{
  "@context": [
    "https://schema.org",
    {
      "nuanyue": "https://www.nuanyue.com/ns#"
    }
  ],
  "@type": "SoftwareApplication",
  "@id": "https://www.nuanyue.com/software/fsnotes/#software",
  "name": "FSNotes",
  "description": "Native, open-source Markdown notes app for Mac and iPhone that keeps notes as plain files in folders you own, syncs through iCloud and can back them up with Git.",
  "url": "https://www.nuanyue.com/software/fsnotes/",
  "mainEntityOfPage": "https://www.nuanyue.com/software/fsnotes/",
  "operatingSystem": "macOS",
  "applicationCategory": "BusinessApplication",
  "publisher": {
    "name": "Oleksandr Hlushchenko",
    "url": "https://github.com/glushchenko"
  },
  "sameAs": [
    "https://fsnot.es/",
    "https://apps.apple.com/us/app/fsnotes/id1277179284",
    "https://github.com/glushchenko/fsnotes"
  ],
  "softwareVersion": "7.3.5",
  "license": "MIT",
  "offers": {
    "@type": "Offer",
    "price": "0",
    "priceCurrency": "USD"
  },
  "nuanyue:record": {
    "schemaVersion": 1,
    "id": "software:fsnotes",
    "slug": "fsnotes",
    "name": "FSNotes",
    "type": "SoftwareApplication",
    "entityType": "note-taking app",
    "description": "Native, open-source Markdown notes app for Mac and iPhone that keeps notes as plain files in folders you own, syncs through iCloud and can back them up with Git.",
    "shortDescription": "Open-source Markdown notes app for Mac and iPhone, files on disk.",
    "answer": "FSNotes is a notes app that refuses to own your notes. It reads and writes plain Markdown files in folders you choose, so the same library opens in any editor and survives the app. It is a native Mac and iPhone app built for speed across 10,000+ files, with instant search and Notational Velocity-inspired keyboard control. Organisation is folders, tags and `[[wiki links]]`; iCloud Drive keeps a library in step between Mac and iPhone, and Git can version it. Individual notes or whole folders can be locked with AES-256 and unlocked with Touch ID. It is open source under MIT and free from GitHub; the App Store build is a one-time $8.99 that funds development and adds automatic updates.",
    "page": "https://www.nuanyue.com/software/fsnotes/",
    "dataUrl": "https://www.nuanyue.com/data/software/fsnotes.json",
    "categories": [
      "productivity"
    ],
    "tags": [],
    "platform": [
      "macOS"
    ],
    "minOsVersion": "macOS 12.4",
    "architecture": [],
    "featured": false,
    "pricing": "freemium",
    "pricingDescription": "The source is MIT licensed and free to build or download from GitHub. The official Mac and iPhone apps are a one-time $8.99 purchase from the App Store, which funds development and adds automatic updates. There is no subscription.",
    "price": {
      "amount": 8.99,
      "currency": "USD"
    },
    "license": "MIT",
    "currentVersion": "7.3.5",
    "releaseDate": "2026-10-03",
    "openSource": true,
    "website": "https://fsnot.es/",
    "github": "https://github.com/glushchenko/fsnotes",
    "appStore": "https://apps.apple.com/us/app/fsnotes/id1277179284",
    "download": "https://github.com/glushchenko/fsnotes/releases/download/v7.3.5/FSNotes_v7.3.5.zip",
    "developer": {
      "name": "Oleksandr Hlushchenko",
      "website": "https://github.com/glushchenko"
    },
    "icon": "/apps/fsnotes.png",
    "features": [
      "Notes are plain Markdown files in folders you choose, readable in any editor without FSNotes",
      "GitHub Flavored Markdown, with syntax highlighting in code blocks across 30+ languages",
      "Instant search and keyboard-centric navigation built for libraries of 10,000+ files",
      "Multi-folder storage, so several separate libraries can be open at once",
      "Cross-note links using [[double brackets]], plus tags, and an elastic two-pane view",
      "iCloud Drive sync keeps the same folders available on Mac and iPhone",
      "Optional Git versioning with scheduled commits, and push or pull from a remote",
      "AES-256 encryption for individual notes or whole folders, unlocked with Touch ID",
      "Mermaid and MathJax support for diagrams and equations",
      "TextBundle and encrypted TextBundle containers keep attachments alongside the text",
      "External editor support, with changes syncing live back into the interface",
      "Plaintext files supported alongside Markdown, and inline images"
    ],
    "useCases": [
      "Keeping a large Markdown library on disk where no vendor can lock it away",
      "Editing notes in a terminal editor and having the change appear in the app",
      "Versioning a notes folder with Git and pushing it to a remote",
      "Locking a folder of sensitive notes behind AES-256 and Touch ID",
