Essential Mac Apps

FSNotes

Free Markdown notes app for Mac that stores every note as a plain file you control.

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FSNotes is a notes app for Mac and iPhone that keeps every note as a Markdown or plain text file in folders you choose. There is no account and no private database, so other editors can open your notes too.

You write in GitHub Flavored Markdown with inline images, syntax highlighting in code blocks, Mermaid diagrams and MathJax. Notes link to each other with [[double brackets]], and you can organize them with tags, pins and several storage folders. Search stays fast with libraries of more than 10,000 notes, and the keyboard controls are inspired by Notational Velocity.

Sync works through iCloud Drive, or any folder service such as Dropbox on the Mac. Optional Git versioning makes scheduled commits and can push to a remote. Single notes or whole folders can be locked with AES-256 encryption and opened with Touch ID. Notes with attachments can be saved as TextBundle files.

FSNotes is open source under the MIT licence, made by Oleksandr Hlushchenko. The Mac build is free on GitHub, while the App Store version is a one-time purchase with automatic updates. It needs macOS 12 or later.

Frequently asked questions

Is FSNotes free?

The Mac app is free to download from GitHub Releases, and the source code is free. The Mac App Store version costs $8.99 as a one-time purchase, gets automatic updates and supports the developer. There is no subscription.

Is FSNotes safe and open source?

Yes. The code is on GitHub under the MIT licence. Notes stay as files on your own disk, and you choose whether to sync them through iCloud Drive or Git.

How do I install FSNotes?

Buy it on the Mac App Store, or download the zip from the GitHub releases page. With Homebrew, run brew install --cask fsnotes.

What macOS version does FSNotes need?

FSNotes needs macOS 12 Monterey or later. The current Mac App Store listing asks for macOS 12.4. It runs natively on Apple Silicon.

How does FSNotes compare to Bear?

Bear is a paid Markdown notes app that keeps notes in its own library. FSNotes saves each note as a normal file, syncs through iCloud Drive or Git at no extra cost, and lets you edit notes in any other app.

Can I use my existing folder of Markdown files with FSNotes?

Yes. Point FSNotes at the folder and it shows the files as notes. Changes made in an external editor appear in FSNotes right away.

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