What makes Znote different from Obsidian or Notion?

Znote combines markdown editing with built-in AI chat, JavaScript code execution, and meeting transcription - all in one app. Unlike Obsidian (requires plugins) or Notion (cloud-based subscription), Znote is local-first, works offline, and has a one-time payment model.

Is Znote free to use?

Yes, Znote is free to use for basic markdown writing. The Pro license (one-time) unlocks AI features, code execution, meeting transcription, themes, and removes the 'Unlicensed' label.

Can I use my own AI API key with Znote?

Yes! Znote supports Bring Your Own Key (BYOK). You can connect OpenAI, Claude, DeepSeek, Ollama, or any OpenRouter-compatible LLM. This gives you full control over your AI usage and costs.

Does Znote work offline?

Yes, Znote is 100% local-first. All your notes are stored on your device, and you can work completely offline. AI features require internet only when using cloud-based LLMs (you can use Ollama for fully offline AI).

What programming languages can I run in Znote?

Znote supports JavaScript/Node.js code execution directly in your notes. You can import any NPM package, run bash scripts, query APIs, and export your code as standalone scripts.

Znote – Run your thinking

Watch it run

A few examples of what you can actually do with Znote

Improve your messy notes to structured thinking

Write the idea the way it comes out. Znote's AI picks it up and turns it into a structured note — inline, right where you wrote it.

Brainstorm on my future side-project

I want make app for people find gym close. Right now hard to know where gyms are. Also booking for class complicated. App should make gym things easy.

✨ Explain me the problem and identify the 3 features that make this worth building.

Transform your notes into Jira tickets

A rough product idea sits in @idea. The AI block reads it, breaks it into user stories, and pushes them to Jira.

Break down the product idea in @idea into user stories and create them in Jira project MY_PROJECT as Story type.

Try it — press ▶ to run

Capture and summarize your meetings

Hit record. Znote transcribes the meeting and drafts a clean summary — inline, in the same note.

Microphone

MacBook Air Microphone (Built-in)

12:03

Click the to stop & summarize

Explore your data with one SQL query

A JS block queries your database, shapes the rows into series, and renders a chart — inline, in your note.

// Query sales rows from the orders DB
const rows = await db.query(`
  SELECT channel, month, SUM(amount) AS total_sales
  FROM orders
  WHERE year = 2023 AND channel IN ('Facebook', 'Google')
  GROUP BY channel, month
  ORDER BY month
`);

// Shape rows into chart series
const categories = Array.from(new Set(rows.map(r => r.month)));
const series = toSeries({ data: rows, x: "month", y: "total_sales", category: "channel" });

barChart({ horizontal: true, series, categories });

Try it — press ▶ to run

Draft email replies in seconds

A Gmail thread labeled znote carries your drafting notes. The AI block reads the thread, follows your notes, and saves the reply as a draft.

Find Gmail threads labeled "znote" that have a saved draft. Use the draft notes and the thread messages to write the reply. Return only the email content.

Try it — press ▶ to run

One note. One click. Done.

See all recipes Get Pro — 14.90€

What lives in a Znote file?

Your notes, your AI's context, and your code — all in one plain Markdown file.
Your AI reads it. Your scripts run inside it. You own it forever.

Notes + AI context + Code = note.md

Readable by your AI

Reference a folder, a note, or a code block with @. Your AI reads it as context — grounded answers, no hallucination.

Editable by you

It's Markdown. Add context, tweak a prompt, run a script — your file, your rules.

Yours forever

Plain .md files on your disk. Share them, back them up, open them in any editor. No cloud, no lock-in.

Popular Recipes

The Recipe Library

Install a recipe. Connect your key. Run it.

Gmail auto-reply — Classify and reply to labeled emails with AI-written drafts. gmail ai

Jira from specs — Write user stories in Markdown, push structured tickets to Jira. jira ai

API tester — Test endpoints and document them in the same file. Bye Postman. http code

SQL explorer — Query your database and display results inline. No extra tool. database code

● ● ●

2,000+

Active Users

5.0 ★

User Rating

100%

Local & Private

An executable note is a Markdown file that runs
Write code, call AI, reference files and functions. All inside a plain .md file on your machine.

What Znote does

Every Pro note comes with these capabilities built in.

context

AI @references to notes, files & code

Reference blocks, files, or code with "@". Replies stay tied to your material — no generic guesses.

runtime

Run JavaScript & Node.js inline

Run JavaScript and Node.js inline. Fetched data, formatted output, API responses — all next to the code that produced them.

voice

Voice recording & meeting transcription

Hit record, end the call, get a structured note back. No typing, no cleanup, no second app.

web

Web search from your AI blocks

AI browses the web and writes current results back as context you can keep and reuse.

tools

AI tool calls into your JS functions

AI calls your JS functions to fire HTTP requests, query databases, hit APIs — the note does the work, not just describes it.

apps

Gmail, Jira & database plugins

Draft emails, create tickets, post to Slack, query databases — plugins connect Gmail, Jira and more straight to the note.

An editor built for real work

Not just a Markdown editor. A place to think, build, and automate.

Two Editors

WYSIWYG for text, Code Editor with auto-complete

Tabs

Work on multiple documents at once

Tags & Folders

Find everything fast with full-text search

Local Files

Open, edit, and organize your Markdown files

AI Runtime

Call any model from a code block or chat

Private & Secure

Lock notes with passwords, stay offline by default

Your notes. Your tools. Your control.

Plain Markdown files. Local execution. Your AI key.

