Rnote
An open-source vector drawing app for handwritten notes, sketches and annotating PDFs and pictures.
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About Rnote
Rnote is a vector-based drawing app aimed at students, teachers and anyone with a drawing tablet. It has pressure-sensitive stylus input with configurable stroke styles, a shape tool, a selection tool for moving and resizing content, and page layouts ranging from fixed pages to an infinite canvas.
PDF, bitmap and SVG files can be imported and annotated, and documents or selections can be exported to SVG, PDF and Xopp. Other features include tabs, autosave, printing and a workspace browser. The native .rnote file format is still unstable and may break between versions.
Strengths
- Pressure-sensitive stylus input with configurable strokes
- Imports and annotates PDFs and images
- Infinite canvas as well as fixed page layouts
- Exports to SVG, PDF and Xopp
Limitations
- Native file format is unstable between versions
- macOS builds come from a separate project
Details
- Pricing
- FreeFree and open source, with optional sponsorship of the developer.
- License
- Open source, license not stated
- Developer
- flxzt
- Platforms
- macOS, Linux
- How it runs
- Downloadable app
- Account
- Not required
- Best suited for
- Handwritten notes and sketches on a Linux laptop with a stylus or drawing tablet
- Categories
- PDF tools, Image editors, Note-taking
- Last verified
- Added
- Provenance
- Facts checked against the developer's own pages and store listings, 1 sources on file.
Alternatives to Rnote
Compare allSoftware that can replace Rnote for an important use case, and what changes if you switch.
Saber
An open-source, cross-platform note-taking app built for handwriting with a stylus.
Saber is an open-source handwriting app for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS with encrypted sync between devices, rather than Rnote's Linux focus.
Stylus Labs Write
A word processor for handwriting that treats pen-written lines as editable, reflowing text.
Stylus Labs Write treats handwritten lines as reflowing text on desktop and mobile, though its license is not stated on the homepage.
GoodNotes
Handwriting-first notes app for iPad with Apple Pencil support and OCR search.
GoodNotes is a handwriting app for iPad and Mac with OCR search and PDF annotation, closed source with the full feature set behind payment.
Notability
A note app combining handwriting, audio recording and transcription with AI summaries, quizzes and flashcards.
Notability combines handwriting with audio recording, transcription and AI summaries on iOS, Android and web, closed source with many features behind paid plans.
MyScript Notes
A handwriting note-taking app, formerly Nebo, that converts pen input into editable typed text.
MyScript Notes converts pen input into editable typed text on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, but it is proprietary with some features in paid plans.
Noteshelf
A handwriting notebook app for iPad, iPhone and Mac with PDF annotation and audio recording.
Noteshelf offers handwriting with many paper templates, PDF annotation and audio recording on Apple devices, closed source with a freemium model.
Flexcil
A study app that combines PDF reading, annotation and handwritten notes on tablets and the web.
Flexcil pairs PDF reading and stylus annotation with handwritten notes on Android and iOS tablets and the web, closed source and freemium.
Rnote as an alternative
Listings that name Rnote as an alternative.
Concepts
Infinite-canvas sketching app where every stroke is an editable vector, for iOS, Android and Windows.
Rnote is a free, open-source vector drawing app with an infinite canvas and PDF annotation for macOS and Linux, though its native file format is unstable between versions.
Drawboard PDF
A pen-friendly PDF markup app with live-synced annotations across desktop, mobile and web.
Rnote is free and open source on Linux and macOS with pressure-sensitive stylus input and an infinite canvas, without live sync.
Xournal++
Handwritten notes and PDF annotation with a stylus, including on top of lecture slides and scanned papers.
Rnote is an open-source vector drawing app with an infinite canvas and PDF annotation for Linux and macOS, but its native file format changes between versions.
Similar software
Related functionality, not necessarily a direct replacement.
Allume
A canvas app for thinking with nested boards of text, ink, images and PDFs, formerly Muse.
LiquidText
An active-reading app for annotating PDFs and pulling excerpts into a flexible workspace.
Highlights
A PDF reader for Mac, iPad and iPhone that turns annotations into exportable notes.
MarginNote
A study app for Mac and iPad that links PDF highlights, mind maps and flashcards.
Heptabase
Visual note-taking app that organizes research as cards on whiteboards.
Xmind
A mind mapping and brainstorming app for web, desktop and mobile with AI and Gantt planning.