      "Writing technical notes that mix code blocks, Mermaid diagrams and equations"
    ],
    "formats": [],
    "integrations": [],
    "pros": [
      {
        "text": "Notes are plain Markdown files on disk, so the library works in any editor and does not depend on the app surviving.",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "text": "Open source under MIT, and free to download from GitHub; the App Store build is a one-time $8.99 rather than a subscription.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "app-store",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "text": "Built for scale: instant search and smooth performance across collections of 10,000+ files.",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "text": "Optional Git versioning with scheduled commits and remote push or pull.",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "text": "Individual notes or entire folders can be locked with AES-256 and unlocked with Touch ID.",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ],
    "cons": [
      {
        "text": "Requires macOS 12.4, so older Macs are out of support.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "app-store",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "text": "No graph view and no plugin ecosystem, so it is not a linked knowledge base.",
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "text": "Sync on the iPhone app is iCloud Drive only — no Dropbox, WebDAV or Google Drive.",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "text": "The Mac and iPhone apps are separate purchases.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ],
    "whoIsItFor": [
      "People who want notes as files first and an app second",
      "Users with large note libraries who need search and navigation that stay fast",
      "Anyone who wants iCloud sync without an account or a proprietary database"
    ],
    "notFor": [
      "Anyone who wants a graph view or a plugin ecosystem, which is what Obsidian is for",
      "People on macOS 12.3 or earlier, since the current release requires macOS 12.4",
      "Users who need Dropbox, WebDAV or Google Drive sync — the iPhone app supports iCloud Drive only"
    ],
    "limitations": [
      "Requires macOS 12.4 or later",
      "The iPhone app supports iCloud Drive only; Dropbox, WebDAV and Google Drive sync are not available",
      "No graph view and no plugin system, so it is not a replacement for a linked knowledge base such as Obsidian or Logseq",
      "Git integration is optional and has to be configured; it is not on by default",
      "The App Store purchase is per platform, so the Mac and iPhone apps are bought separately"
    ],
    "firstUse": {
      "installation": {
        "value": "Buy and install from the Mac App Store, which is what the developer recommends for automatic updates, or download the zip from the GitHub releases page and move the app into Applications.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      "firstLaunch": {
        "value": "FSNotes asks which folder to use as the storage location. Pointing it at an existing folder of Markdown files, or an iCloud Drive folder, is all the setup there is — there is no account to create.",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      "systemIntegration": {
        "value": "Works directly on folders on disk, so other editors can open the same files and changes sync back into the app. It supports system dark mode, Touch ID for unlocking encrypted notes, and a sharing extension on iOS.",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      "appleSilicon": {
        "value": true,
        "status": "derived",
        "source": "app-store",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      }
    },
    "updates": [
      {
        "version": "7.3.5",
        "date": "2026-10-03",
        "summary": "Current release, published to the Mac App Store on 3 October 2026.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "app-store"
      },
      {
        "version": "7.3.4",
        "date": "2026-09-20",
        "summary": "Previous release, published to GitHub two weeks before 7.3.5.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "repository"
      },
      {
        "version": "7.3.2",
        "date": "2026-08-17",
        "summary": "Release on the 7.3 line, published a month before 7.3.4.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "repository"
      }
    ],
    "faq": [
      {
        "question": "Is FSNotes free?",
        "answer": "The source is MIT licensed and free to download from GitHub. The official Mac and iPhone apps are a one-time $8.99 from the App Store, which funds development and adds automatic updates. There is no subscription.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "app-store",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "question": "Where does FSNotes store my notes?",
        "answer": "Wherever you tell it to. It works directly with folders on your device as plain Markdown files, with no mandatory account or cloud service, so the files remain readable in any other editor.",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "question": "Which macOS version does FSNotes need?",
        "answer": "macOS 12.4 or later, according to the Mac App Store listing for the current 7.3.5 build.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "app-store",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "question": "Does FSNotes work on iPhone?",
        "answer": "Yes, as a separate app using the same Markdown files. It syncs through iCloud Drive; Dropbox, WebDAV and Google Drive are not supported.",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "question": "Can I use Git with FSNotes?",
        "answer": "Yes, optionally. You can schedule commits, review note history and push or pull from a remote repository.",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "source": "official",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "question": "How does FSNotes differ from Obsidian?",
        "answer": "Both work on local Markdown files, but Obsidian adds a graph view and a large plugin ecosystem while FSNotes is a lighter native Mac app without either. FSNotes is the better fit if you want files and speed; Obsidian if you want a linked knowledge base.",
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ],
    "relationships": [
      {
        "target": "joplin",
        "type": "similar",
        "reason": "Both are Markdown note apps for macOS that store notes as files, but FSNotes is a native Mac app while Joplin is cross-platform with its own database.",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "target": "obsidian",
        "type": "alternative",
        "reason": "Both keep notes as local Markdown files, but Obsidian adds a graph view and a plugin ecosystem while FSNotes is a lighter native Mac app with iCloud and Git.",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "target": "typora",
        "type": "competitor",
        "reason": "Both edit Markdown on macOS, but Typora is a paid single-document editor with live in-place rendering while FSNotes is an open-source library manager built around folders of files.",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ],
    "sources": [
      {
        "id": "fsnotes:app-store",
        "type": "app_store",
        "url": "https://apps.apple.com/us/app/fsnotes/id1277179284",
        "title": "FSNotes on the Mac App Store",
        "trustLevel": "A",
        "accessedAt": null
      },
      {
        "id": "fsnotes:official",
        "type": "official_website",
        "url": "https://fsnot.es/",
        "title": "FSNotes — official website",
        "trustLevel": "B",
        "accessedAt": null
      },
      {
        "id": "fsnotes:developer",
        "type": "developer",
        "url": "https://github.com/glushchenko",
        "title": "Oleksandr Hlushchenko — developer website",
        "trustLevel": "B",
        "accessedAt": null
      },
      {
        "id": "fsnotes:repository",
        "type": "github",
        "url": "https://github.com/glushchenko/fsnotes",
        "title": "FSNotes — source repository",
        "trustLevel": "D",
        "accessedAt": null
      }
    ],
    "claims": [
      {
        "id": "software:fsnotes.isA",
        "subject": "software:fsnotes",
        "predicate": "isA",
        "value": "note-taking app",
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "sourceIds": [
          "fsnotes:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:fsnotes.supportsPlatform",
        "subject": "software:fsnotes",
        "predicate": "supportsPlatform",
        "value": [
          "macOS"
        ],
        "status": "verified",
        "sourceIds": [
          "fsnotes:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:fsnotes.officialWebsite",
        "subject": "software:fsnotes",
        "predicate": "officialWebsite",
        "value": "https://fsnot.es/",
        "status": "verified",
        "sourceIds": [
          "fsnotes:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:fsnotes.listedInCategory",
        "subject": "software:fsnotes",
        "predicate": "listedInCategory",
        "value": [
          "productivity"
        ],
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "sourceIds": [
          "fsnotes:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:fsnotes.pricingModel",
        "subject": "software:fsnotes",
        "predicate": "pricingModel",
