Alternatives to Octarine
A local-first Markdown note-taking app for macOS that keeps notes as plain files. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Octarine
A local-first Markdown note-taking app for macOS that keeps notes as plain files.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Octarine.
Obsidian
A notes app that works on a folder of plain Markdown files on your own disk, with links between them.
Obsidian also works on local Markdown files, runs on Windows, Linux, Android and iOS too, and relies on a large plugin ecosystem rather than built-in features.
FSNotes
An open-source Markdown notes app for Mac and iPhone that stores notes as plain files.
FSNotes is open source, stores plain Markdown files on Mac and iPhone, and adds Git backups and per-note encryption, sold without subscription or account.
Bear
Apple-exclusive markdown notes app with tag-based organization and a polished editor.
Bear is a polished Markdown notes app for macOS and iOS with tag-based organisation, adding an iPhone and iPad app, with export options behind a subscription.
Notenik
A free, open-source Mac note-taking app that stores notes as plain-text Markdown files in folders.
Notenik is a free MIT-licensed Mac app keeping notes as plain Markdown files with wiki-style links, footnotes and MathJax, with sync left to a service you choose.
The Archive
A plain-text Zettelkasten note-taking app for macOS that stores notes as Markdown files.
The Archive is a paid macOS Zettelkasten app storing plain Markdown files synced through any cloud folder, with a 60-day free trial.
Logseq
An outliner that stores notes as plain Markdown files, built around a daily journal and linked blocks.
Logseq stores notes as plain Markdown files, is open source under AGPL and cross-platform, but uses an outliner and daily journal structure instead of documents.
VNote
An open-source desktop Markdown note-taking app written in native C++ that keeps notes as local files.
VNote is a free LGPL-3.0 native C++ Markdown notebook for Windows, macOS and Linux keeping local files, with no built-in sync service.
Zettlr
Write and organize Markdown documents for publication.
Zettlr is a free, open source Markdown editor for Windows, macOS and Linux that focuses on organising documents for publication with flexible export workflows.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
Typora
A polished Markdown editor with live in-place rendering, sold as a one-off purchase rather than a subscription.
iA Writer
Minimalist Markdown writing app focused on the text.
MarkText
A Markdown editor that shows formatted text as you type, with no preview pane and no syntax symbols in the way.
Apple Notes
Apple's built-in notes app with sync, sketches, and text recognition.
QLMarkdown
Preview Markdown files with macOS Quick Look.