Works offline

All files stored locally, no internet required

Choose your AI

Works with OpenAI, Claude, Ollama, or local models

Plain .md files

Markdown + executable code blocks. Open in any editor, run in Znote

Interoperable

Easy to export, share, back up

Private by default

You stay in control

A note shouldn't just be read.
It should work for you.

Feature	Znote	Obsidian	Notion
Prompts saved as reusable files	✓	✗	✗
AI reads your files directly	✓	Plugin	✗
Local-first & Offline	✓	✓	✗
AI Workspace (blocks, files, functions)	✓	Plugin	✓
Run JavaScript/Node.js	✓	✗	✗
Meeting Transcription	✓	✗	✗
WYSIWYG Editor	✓	Limited	✓
Bring Your Own LLM	✓	Plugin	✗
One-time Payment	✓	✓	✗

Who is Znote for?

Developers and indie makers — two people, two real workflows

Developers

Code, docs, and AI — in your Markdown files.

Run prompts & Node.js against real endpoints
Record & Transcribe meetings
Share a note that runs, not just reads

Indie Makers

Idea, prototype, and automate — all in the same place.

Build a Gmail automation in 5 min
Keep your stack in files you own
One-time payment, yours forever

What Our Users Say

Absolutely brilliant, I love it. I've been searching for a solution like this where I can store my code snippets or brainstorm. Keep up the great work!

Monae

😊 Great and simple product which can actually boost one’s productivity.

Fin

Great job on the launch of Znote! It's an incredible product that allows users to learn and prototype their ideas faster. The AI integration is fantastic and the JavaScript and Markdown support is top-notch. Keep up the great work

Ali

I've been using Znote AI as my go-to JavaScript playground app for the past few weeks, and I have to say, it's been a lifesaver.
The app's integration with Markdown makes it incredibly easy to document and organize my code snippets, and the ability to run code directly in the app is a huge time-saver.
The platform is user-friendly and has a clean interface, which makes it easy to navigate. It made writing and experimenting with code much more efficient.
A great way to keep track of my different projects and code snippets.

Sanjeet

Open zNote. Dump your idea. 'Play with it'. (literally)
The simplicity of how zNote integrates into my workflow encourages me to try new things more often. In comparison, even 'traditional' online playgrounds appear to be time consuming and 'complicated'.
That is the main reason, zNote is about to become my GoTo braindump to catch simple ideas as well as to collect notes.

nl8

The best “Jupyter-like” notebooks for JS

mrcbns

Really, can't work without it! It's my main tool for working.

So Happy to discovered Znote! Love your minset and your reactivity!

Thanks for all your support 🙏 I'm using it for my daily work and having the voice to add things in Roadmap is really helpful.

Pays for itself in 2 days

No subscription trap. A few euros of API credit goes a long way.

Bring your own API key

5€ of API credit

lasts months of daily use — Znote sends minimal tokens, only the blocks you reference.

No €20/mo AI subscription

Near-transparent cost — pennies per action

You own the key, you control the spend

Superpowers for your notes

14.90€

one-time

forever yours

Get Pro

Turn daily actions into reusable, repeatable workflows. · 30-day refund

Quick Questions

Is Znote free?

Yes. The core app is free. The Pro license (one-time, 14.90€) unlocks AI, code execution, meeting transcription, and themes.

How is it different from Obsidian or Notion?

Znote runs code directly in your notes. No plugins, no cloud, no subscription. Write a script, hit run, see the output inline.

Do I need an API key to use AI?

Yes — bring your own key (OpenAI, Claude, Ollama…). It's the cheapest way to stay in control: pay only for what you use. The built-in AI is just for trying things out.

SEE ALL FAQ

Run your thinking.

Improve your messy notes to structured thinking

Brainstorm on my future side-project

Transform your notes into Jira tickets

Capture and summarize your meetings

Explore your data with one SQL query

Draft email replies in seconds

Meeting to Jira tickets in 30 seconds

Your best prompts shouldn't live in a chat thread

Without Znote

With Znote

What lives in a Znote file?

Readable by your AI

Editable by you

Yours forever

The Recipe Library

What Znote does

AI @references to notes, files & code

Run JavaScript & Node.js inline

Voice recording & meeting transcription

Web search from your AI blocks

AI tool calls into your JS functions

Gmail, Jira & database plugins

Your AI key. Your models.Your rules.

An editor built for real work

Two Editors

Tabs

Tags & Folders

Local Files

AI Runtime

Private & Secure

Your notes. Your tools. Your control.

Works offline

Choose your AI

Plain .md files

Interoperable

Private by default

No Other Tool Does This

Who is Znote for?

Developers

Indie Makers

What Our Users Say

Absolutely brilliant, I love it. I've been searching for a solution like this where I can store my code snippets or brainstorm. Keep up the great work!

😊 Great and simple product which can actually boost one’s productivity.

Great job on the launch of Znote! It's an incredible product that allows users to learn and prototype their ideas faster. The AI integration is fantastic and the JavaScript and Markdown support is top-notch. Keep up the great work

The best “Jupyter-like” notebooks for JS

Really, can't work without it! It's my main tool for working.

So Happy to discovered Znote! Love your minset and your reactivity!

Thanks for all your support 🙏 I'm using it for my daily work and having the voice to add things in Roadmap is really helpful.

Pays for itself in 2 days

Start today

Quick Questions

Is Znote free?

How is it different from Obsidian or Notion?

Do I need an API key to use AI?

Your AI key. Your models.
Your rules.