FSNotes for MAC
Free, open-source Markdown notes app for Mac: plain-text files you own, fast search, tags, links, encryption and iCloud sync.
FSNotes Overview
FSNotes is a fast, native notes app for Mac that keeps every note as a portable Markdown or plain-text file instead of locking it in a database. You can open and edit your notes with any other app, now or years from now. It stays quick even with more than 10,000 notes, and it fits your way of working with multiple folders, external editors, iCloud Drive or Dropbox, and optional Git backups. Connect ideas with tags and [[links]], protect private notes with AES-256 encryption, and see code, Mermaid diagrams and MathJax rendered.
FSNotes is made by Oleksandr Hlushchenko and is free and open source under the MIT license; a paid version on the Mac App Store supports development and brings automatic updates. There is also an FSNotes app for iPhone. Version 7.3.6 needs macOS 12.4 or later and runs natively on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.
Key Features
FSNotes keeps your notes fast and yours.
- Plain files: notes are Markdown or text files you can open anywhere.
- Fast search: navigate smoothly across 10,000+ notes.
- Folders and editors: use several folders and your favourite external editor.
- Sync: keep notes in iCloud Drive or Dropbox, with optional Git backups.
- Tags and links: connect notes with tags and [[wiki links]].
- Encryption: lock private notes with AES-256.
- Rich Markdown: code, Mermaid diagrams and MathJax.
- iPhone app: FSNotes is also available for iPhone.
What’s New in Version 7.3.6
FSNotes 7.3.6 brings fixes and improvements.
- General fixes and improvements
FSNotes FAQ
Is FSNotes free?
Yes. FSNotes is free and open source under the MIT license from GitHub. A paid Mac App Store version supports development and updates through the App Store.
Which macOS version does FSNotes need?
FSNotes 7.3.6 needs macOS 12.4 or later.
Does FSNotes run on Apple Silicon?
Yes. It is a universal app for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.
How does FSNotes store my notes?
As Markdown or plain-text files in folders you choose, so any other app can open them.
Can FSNotes sync between devices?
Yes. Keep your notes in iCloud Drive or Dropbox, and use the FSNotes app for iPhone.
Can I encrypt notes?
Yes. Private notes can be protected with AES-256 encryption.
Does FSNotes support links between notes?
Yes. You can connect notes with tags and [[wiki links]].
Can FSNotes back up my notes with Git?
Yes. Optional Git backups are built in.
Can I install FSNotes with Homebrew?
Yes. Run brew install --cask fsnotes.
Where does the FSNotes download on fsnotes.FULLMAC.app come from?
The download button leads to the official FSNotes releases on GitHub at https://github.com/glushchenko/fsnotes/releases/latest. fsnotes.FULLMAC.app does not change or repackage the app.
Similar Apps
AutoDocAutoDoc is a free, open-source meeting notes app that keeps the whole process on your computer. It records your screen, your microphone and the system audio of a meeting, transcribes them on the device and turns the transcript into editable notes with a summary and conversation topics. Click a timestamp in the notes and the screen recording jumps back to that moment. An Ask AI feature answers questions across all your meetings, also on the device.Productivity
MarkupMarkup is a free, open-source Markdown editor for the Mac that is built around reading. Open a folder of notes and each file is rendered as a clean document, with KaTeX math, Mermaid diagrams, syntax-highlighted code, tables and task lists, instead of a plain text box. Press E to edit in WYSIWYG mode or Command-/ for the raw Markdown source, so reading, editing and source view are always one keystroke apart.Productivity
oatsoats is a meeting notes app that lives in the Mac menu bar. You hit record, carry on with your meeting, and when you stop it hands you a transcript and a tidy Markdown summary of what was said. There is no bot to invite into the call and no browser tab to keep open: recording, pausing and stopping all happen from the menu bar.Productivity
NotenikNotenik is a note-taking app for the Mac that does more than record notes. Each note is its own plain text file, and a folder of notes becomes a Collection, so you can keep as many Collections as you like wherever you like, including iCloud Drive or Dropbox for syncing. Because the files are plain text, you can open and edit them in any text editor or Markdown editor, and your notes are never locked inside the app.Productivity
LogueLogue is a local-first workspace for documents, tasks and meetings on macOS. It has nested spaces, a block editor, typed properties, relations, wiki links with backlinks and saved views, so it will feel familiar if you have used Notion or Obsidian. It also records meetings, transcribes them, separates the speakers, writes the minutes and turns what people committed to into tasks. An AI agent works across all of it.Productivity
StikStik is a quick-capture note app for macOS. Press Cmd+Shift+S from any app and a floating post-it appears. Type your thought, close it, and you are back at work. Every note is saved as a plain Markdown file in ~/Documents/Stik/, with no account and no sync setup. Folders in Stik are real folders on disk, so you can open, move or back up your notes with any other tool.Productivity
FULLMAC.app does not host this app. Download buttons lead to the developer’s own pages.