Iotas review
A free, open-source Markdown notes app for Linux with offline editing and Nextcloud sync.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Nov 2026
Iotas is a free, open-source note-taking app for Linux desktop and mobile in the GNOME ecosystem. It is aimed at solo users who want lightweight personal notes, including people who write in Markdown or need to edit while offline. Notes can sync when a connection returns, and Nextcloud Notes sync is available as an option. Categories, favorites, search, spell checking, and focus mode cover everyday ways to organize and work with a personal collection.
Markdown is a notable part of Iotas’ workflow: the app offers formatting tools, syntax highlighting, and a formatted view. Search works across the collection or within an individual note, while categories can be edited and used for filtering. Focus mode supports a more restrained writing interface. For portability and recovery, Iotas also provides command-line backup and restoration. Together, these features make it more than a plain text editor, while keeping its scope centered on personal note-taking rather than shared documents.
The platform fit is narrow: Linux is the listed platform, so users looking for a native app across other desktop or mobile systems should consider alternatives. Nextcloud Notes is the named integration, which makes Iotas relevant to users already working with that service; sync is optional, and offline editing remains available. The product is free, with no paid tiers described. Its solo-user focus and lack of sharing or collaboration make it a better fit for an individual’s notes than for team knowledge management. Choose Iotas for a Linux-based Markdown workflow with offline access and backup tools; look elsewhere if cross-platform coverage or collaborative editing is central.
Questions about Iotas
What does Iotas run on? Linux. It runs as a desktop app and as a mobile app.
What does Iotas integrate with? 1 integration: Nextcloud Notes.
Who is Iotas built for? Solo users (our editorial estimate).
Iotas pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Edit notes offline and sync when back online
- Organize with categories and favorites, then search notes
- Markdown tools include syntax highlighting and a formatted view
- Where it doesn't
- Linux is the only listed platform
- No sharing or collaboration features
- Support is listed through documentation
Iotas fact sheet, pricing and score →
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