Beaver Notes
What Beaver Notes is
Beaver Notes is a local-first, open-source notes app for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It works offline and presents itself as having no cloud, artificial intelligence, or tracking. The editor handles Markdown, checklists, callouts, math blocks, and Mermaid diagrams. Search covers note content, titles, and labels; labels can filter notes, and bookmarks can appear on the home screen. You can attach files such as PDFs and presentations, then share notes with friends or other applications. Optional synchronization uses a folder in Dropbox, OneDrive, iCloud, or Syncthing, or a server you configure. Notes and assets use AES-256-GCM encryption at rest, with optional sync-data encryption and password locks for individual notes. Plugins extend data and editor functions, though editor-plane plugins have full JavaScript-context access. The app is freemium: the free plan includes the full app with your own cloud, while Beaver-hosted sync starts at $4 per month.
Who it suits
It suits people wanting offline, open-source notes across Windows, macOS, or Linux. It also fits users who need Markdown tools, optional folder-based sync, note sharing, and individually protected notes.
What it does well
- Works offline on Windows, macOS, and Linux
- Markdown, diagrams, checklists, and callouts
- Searches content, titles, and labels
- AES-256-GCM encryption at rest
- Supports Dropbox, OneDrive, iCloud, and Syncthing
What to know first
- Autosync does not work with GVFS on Linux
- Editor-plane plugins have broad JavaScript access
- Paid hosted sync starts at $4 per month
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Full Beaver Notes · bring your own cloud for sync | Free |
| Starter | $4/month · 30 days of note history · 10 GB storage | $4 a month |
| Pro | $9/month · One year of note history · 50 GB storage | $9 a month |
| Team | $12/seat/month · One year of note history · 100 GB storage plus 25 GB per seat | $12 a month |
| Enterprise | Custom · Custom history retention · customizable storage · contact sales | On request |
As beavernotes.com lists them, read 11 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
Beaver Notes combines offline, open-source note-taking with extensive Markdown features, sharing, encryption, and optional synchronization. Check the Linux sync limitation and plugin permissions before adding it to a sensitive workflow.
Facts from Beaver Notes's own pages
- Encryption
- The security model describes AES-256-GCM encryption for note content and assets at rest, plus optional encryption of sync data when app-level encryption is enabled. · docs.beavernotes.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Files and sharing
- The homepage describes adding files such as PDFs and presentations to notes and sharing notes with friends and other apps. · beavernotes.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · blog.beavernotes.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Integrations
- Dropbox,OneDrive,iCloud,Syncthing,Nextcloud · blog.beavernotes.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Note locks
- The security model also describes manual password protection for individual notes. · docs.beavernotes.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Notes and Markdown
- The editor supports Markdown formatting, checklists, callouts, math blocks, and Mermaid diagrams. · docs.beavernotes.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Note sharing
- Yes · blog.beavernotes.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Offline access
- Yes · blog.beavernotes.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Organization
- Users can search note content, titles, and labels, filter by labels, and bookmark notes on the home screen. · docs.beavernotes.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Platforms
- The installation guide documents Windows, macOS, and Linux installs, including Windows portable builds and Linux Flatpak, DEB, RPM, AUR, and AppImage options. · docs.beavernotes.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Plugins
- Beaver Notes supports plugins that can extend app data and editor functions, with permissions for app-plane operations such as note access, filesystem use, and network requests. · docs.beavernotes.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Plugin security
- The plugin documentation warns that editor-plane plugins have full access to the editor's JavaScript context and advises installing them only from trusted sources. · docs.beavernotes.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Product
- Beaver Notes describes itself as a local-first, open-source notes app with no cloud, AI, or tracking on its homepage. · beavernotes.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Project and support
- The docs call Beaver Notes a fully open-source indie project and direct users to Reddit or GitHub Discussions to join the community and ask questions. · docs.beavernotes.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Sync integrations
- The sync guide describes syncing through a user-selected folder in services such as Dropbox, OneDrive, iCloud, or Syncthing, and says users can set up their own server. · docs.beavernotes.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Sync limitation
- The docs say autosync does not work with GVFS on Linux and recommend tools such as Celeste or Nextcloud Client instead. · docs.beavernotes.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Sync plans
- The maker's August 2026 post describes Beaver Sync plans and says paid plans provide Beaver-hosted storage while the free plan uses the user's own cloud. · blog.beavernotes.com, 11 Oct 2026
Where Beaver Notes stands on Freedom251
- Note-taking apps#86 of 216