What is note.md?

note.md is a private, local-first markdown workspace for macOS built for focused writing, research, and structured thought. It functions as an academic IDE, combining literature management, structured writing, and seamless source integration into one minimalist application. Every note stays on your machine, ensuring complete privacy while you work with GitHub Flavored Markdown, LaTeX math, and complex tables.

Who it's for

• Academic researchers who need to organize, read, and cite sources from PDFs without leaving their writing environment
• Writers and thinkers who prefer a distraction-free, local-first workspace with bidirectional linking and graph-based knowledge management
• Privacy-conscious creators who want full control over their notes and refuse to rely on cloud-dependent or proprietary formats

Key features

Reading Studio

Read PDFs with intention using a side-by-side dual-pane interface that pairs your document with the note editor. Highlight key insights and generate BibTeX or APA citations from PDF metadata with a single click.

Knowledge Management

Import scientific papers and complex PDFs directly into your workspace, fill in metadata, and export all sources at once as a .bib file. Premium users also get automatic indexing that extracts figures, charts, and tables from PDFs.

Graph View

Visualize how your articles and sources connect in one unified graph. Export your graph in a Neo4j-friendly format to explore relationships between concepts and sources beyond the app itself.

Semantic Search

Search your workspace by meaning rather than exact phrasing, powered by local AI models that keep your data private. Skip manual file hunting and jump straight to the relevant material.

What stands out

"The UI should dissolve the moment you begin to type."

note.md is built on the philosophy that the tool itself should fade away, leaving only your thoughts and the output they produce. By using markdown as the fundamental storage format, your data remains portable, readable, and future-proof — no proprietary formats, no lock-in. The combination of local-first privacy, academic-grade citation tools, and a visual graph for connecting ideas creates a workspace that prioritizes synthesis over storage.

Worth checking out if…

You are a researcher, writer, or knowledge worker who values deep focus, complete privacy, and the ability to connect ideas across sources. note.md is free for individual creators and available on the App Store, making it an accessible choice for anyone who wants a minimalist, local-first alternative to cloud-based note-taking tools.