        "value": "Freemium",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "sourceIds": [
          "fsnotes:app-store",
          "fsnotes:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:fsnotes.price",
        "subject": "software:fsnotes",
        "predicate": "price",
        "value": "USD 8.99",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "sourceIds": [
          "fsnotes:app-store",
          "fsnotes:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:fsnotes.developedBy",
        "subject": "software:fsnotes",
        "predicate": "developedBy",
        "value": "Oleksandr Hlushchenko",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "sourceIds": [
          "fsnotes:developer",
          "fsnotes:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:fsnotes.ownership",
        "subject": "software:fsnotes",
        "predicate": "ownership",
        "value": "Third-party product — not published by Nuanyue",
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "sourceIds": [],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:fsnotes.isOpenSource",
        "subject": "software:fsnotes",
        "predicate": "isOpenSource",
        "value": true,
        "status": "verified",
        "sourceIds": [
          "fsnotes:repository",
          "fsnotes:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:fsnotes.licensedUnder",
        "subject": "software:fsnotes",
        "predicate": "licensedUnder",
        "value": "MIT",
        "status": "verified",
        "sourceIds": [
          "fsnotes:repository",
          "fsnotes:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:fsnotes.currentVersion",
        "subject": "software:fsnotes",
        "predicate": "currentVersion",
        "value": "7.3.5",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "sourceIds": [
          "fsnotes:app-store",
          "fsnotes:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:fsnotes.hasFeature",
        "subject": "software:fsnotes",
        "predicate": "hasFeature",
        "value": [
          "Notes are plain Markdown files in folders you choose, readable in any editor without FSNotes",
          "GitHub Flavored Markdown, with syntax highlighting in code blocks across 30+ languages",
          "Instant search and keyboard-centric navigation built for libraries of 10,000+ files",
          "Multi-folder storage, so several separate libraries can be open at once",
          "Cross-note links using [[double brackets]], plus tags, and an elastic two-pane view",
          "iCloud Drive sync keeps the same folders available on Mac and iPhone",
          "Optional Git versioning with scheduled commits, and push or pull from a remote",
          "AES-256 encryption for individual notes or whole folders, unlocked with Touch ID",
          "Mermaid and MathJax support for diagrams and equations",
          "TextBundle and encrypted TextBundle containers keep attachments alongside the text",
          "External editor support, with changes syncing live back into the interface",
          "Plaintext files supported alongside Markdown, and inline images"
        ],
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "sourceIds": [
          "fsnotes:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:fsnotes.usedFor",
        "subject": "software:fsnotes",
        "predicate": "usedFor",
        "value": [
          "Keeping a large Markdown library on disk where no vendor can lock it away",
          "Editing notes in a terminal editor and having the change appear in the app",
          "Versioning a notes folder with Git and pushing it to a remote",
          "Locking a folder of sensitive notes behind AES-256 and Touch ID",
          "Writing technical notes that mix code blocks, Mermaid diagrams and equations"
        ],
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "sourceIds": [
          "fsnotes:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:fsnotes.audienceFor",
        "subject": "software:fsnotes",
        "predicate": "audienceFor",
        "value": [
          "People who want notes as files first and an app second",
          "Users with large note libraries who need search and navigation that stay fast",
          "Anyone who wants iCloud sync without an account or a proprietary database"
        ],
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "sourceIds": [
          "fsnotes:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:fsnotes.audienceNotFor",
        "subject": "software:fsnotes",
        "predicate": "audienceNotFor",
        "value": [
          "Anyone who wants a graph view or a plugin ecosystem, which is what Obsidian is for",
          "People on macOS 12.3 or earlier, since the current release requires macOS 12.4",
