Tomboy NG
What Tomboy NG is
Tomboy NG is a free note-taking app for Linux, Windows, and macOS, with offline access and note sharing. It supports rich-text markup, automatic links between notes, notebooks, search, undo and redo, printing, and spell check. Notes can be imported or exported as plain text, RTF, or Markdown. Synchronization between desktop instances can use a shared file system or GitHub. GitHub Sync also allows viewing and editing through GitHub’s Markdown editor in a browser, with selective syncing for a notebook named SyncGithub. The app keeps one backup copy when a note is manually deleted or overwritten during synchronization. Listed integrations include GitHub, Google Drive, Dropbox, SMB shares, and SSH/sshfs. GitHub tokens receive only minimal obfuscation in the configuration. The maker warns that unrestricted computer access could expose them, and free GitHub accounts allow 5,000 accesses per day.
Who it suits
Tomboy NG suits people wanting free, offline notes across Linux, Windows, and macOS. It also fits users who need Markdown, file-based, or GitHub synchronization.
What it does well
- Free on Linux, Windows, and macOS
- Works offline
- Imports and exports Markdown, RTF, and text
- GitHub browser editing
- Keeps one sync backup copy
What to know first
- GitHub tokens have minimal obfuscation
- Unrestricted computer access may expose tokens
- Free GitHub accounts allow 5,000 accesses daily
- Some Linux Qt packages require extra libraries
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| tomboy-ng | Free note-taking app; Linux, Windows and macOS downloads | Free |
As github.com lists them, read 12 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
Tomboy NG offers broad desktop note features, offline use, and several synchronization methods at no cost. GitHub token storage and account access limits deserve attention for sensitive or very large collections.
Facts from Tomboy NG's own pages
- Backups
- The app keeps one backup copy of each note that is manually deleted or overwritten during sync. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Browser access
- GitHub Sync lets users view and edit notes through GitHub’s Markdown editor from devices with a browser. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Downloads
- The maker provides installers for Linux, Windows and macOS, and says users may also build from source. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Export and import
- It supports importing and exporting plain text, RTF and Markdown. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · github.com, 21 Sept 2026
- GitHub sync limit
- The maker says free GitHub accounts are limited to 5,000 accesses per day, which may affect very large note collections. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- GitHub,Google Drive,Dropbox,SMB shares,SSH/sshfs · github.com, 21 Sept 2026
- License
- The GitHub repository identifies the project as MIT licensed. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Linux requirements
- The download page says Linux Qt5 and Qt6 packages may require separate libqt5pas or libqt6pas libraries, while the GTK2 version does not require those libraries. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Maker
- The README credits David Bannon and gives an email address, but the pages reviewed do not state his headquarters or founding date. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Notes
- It supports rich text markup, automatic links between notes, notebooks, search, undo and redo. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Note sharing
- Yes · github.com, 21 Sept 2026
- Offline access
- Yes · github.com, 21 Sept 2026
- Supported platforms
- Linux,Windows,macOS · github.com, 21 Sept 2026
- Printing and spelling
- The app includes printing and spell check. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- tomboy-ng is a note-taking app that runs on Linux, Windows and macOS. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Security
- The GitHub access token is stored in the app configuration with only minimal obfuscation, and the maker warns that someone with unfettered computer access could retrieve it. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Selective sync
- Users can choose to sync only notes in a notebook named SyncGithub. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Sync
- Notes can sync between desktop instances through a shared file system or GitHub. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
Where Tomboy NG stands on Freedom251
- Note-taking apps#117 of 216