RedNotebook
RedNotebook is a free desktop diary and journal for Linux, macOS, and Windows, with offline access.
What RedNotebook is
RedNotebook is a free desktop diary and journal for Linux, macOS, and Windows, with offline access. It supports formatted entries using hashtags, bold, italic and underlined text, images, files, links, spell checking, and customizable templates. Search-as-you-type helps locate entries, while word clouds show common words and tags. Entries save automatically at intervals and when the application closes, and journals can be backed up to zip files. Export formats are plain text, HTML, and LaTeX; direct PDF export is not available. Journal data is kept in plain text files, and the maker says users own it. Documentation describes protecting data through an encrypted folder or encrypted home partition. Sync options include Dropbox, Syncthing, remote servers, or external tools. Inserted attachments are linked rather than copied, so files stored elsewhere need separate backups. RedNotebook is GPL Free Software translated into more than 30 languages.
Good
- Works offline on desktop platforms
- Supports tags, formatting, attachments, and links
- Automatic saving and zip backups
- Exports to plain text, HTML, and LaTeX
- Search-as-you-type and word clouds
Watch out
- No direct PDF export
- Linked attachments need separate backups
- macOS is not officially supported
- Package manager versions may be outdated
Who it suits
RedNotebook suits people wanting an offline, searchable journal on a desktop system. It fits users who need formatted entries, exports, and plain-text ownership across Linux, macOS, or Windows.
Verdict
RedNotebook offers a broad offline journaling toolkit with automatic saving, search, and several export formats. Its attachment handling and lack of direct PDF export are important considerations for some workflows.
Plans and prices
From RedNotebook's own pricing page, checked 14 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | desktop journal · plain-text files · GPL software |
| RedNotebook | Free | Free Software under the GPL |
The facts
Each one read from RedNotebook's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Attachment limitation
- Inserted images and files are linked to but not copied into the journal directory, so they need separate backups if stored elsewhere.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Attachments
- Entries can include images, files and links.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Autosave
- The program saves entries automatically at regular intervals and on exit.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Backups
- The Journal menu can create a ZIP backup of the journal directory.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Capterra pricing status
- Capterra lists vendor-contact pricing, no free trial and no free version for RedNotebook.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Command line
- The command-line interface accepts an optional journal directory plus --version and --date options.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Developer workflow
- The repository documents running from source, pre-commit hooks and tox tests.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Encryption
- The documentation recommends encrypting the journal folder or home partition with an external tool such as TrueCrypt.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Export
- Journals export to plain text, HTML and LaTeX; PDF requires printing HTML or converting LaTeX.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Extensibility
- The project exposes source code, GitHub issue tracking, Weblate translations and a calendar.exe conversion script, but no public web API or SDK is documented.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Hashtags
- Entries can contain #hashtags for tagging.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Independent installation report
- A Mac installation report praises RedNotebook's local raw-text, open-format storage and says Mac use requires manual source setup.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Independent review
- LinuxLinks describes RedNotebook as free open-source software with calendar navigation, live search, drag-and-drop, remote SSH/FTP/WebDAV storage and plain-text data.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Languages
- The project says it has translations in more than 30 languages.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Languages and license
- RedNotebook is translated into more than 30 languages and is Free Software under the GPL.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Licence
- The repository identifies RedNotebook as GPLv2+ and explains that bundled LGPLv3+ code makes the resulting work GPLv3+.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Limit: crashes and file handling
- A G2 reviewer reports crashes and requests drag-and-drop handling for images and files.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Limit: Markdown
- A SourceForge reviewer says Markdown support is missing.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Limit: mobile access
- G2 reviewers commonly identify the lack of a mobile version as a limitation.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Limit: simplicity and maintenance
- A G2 reviewer describes the application as overly simplified and says development appeared stalled.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Limit: unencrypted files
- A G2 reviewer notes that diary data is stored in unencrypted monthly text files.checked 14 Oct 2026
The company
- Data ownership
- The maker says journal data is stored in plain text files and that users own their data.checked 9 Oct 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
Where it runs
- Limit: Windows preview bug
- A SourceForge reviewer reports that editor and preview switching did not work correctly on Windows 7.checked 14 Oct 2026
Alternatives to RedNotebook
- 1
Stoic
Free planAndroidiOSWebmacOS8.2From $39.99 a year - 2
Journey
Free planAndroidiOSWebLinux7.8From $50.04 a year - 3
Day One
Free planAndroidiOSExtensionmacOS7.6From $49.99 a year - 4
Rosebud
Free planAndroidiOSWebmacOS7.6From $107.99 a year - 5
Daybook
Free planAndroidiOSWeb7.5From $39.99 a year - 6
Penzu
Free planAndroidiOSWeb7.5From $19.99 a year