Beaver Notes review
A strong desktop Markdown notebook for private, offline-first personal knowledge.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Beaver Notes is a local-first, open-source note-taking app for individuals who want their notes stored on their own devices. It combines Markdown editing with note linking, labels, search, file, image, and audio attachments, drawings, handwritten sections, and LaTeX math rendering. The app works offline, supports local note storage, and does not require an account for its core local note-taking workflow. Its audience is best defined by control and privacy rather than shared workspaces or AI-assisted organization.
Pricing centers on Beaver Sync rather than the core local notebook. The Free plan includes the full Beaver Notes app and encrypted cloud sync using your own cloud. Starter costs $4 per month and adds 30 days of note history, 10 GB of storage, and Beaver-provided storage. Pro costs $9 per month with one year of note history and 50 GB of storage. Team costs $12 per seat per month and includes one year of note history plus 100 GB of storage and 25 GB per seat. Enterprise offers custom history retention and customizable storage. This structure lets solo users keep using their own infrastructure or pay for managed storage as their needs grow.
Platform fit is practical for desktop workflows: Beaver Notes supports Windows, macOS, and Linux, with synchronization through Dropbox, OneDrive, iCloud, Syncthing, or Nextcloud. App-level encryption and per-note password locks add control for sensitive notebooks, while the plugin system provides room for extension. The trade-off is a narrow focus. There are no AI features, and the product is limited to desktop platforms; teams seeking a mature collaborative workspace should look elsewhere. Choose Beaver Notes for local, encrypted Markdown knowledge management and flexible synchronization, not for broad cross-platform collaboration or AI-driven note assistance.
Beaver Notes pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Open-source Markdown editor with linking, labels, search, and LaTeX
- Local storage, offline use, encryption, and per-note password locks
- Sync options include Dropbox, OneDrive, iCloud, Syncthing, and Nextcloud
- Where it doesn't
- Available only on Windows, macOS, and Linux desktop platforms
- No AI features
- Collaboration is not a core documented feature
Beaver Notes fact sheet, pricing and score →
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