          "Users who need Dropbox, WebDAV or Google Drive sync — the iPhone app supports iCloud Drive only"
        ],
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "sourceIds": [
          "fsnotes:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:fsnotes.limitation",
        "subject": "software:fsnotes",
        "predicate": "limitation",
        "value": [
          "Requires macOS 12.4 or later",
          "The iPhone app supports iCloud Drive only; Dropbox, WebDAV and Google Drive sync are not available",
          "No graph view and no plugin system, so it is not a replacement for a linked knowledge base such as Obsidian or Logseq",
          "Git integration is optional and has to be configured; it is not on by default",
          "The App Store purchase is per platform, so the Mac and iPhone apps are bought separately"
        ],
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "sourceIds": [],
        "lastVerified": null
      },
      {
        "id": "software:fsnotes.advantage.0",
        "subject": "software:fsnotes",
        "predicate": "advantage",
        "value": "Notes are plain Markdown files on disk, so the library works in any editor and does not depend on the app surviving.",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "sourceIds": [
          "fsnotes:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": "2026-10-05"
      },
      {
        "id": "software:fsnotes.advantage.1",
        "subject": "software:fsnotes",
        "predicate": "advantage",
        "value": "Open source under MIT, and free to download from GitHub; the App Store build is a one-time $8.99 rather than a subscription.",
        "status": "verified",
        "sourceIds": [
          "fsnotes:app-store"
        ],
        "lastVerified": "2026-10-05"
      },
      {
        "id": "software:fsnotes.advantage.2",
        "subject": "software:fsnotes",
        "predicate": "advantage",
        "value": "Built for scale: instant search and smooth performance across collections of 10,000+ files.",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "sourceIds": [
          "fsnotes:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": "2026-10-05"
      },
      {
        "id": "software:fsnotes.advantage.3",
        "subject": "software:fsnotes",
        "predicate": "advantage",
        "value": "Optional Git versioning with scheduled commits and remote push or pull.",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "sourceIds": [
          "fsnotes:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": "2026-10-05"
      },
      {
        "id": "software:fsnotes.advantage.4",
        "subject": "software:fsnotes",
        "predicate": "advantage",
        "value": "Individual notes or entire folders can be locked with AES-256 and unlocked with Touch ID.",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "sourceIds": [
          "fsnotes:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": "2026-10-05"
      },
      {
        "id": "software:fsnotes.drawback.0",
        "subject": "software:fsnotes",
        "predicate": "drawback",
        "value": "Requires macOS 12.4, so older Macs are out of support.",
        "status": "verified",
        "sourceIds": [
          "fsnotes:app-store"
        ],
        "lastVerified": "2026-10-05"
      },
      {
        "id": "software:fsnotes.drawback.1",
        "subject": "software:fsnotes",
        "predicate": "drawback",
        "value": "No graph view and no plugin ecosystem, so it is not a linked knowledge base.",
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "sourceIds": [],
        "lastVerified": "2026-10-05"
      },
      {
        "id": "software:fsnotes.drawback.2",
        "subject": "software:fsnotes",
        "predicate": "drawback",
        "value": "Sync on the iPhone app is iCloud Drive only — no Dropbox, WebDAV or Google Drive.",
        "status": "developer-stated",
        "sourceIds": [
          "fsnotes:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": "2026-10-05"
      },
      {
        "id": "software:fsnotes.drawback.3",
        "subject": "software:fsnotes",
        "predicate": "drawback",
        "value": "The Mac and iPhone apps are separate purchases.",
        "status": "verified",
        "sourceIds": [
          "fsnotes:official"
        ],
        "lastVerified": "2026-10-05"
      },
      {
        "id": "software:fsnotes.supportsAppleSilicon",
        "subject": "software:fsnotes",
        "predicate": "supportsAppleSilicon",
        "value": true,
        "status": "derived",
        "sourceIds": [
          "fsnotes:app-store"
        ],
        "lastVerified": "2026-10-05"
      }
    ],
    "lastUpdated": "2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z",
    "lastReviewedAt": null
  }
}