Vault Notes
What Vault Notes is
Vault Notes is a local-first markdown workspace that stores notes as plain files in a folder you choose. It works offline without an account. The live editor renders headings, tables, task lists, callouts, and code while you type. Wikilinks provide hover previews, backlinks, and inline embedding for notes or sections. An infinite canvas arranges notes, images, and text, while markdown-based kanban boards organize work. Daily notes, timestamp timelines, split view, tabs, and built-in version history are included. Privacy Mode can hide flagged folders and media on a schedule or by command; the site says Touch ID can blur the app when it loses focus. Vault Notes runs on macOS, Windows, Linux, and iOS, with Apple Pencil sketching on iPad. The free Normal plan costs nothing forever on one device and includes Obsidian vault import. Pro costs $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year, adding multi-device use, Google Drive sync, and automatic cloud backup.
Who it suits
Vault Notes suits people who keep their own notes and want local files, offline access, and markdown tools. The free tier fits one-device use; Pro is for syncing across devices.
What it does well
- Plain files stored in a chosen folder
- Works offline without an account
- Live markdown editor with rich elements
- Wikilinks, canvas, and kanban boards
- Google Drive sync on Pro
What to know first
- Free plan covers one device
- Multi-device sync requires Pro
- Cloud backup is a paid feature
- No server stores or reads notes
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | $0 / forever · Whole app on one device · editor, canvas and navigation features · Privacy Mode and command palette · Obsidian vault import | Free |
| Pro | billed monthly · All devices you own | $4.99 a month |
| Pro | 2 months free · All devices you own | $49.99 a year |
| Pro monthly | $4.99 / month · Google Drive sync across devices · automatic cloud backup · one subscription covers every device | $4.99 a month |
| Pro yearly | $49.99 / year — 2 months free · Google Drive sync across devices · automatic cloud backup · one subscription covers every device | $49.99 a year |
As vault-notes.app lists them, read 11 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
Vault Notes focuses on local ownership, offline work, and markdown organization across desktop and iOS platforms. Choose the free tier for one device or Pro for Google Drive syncing and multi-device access.
Facts from Vault Notes's own pages
- Canvas and boards
- The app includes an infinite canvas for arranging notes, images and text, plus markdown-based kanban boards. · vault-notes.app, 11 Oct 2026
- Data handling
- The maker says it operates no server that stores or reads notes and does not sell user data, show ads, analyze note content or use notes to train AI. · vault-notes.app, 11 Oct 2026
- Editor
- The live markdown editor renders headings, tables, task lists, callouts and code as the user types. · vault-notes.app, 11 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · vault-notes.app, 20 Sept 2026
- Google Drive sync
- Pro syncs notes and attachments directly with a folder in the user's own Google Drive using the drive.file scope. · vault-notes.app, 11 Oct 2026
- Import
- The Normal plan includes Obsidian vault import. · vault-notes.app, 11 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Google Drive · vault-notes.app, 20 Sept 2026
- iPad support
- The iPad app supports Apple Pencil sketching, with editable drawings stored in notes. · vault-notes.app, 11 Oct 2026
- Links
- Wikilinks support hover previews, backlinks and embedding whole notes or sections inline. · vault-notes.app, 11 Oct 2026
- Notes and history
- Vault Notes offers automatic daily notes, timestamp timelines, split view, tabs and built-in version history. · vault-notes.app, 11 Oct 2026
- Offline access
- Yes · vault-notes.app, 20 Sept 2026
- Offline use
- The app works offline without an account, and its free tier includes the whole app on one device. · vault-notes.app, 11 Oct 2026
- Platforms
- Downloads are listed for macOS 12 or later on Apple silicon, Windows 10 and 11 64-bit, x86-64 Linux AppImage, and iOS/iPadOS 18 or later. · vault-notes.app, 11 Oct 2026
- Privacy mode
- Public View can hide flagged folders and media on a schedule or by command, and the site says Touch ID can blur the app when it loses focus. · vault-notes.app, 11 Oct 2026
- Product
- Vault Notes is a local-first markdown workspace whose notes are plain files stored in a folder the user chooses. · vault-notes.app, 11 Oct 2026
- Target users and maker
- The site describes Vault Notes as built by one person for people who keep their own notes. · vault-notes.app, 11 Oct 2026
Where Vault Notes stands on Freedom251
- Note-taking apps#68 of 216
- Notes apps#57 of 83