Heptabase review
A visual research workspace with whiteboards, linked notes, PDF tools, and AI.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Heptabase is a visual knowledge-base and note-taking application for students, researchers, and lifelong learners. It brings together visual whiteboards, cards, block-based notes, bidirectional links, daily journals, PDF annotation, web clipping, and AI-assisted research features. Its desktop app supports offline access to notes and files, while shared whiteboards provide collaborator permissions for group work. It is a strong fit for people who organize learning and research spatially rather than relying only on linear documents.
The free plan is available through collaboration with a paid user. Pro costs $11.99 per user per month when billed monthly or $107.88 per user per year when billed annually, with 100 AI credits per month, PDF uploads and parsing, and features including the AI agent, AI Tutor, video transcript, insight generator, and voice note. Premium costs $23.99 monthly or $215.88 annually and adds 1,800 AI credits per month, unlimited PDF uploads and parsing, and access to Gemini, OpenAI, and Anthropic models. Premium+ costs $71.99 monthly or $647.88 annually, with 8,100 AI credits per month and the same other features as Premium. A seven-day free trial is also available.
Heptabase covers web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and Chrome through its extension. Readwise and Zotero synchronization support research workflows, while Model Context Protocol services, Claude, and ChatGPT extend its integration options. The core experience is deliberately centered on visual organization, linked ideas, source material, and whiteboard collaboration. Choose it if that structure matches how you learn or investigate topics. Choose a more general note-taking app instead if you do not need visual boards, PDF research tools, or AI-assisted knowledge work.
Heptabase pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Whiteboards, cards, links, journals, and block editing in one workspace
- PDF annotation, web clipping, and Zotero and Readwise synchronization
- Offline desktop access plus shared whiteboards with collaborator permissions
- Where it doesn't
- The free plan requires collaboration with a paid user
- Pro starts at $11.99 per user per month
- Its visual research focus may not suit general note-taking needs
Heptabase fact sheet, pricing and score →
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