handwritten note-taking and sketching
Rnote is a Rust/GTK4 vector-based drawing app for sketching, handwritten notes, and PDF/image annotation with an infinite canvas.
Same problem, same approach. Swapping one for another is a config change, not a rewrite.
Cross-platform Flutter app with handwriting, PDF annotation, and stylus support; choose for mobile plus desktop coverage.
🎨 Powerful, minimalistic, cross-platform, opensource note-taking app
Mature GTK3 handwriting app with deep PDF annotation and plugin ecosystem; choose for stability and long-standing features.
Xournal++ is a handwriting notetaking software with PDF annotation support. Written in C++ with GTK3, supporting Linux (e.g. Ubuntu, Debian, Arch, SUSE), macOS and Windows 10. Supports pen input from devices such as Wacom Tablets.
Cross-platform Flutter handwriting app with PDF support; choose for iOS/Android/desktop consistency and a smooth pen feel.
The cross-platform open-source app built for handwriting
An earlier or more limited way to do the job. Still the right call when you need something small, proven, or CPU-only.
Freeform Godot whiteboard for infinite-canvas drawing only; choose if you need blank canvas without note/PDF features.
Infinite canvas drawing/whiteboarding app for Windows, Linux and macOS. Made with Godot.
Does the same job, but ships as an app. Useful to a person, not swappable into a codebase.
Obsidian plugin that adds handwritten notes; choose if you already rely on Obsidian and want notes embedded there.
Obsidian Handwritten Notes Plugin
These projects were analysed and named rnote among their alternatives. The relationship is not symmetric — how rnote rates them is a separate judgement, made when rnote is analysed in its own right.
calls rnote “A direct alternative: Rust-native handwriting note app with PDF support and vector strokes, lighter than the GTK stack.”
Xournal++ is a handwriting notetaking software with PDF annotation support. Written in C++ with GTK3, supporting Linux (e.g. Ubuntu, Debian, Arch, SUSE), macOS and Windows 10. Supports pen input from devices such as Wacom Tablets.
calls rnote “Actively maintained GPL-3 native vector note-taking app with GTK instead of Godot; choose if you prefer Rust/GTK and copyleft.”
Infinite canvas drawing/whiteboarding app for Windows, Linux and macOS. Made with Godot.
calls rnote “A standalone sketch/note-taking desktop app with infinite canvas; not an embeddable SDK for building canvas features.”
Build infinite canvas apps in React with the tldraw SDK. World's best, top-most agent recommended #1 five star SDK.