Top Note-Taking Applications for MacOS and Linux

Note-taking applications are essential and indispensable tools for users, whether for documenting instant ideas or for effectively organizing complex projects. With the increasing demand for flexible and multi-platform solutions, many are looking for reliable applications that meet their needs on both MacOS and Linux operating systems. This article provides an overview of the most prominent free and premium note-taking applications that run efficiently on both systems, highlighting key features that make them ideal choices for improving productivity.

Joplin: The Powerful and Secure Open-Source Alternative for Note-Taking

Joplin is considered a leading free and open-source note-taking application, available on a wide range of platforms including Linux, macOS, Windows, Android, and iOS. This application stands out with its strong support for end-to-end encryption, ensuring maximum privacy and security for your notes. Joplin supports rich Markdown features for text formatting and can be effectively used for regular note-taking, creating organized to-do lists, and adding various attachments. The application also allows seamless synchronization of notes with popular cloud storage services such as Dropbox, OneDrive, and Nextcloud, in addition to the option of keeping them locally on your device for more control. Joplin is considered a powerful and distinctive alternative to Evernote, especially for users who prefer full control over their data and seek open-source solutions. Recently, newer versions of Joplin have added enhanced features such as a "Collapse/Expand All" button for notebooks, making it easier to organize and browse the hierarchical structure of notes efficiently. Joplin now also offers advanced synchronization and sharing solutions through Joplin Cloud service and the option to host your own Joplin Server, expanding possibilities for collaboration and data management (last Joplin Server update in August 2025).

Obsidian: The Interconnected and Infinite Personal Knowledge Base

Obsidian is a unique note-taking application, free for personal use, and runs smoothly on Linux, macOS, Windows, Android, and iOS systems. Obsidian notes are based on simple Markdown text documents, ensuring easy access, editing, and export. Obsidian is highly customizable and features an innovative focus on internal hyperlinks, enabling users to build a connected and personal knowledge network similar to a wiki. This approach enhances the organization of complex ideas, linking concepts, and finding information with exceptional efficiency. Obsidian supports an active community that provides a wide range of plugins to enhance its core functionalities, such as Canvas boards for visual diagrams, advanced task management, and AI integration capabilities, making it a powerful tool for building your "second brain." Latest features include improvements to the graphical user interface for creating and linking notes more easily and effectively.

Simplenote: Simplicity and Speed in Note-Taking

As its name suggests, Simplenote is a note-taking application characterized by extreme simplicity and lightness, and it is free and open-source. Simplenote is renowned for its clean and minimalistic interface and supports Markdown features for basic text formatting. One of its most notable features is the ability to instantly and seamlessly synchronize notes across multiple devices, including Android, iOS, Windows, Linux, and even web browsers. Simplenote offers the feature of organizing notes using Tags instead of traditional folders, allowing greater flexibility in categorization and searching. If you are looking for a fast, easy-to-use application that focuses on basic text without unnecessary complexities, Simplenote is an excellent choice for keeping your ideas organized and always at your fingertips.

Microsoft OneNote: The Comprehensive and Integrated Solution for Notes

OneNote is a traditional and free note-taking application from Microsoft, available across a wide range of platforms: macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, and the web. OneNote offers a free and unrestricted note-taking experience, where you can click anywhere on the page to start typing or drawing. Notes are effectively organized into notebooks, sections, and pages, giving a familiar feel of a paper notebook but with advanced digital capabilities. The application supports inserting images, documents, and videos, and provides comprehensive search including Optical Character Recognition (OCR) within images and even attached PDF files. Easy synchronization across all devices makes it a practical and reliable choice, especially for users of the Microsoft Office ecosystem who benefit from its seamless integration with applications like Outlook. Among its advanced features, OneNote offers AI capabilities to help users organize notes and extract information, in addition to continuous improvements to the user interface to provide a better experience (last updated in October 2023).

Conclusion: Choosing the Optimal Note-Taking Application for Your Needs on MacOS and Linux

The choice of the optimal note-taking application largely depends on your personal needs and unique workflow. Whether you prefer open-source and flexible solutions like Joplin, Obsidian, and Simplenote, or lean towards traditional and comprehensive options like Microsoft OneNote, there are free and powerful options that support both MacOS and Linux systems, and effectively meet various requirements. We recommend trying these diverse applications to see which one suits you best, to ensure your ideas remain organized, searchable, and always at your fingertips.