Dev tools · alternatives · 2026
24 alternatives to Edna, note taking app for developers
I took a small break from coding SumatraPDF and wrote a note taking application that is perfect for me: https://edna.arslexis.io/ Edna is a note taking app for developers and power users. A cross between Obsidian and Notational Velocity. Markdown, plain text, code, works in browser so no installation required, private (notes are stored in your browser or disk) and secure (can encrypt notes with a password). The story so far. I was always attracted to editors with minimalistic UI, like https://mak.ink/, simplenote, Notational Velocity. I like having most of the…
Edna is a browser-based note-taking app designed for developers and power users. It supports markdown, plain text, and code with a minimalist interface that prioritizes writing space. Notes can be stored locally in the… Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. Edna, note taking app for developers launched in 2024; newer entries below may have overtaken it.
- 1

I wanted to see how far I could go building a notes app using only what modern browsers already provide – no frameworks, no storage APIs, no build step. What it does: Single HTML file, no deps, 111 loc Notes live in the URL hash (shareable links!) Auto-compressed with CompressionStream Plain-text editor (contenteditable) History support Page title from first # heading Respects light/dark mode No storage, cookies, or tracking The entire app is the page source. https://textarea.my/
Dec 2025 · github.com · its alternatives →
- 2

Dictate notes, perform searches, and see recent content.
2014 · evernote.com · its alternatives →
- 3

- 4RT
2017 · notational.co · its alternatives →
- 5

- 6
Notea▲288Free self-hosted open source note taking app, like Notion
2021 · cinwell.com · its alternatives →
- 7CN
2020 · collectednotes.com · its alternatives →
- 8

Thank you for your comments, just some context: - The app is available for iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Apple Vision Pro, and the Web. - The Web version is implemented as a Progressive Web Application that is very responsive, local first, offline first, can be installed, and is entirely free to use. - Native (hybrid) versions do not require subscription fees and have small one-time payment. - You can store your notes in Git using any Git provider such as GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket. However, it has the best built-in integration with GitHub. Self-hosted scenarios like Gitea are also…
2024 · about.noteshub.app · its alternatives →
- 9

- 10

- 11

A unique modeless, mouseless Mac OS X note-taking app
2014 · notational.net · its alternatives →
- 12
Material Notes▲169Simple no hassle notes app in a beautiful material design
2017 · play.google.com · its alternatives →
- 13
QuickNote.io▲145📝 Minimalist, 🙈 anonymous and 🆓 free note taking app
2018 · quicknote.io · its alternatives →
- 14

Noteship is a note taking app for Mac that combines notes, todos, and reminders and is based on simple files and folders.
2021 · noteship.com · its alternatives →
- 15
Cimanote▲169The fast, clean note app Evernote used to be
Mar 2026 · cimanote.com · its alternatives →
- 16
MinkNote▲157Private macOS notes app built on plain Markdown files. No databases, no lock-in. Native, keyboard-first, and designed for knowledge organization.
Jul 2026 · muse23.com · its alternatives →
- 17

- 18
UpNote▲161The most pleasant app for writing and organizing notes
2020 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →
- 19

- 20

- 21
Dumbnote▲141Offline-first Markdown note app. No lock-in. Just write.
2025 · dumbnote.app · its alternatives →
- 22

- 23

Simple, beautiful note-taking app across platforms
2021 · getupnote.com · its alternatives →
- 24

Hi HN. I tested literally dozens of note-taking apps over the years — free, paid, everything. They all sucked except UpNote. Great UX, clean, fast, just works. But your data lives in Google Firebase. Dealbreaker. So I tried Obsidian. Local files, markdown, own your data — great philosophy. But the app itself? Even with everything disabled, as a plain markdown editor it was painful. I actually stopped taking notes entirely. So I built what I wanted: inspired by UpNote's clean design but taken further; less clutter, more polished, with Obsidian's local-first ideology. Your notes are standard…
Aug 2026 · helixnotes.com · its alternatives →
Also compare
Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →