Web, iOS, Android, Windows and 1 more platform. Its listing says it syncs through the cloud (3 of 10 here) and is easy to pick up (4 of 10 here). On the wider free Mac list it ranks 17th, outside the top 10.
Watch out for: Plain text only, no rich attachments or web clipper
Running these on Mac
Counted from each pick's listing type and platforms.
- By listing type, the 10 Mac picks are 9 desktop apps (Logseq, Joplin, AppFlowy, Rnote and 5 others) and 1 web app (Simplenote).
- 9 of 10 are apps you install on a Mac; the other one is a web or cloud tool listed for Mac.
- Glyph is listed for Mac and nothing else. AppFlowy reaches furthest, on 5 other platforms besides Mac.
- 5 of 10 also run on iPhone and iPad, so the same tool can follow you between Mac and iPhone; Rnote, Xournal++, QOwnNotes, jrnl and 1 other 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 44 tools that run on a Mac, open source or not, led by Obsidian, Logseq and Notion.
More matches
12 more free open-source note-taking apps for Mac in our directory, in ranked order.
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, Rnote, Xournal++ and 5 others are completely free. AppFlowy has a free plan with paid upgrades.
- Do these open-source note-taking apps work on other platforms too?
- 9 picks of 10 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, Rnote, Xournal++ and 4 others are listed as working offline. The others need an internet connection for at least some features.
- Which are easiest for beginners?
- Rnote, Xournal++ and Glyph are rated beginner-friendly, along with 1 other pick. 6 picks take more time to learn.
- How many free open-source note-taking apps for Mac are in the directory?
- 22 match: listed under Note-Taking, available on a Mac and free to start, and tagged open source. This page ranks the top 10 and names up to 20 more under More matches. The Note-Taking category page has every listing, paid ones included.
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
Weekly newsletter
Everything new, every Monday.
One short email every Monday with everything shipped that week: new free tools and websites, new guides, new free browser tools and what's new in my free Gumroad libraries, plus how the site is growing. Free, and you can unsubscribe anytime.
Join the newsletterYou sign up on Gumroad, which stores your email to send the newsletter. See our Privacy Policy.