Octarine

Local markdown files, a clean editor and one payment.

By Octarine · since 2024 · octarine.app

7.5

B+ · out of 10

Octarine keeps every note as a plain markdown file in a folder you picked, and puts a quiet WYSIWYG editor on top. Folders, tags, properties and saved views handle structure, a Daily Desk handles the day, and a graph shows what links to what. AI is optional and runs on your own key, including a local model through Ollama or LM Studio, so nothing leaves the machine unless you decide it should. It costs $79 once.

How it scores

  • Features25% of score

    7.4

    Depth and breadth of what the app can do.

  • Ease of use20% of score

    8.4

    Speed, polish and how long it takes to feel at home.

  • AI15% of score

    6.8

    Quality and usefulness of the built-in AI, not just its presence.

  • Sync & reliability15% of score

    6.6

    How dependably notes move between devices.

  • Value15% of score

    8.6

    What you get for what you pay.

  • Platform coverage10% of score

    7.0

    How many places you can actually use it.

Pricing

$79 one-time

Free tier: Core local-first markdown note-taking, with no account and no billing.

Pro is a one-time $79 for three devices, covering views, properties, the writing assistant, Ask Octarine and the theme library. Extra device seats are $15. AI runs on your own API key, billed by whoever provides it.

Platforms

  • Windows
  • macOS
  • iOS
  • Android
  • Linux
  • Web

40 tracked features supported

What it does well

  • Your notes are markdown files in a folder, and always were
  • One payment, no subscription, and free lifetime updates
  • AI runs on your own key or a local model, so nothing is shipped off by default
  • Runs on Mac, Windows and Linux, which most polished editors do not

Where it falls short

  • Sync is whatever you bring: iCloud, Dropbox, Git or Syncthing
  • iOS is still a TestFlight beta for Pro buyers
  • A small independent project, so the roadmap moves at one pace
  • No real collaboration, and the Teams plan is still a signup form

Our take

The tidiest local-first markdown app you can buy outright. Bring your own sync and your own model.

Best for: Obsidian-minded people who would rather buy a finished app than build one.

Linked thinking / PKMPrivacy & ownership

Feature by feature

YesPartlyVia pluginNo

Capture & input

How notes get into the app in the first place.

  • Voice recording
  • Audio transcription
  • Speaker identification
  • Meeting recording
  • Handwriting / stylus
  • Drawing canvas
  • OCR / handwriting search
  • Web clipper
  • Share extension
  • Quick capture
  • Images
  • PDF & documentsPartly
  • Document scanning

Organization

How notes are structured, linked and found again.

  • Tags
  • Folders / notebooks
  • Multi-level folders
  • Internal links
  • Backlinks
  • Graph view
  • Databases / boardsPartly
  • Daily notes / journal
  • Note templates
  • Saved searches
  • Pins / favorites
  • Merge notes

AI

Assistants, generators and meaning-based search.

  • AI chat / writing assistant
  • AI agent with tools
  • Custom AI agents
  • Semantic searchPartly
  • AI web search
  • Connected apps for AI
  • Prompt templates
  • Custom AI instructions
  • AI memory
  • Scheduled AI tasks
  • Flashcard generator
  • Spaced repetition
  • Quiz generator
  • Fill in the blank
  • Mind maps
  • AI image generation
  • Infographic generator
  • Slide deck generator
  • AI mini apps
  • Brainrot video generator
  • AI audio overview
  • Bring your own model
  • AI job notifications

Writing & editing

What the editor itself can actually do.

  • Markdown
  • Rich text
  • Code blocks
  • Math / LaTeXPartly
  • Tables
  • Find and replace
  • Version historyPartly
  • Note info

Sync & data ownership

Where your notes live and how easily they leave.

  • Cloud syncPartly
  • Sync through your own cloud
  • Offline support
  • Offline-first / own your data
  • Self-hostingPartly
  • End-to-end encryption
  • Locked notes
  • Daily backup
  • Import
  • Export
  • Public API
  • Command line tool
  • Remote MCP server
  • Plugins / extensions

Sharing & collaboration

Working with other people inside your notes.

  • Share with people
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Comments
  • Public sharingPartly

Experience

The everyday polish around the writing surface.

  • Dark mode
  • Custom themes
  • Multi-language
  • Command palette
  • Split view
  • Focus mode
  • Home screen widgets
  • Apple Shortcuts

Compare with

All Octarine alternatives

Octarine vs Grape

Adds: AI agent with tools, AI memory

9.0

Octarine vs Obsidian

Plain markdown files on your disk, with a plugin ecosystem bolted on top.

8.4

Octarine vs RemNote

Take notes and generate the flashcards in the same keystroke.

7.9

Octarine vs Heptabase

Notes on whiteboards, for when the outline is not the shape of the idea.

7.8