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.

Turn your notes into tools

Write once. Run anything.

Get Znote — One-time purchase Try free templates

$ brew install znote

No subscriptions. No vendor lock-in. Plain .md files.

Real use case

Turn a meeting into Jira tickets in 30 seconds

Record your meeting directly in Znote

Znote transcribes and structures it locally

AI generates user stories directly in your note

Push tickets to Jira — all from the same file

Done. No copy-paste.

Your notes don't just store ideas.
They execute them.

2,000+

Active Users

5.0 ★

User Rating

100%

Local & Private

An executable note is a Markdown file that runs.
Write code, connect to APIs, call AI models, all inside a plain .md file on your machine.

What you can actually do

✦ AI inside your notes

Write and brainstorm with AI inline

Ask, rewrite, summarize — without leaving your file. No tab switching, no lost context.

AI linked to the text it came from
Works with OpenAI, Claude, Ollama, OpenRouter

✦ Ready-to-use tools

Build tools. Automate tasks.

Write it once, run it forever. A note becomes a mini-app.

Test APIs and document them in the same file
Automate Gmail, Jira, Slack — from your notes

✦ Voice & Audio

Record. Transcribe. Act.

Record a meeting, get a structured note. No cloud, no setup.

Local transcription with Whisper — fully private
AI extracts action items and summaries instantly

Built for the Tools You'll Build

The editor, the structure, and the local files that make executable notes practical every day.

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

Notes You Own. Tools You Keep

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 is just text. An executable note is a tool you built, documented, and can run again tomorrow.
That's the difference Znote makes.

No Other Tool Does This

Executable notes with built-in AI, local execution, and no subscription

Feature	Znote	Obsidian	Notion	Jupyter
Local-first & Offline	✓	✓	✗	✓
Built-in AI Chat	✓	Plugin	✓	✗
Run JavaScript/Node.js	✓	✗	✗	✓
Meeting Transcription	✓	✗	✗	✗
WYSIWYG Editor	✓	Limited	✓	✗
Bring Your Own LLM	✓	Plugin	✗	✗
One-time Payment	✓	✓	✗	Free

TRY ZNOTE FREE

Stop juggling tools

Every day without Znote is another day of context switching

Without Znote

✗ Notes in one app
✗ AI in another tab
✗ Code somewhere else
✗ Constant copy-paste
✗ Context lost on every switch

With Znote

✓ Everything in one executable note
✓ AI + code + data + actions
✓ No context switching
✓ One file = one complete tool
✓ Works offline, stays private

Switch to Znote

What People Build With It

Executable notes look different for every person — here are three real workflows

Developers

Build mini tools like API testers, DB explorers and data transformers. Write the documentation and the working code in the same file.

Run Node.js against real endpoints
Ask AI to explain or rewrite code
Share a note that works, not just explains

Students & Researchers

Record a lecture, transcribe it locally, and have AI extract key concepts. All without leaving the note or touching a cloud service.

Transcribe lectures automatically
AI-powered study summaries
Works offline in class

Indie Makers

Prototype in a note. The same file holds the idea, the working code, and the AI conversation that shaped it. Ship faster by keeping context together.

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

Write once. Paste anywhere.

One click to copy — formatting perfectly preserved in Teams, Jira, Gmail and anywhere else.

Teams Confluence Jira Gmail Slack Notion

Copy meeting notes from Znote and paste in Gmail with rich formatting

Copied from Znote, pasted into Gmail — formatting intact.

“

Anthony
creator of Znote

"I built this app to be a superpower."

Specs, meeting notes, tools, automations. Written with AI, no overthinking. Each one lives in a plain file, ready to share anywhere, anytime.

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.

Start with a real use-case

Each template is a working tool

Open it, connect your credentials, and it works. No setup, no separate tool.

Gmail → classify → reply with AI — automate your inbox in 5 minutes without leaving your notes.

Data → analyze → visualize — query your SQL database and display results inline. No extra tool.

API → test → document — all in one note. Postman is officially optional.

Explore all ready-to-use tools

Start free today

No account required. Free to use for writing.
Pro license unlocks AI, code execution, meeting transcription & more.

Get Pro — One-time purchase

Windows (x64/arm64)

Mac (Intel) Mac (Silicon)

Linux (x64) Linux (arm64)

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?

No. You can bring your own key (OpenAI, Claude, Ollama…) or use Znote's built-in AI. Both work out of the box with the Pro license.

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