Write, organize, and search your notes — all offline
TagSpaces can be used as a local-first note-taking tool — with Markdown, HTML, and plain text editing, built-in tagging, and full-text search. No account, no cloud, no subscription.
Free & open source · Works offline · Your notes are just files
Why TagSpaces for note-taking?
Your notes are just files
Markdown, HTML, or plain text — stored in regular folders on your device. Open them in any editor, back them up however you want.
Tag instead of folders
Add color-coded tags to any note. One note can belong to multiple topics. Filter, group, and search by tags instantly.
Works 100% offline
No internet needed. No account. No sync issues. Your notes are always accessible, even on a plane.
Rich Markdown editing
WYSIWYG editor with tables, checklists, math expressions, Mermaid diagrams, and frontmatter support.
AI-powered notes
Chat with local AI about your notes via Ollama. Summarize, expand, translate, or brainstorm — fully offline and private.
Sync your way
Use Dropbox, Google Drive, Syncthing, or any sync service. Or connect to S3 storage for team access.
What people use it for
Personal journals & to-dos
Daily reflections, checklists, project logs — with embedded images and media.
Academic & research notes
Tag and categorize PDF articles, lecture transcripts, and references alongside your notes.
Project documentation
Modular, structured docs for development, marketing, or operations teams.
Content drafting
Draft Markdown articles with live preview — ready for export to blogs or CMS.
Creative writing
Capture ideas with full styling, checklists, and rich-media inclusion.
Field notes & reports
Add geo-tags and media on research trips or real-world projects.
Key capabilities
Markdown Editor with WYSIWYG
- WYSIWYG editing — no need to memorize Markdown syntax
- Tables, checklists, and embedded images
- Math expressions (LaTeX) and Mermaid diagrams
- Frontmatter support — compatible with Obsidian and Jekyll vaults
Find Any Note Instantly
- Search by content, tags, filename, or description
- Three modes: fuzzy (forgiving), strict (exact), and semi-strict
- Save and reuse search queries
- Filter by file type, date, or size
Your notes, your format, your choice
TagSpaces stores notes as standard files — Markdown, HTML, or plain text. They work with any editor, any sync service, and any operating system. No proprietary database, no export needed, no vendor lock-in.
TagSpaces works alongside other note-taking tools. If you use Obsidian, Joplin, or any Markdown-based app — TagSpaces reads the same files from the same folders.
Try it now
Double-click on a note below or click the EDIT button to try the WYSIWYG Markdown editor.
How TagSpaces compares to other note-taking apps ▸
TagSpaces stores notes as standard files on your device — no cloud, no vendor lock-in. Sync with any service you choose or work fully offline.
| Feature | TagSpaces | Evernote | Obsidian | Notion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Storage | Local-first / offline (optional S3) | Cloud-based | Local-first | Cloud-only |
| Privacy | No tracking, no account | Tracking & telemetry | Some plugins track | Cloud + analytics |
| Account required | No | Yes | Optional | Yes |
| Offline access | Full | Limited in free plan | Full | Desktop only |
| File format | Markdown / HTML / TXT | Proprietary | Markdown | Proprietary |
| Tagging | Tag-centric design | Limited | Plugin-based | Basic |
| Kanban boards | Built-in (Pro) | No | Plugin needed | Built-in |
| Map & geo-tagging | Built-in (Pro) | No | No | No |
| PDF & eBook viewing | Built-in | Viewer only | Plugin required | Limited |
| AI integration | Local Ollama (free) | Cloud AI (paid) | Plugin-based | Cloud AI (paid) |
| Price | Free / one-time / subscription | Subscription | Free + optional paid | Subscription |
Ready to own your notes?
Get TagSpacesExplore Pro features · Build a second brain · Full comparison article