Key takeaways
- Still waitlist-only beta as of June 2026 — five years after the 2021 public beta announcement
- Development has stalled: last release (0.41.0) shipped December 6, 2024
- True plain-text markdown with VS Code-inspired editing (multiple cursors, expand selection)
FAQ
What is Nota app?
Nota is a beta macOS markdown editor designed for local files with wiki links, powerful editing, and extensibility through custom scripts.
Is Nota available to download?
As of June 2026, Nota remains in waitlist-only beta on macOS. You must request an invite from nota.md, and the last released version (0.41.0) shipped in December 2024.
What are alternatives to Nota?
Alternatives include Obsidian, FSNotes, iA Writer, and VS Code with markdown extensions.
Executive Summary
Nota is a macOS markdown notes application that spent six years in development before entering public beta in 2021. Designed for power users who want "pro" editing features with local markdown files, Nota emphasizes true plain-text storage with no transformations, VS Code-style editing, and extensibility through custom scripts. As of June 2026 the app is still in waitlist-only beta — the site remains live and offers waitlist signup and pre-order, but the last shipped release (0.41.0) landed on December 6, 2024, roughly 18 months ago. Honest read: the product is not dead, but development has effectively stalled.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Company | Nota (indie; built by solo developer Antonio Stoilkov) |
| Founded | ~2015 (6 years before 2021 beta) |
| Funding | Unknown (likely bootstrapped) |
| Employees | Solo developer |
| Headquarters | Unknown |
Product Overview
Nota targets the gap between simple markdown editors and full development environments like VS Code. The app promises powerful editing features—multiple cursors, expand selection, intelligent completions—while maintaining complete data ownership through local markdown files with no cloud dependency.
Key Capabilities
| Capability | Description |
|---|---|
| Multiple Cursors | Make ten edits at the same time, not one edit ten times |
| Expand Selection | Quickly select current element or any parent |
| Wiki Links | [[wiki]] syntax with auto-updating links on file rename |
| Backlinks | See what notes link to current note |
| Extensibility | Custom scripts for commands, hooks, and completions (incl. save hooks) |
| Note Merging | Merge command combines notes and auto-updates links (added in 0.41, Dec 2024) |
Product Surfaces / Editions
| Surface | Description | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| macOS | Native Mac app | Beta (waitlist; latest release 0.41.0, Dec 2024) |
| iOS | Not announced | N/A |
| Windows | Not announced | N/A |
Technical Architecture
Nota works directly with markdown files on disk, supporting Dropbox, iCloud Drive, or any folder structure you manage yourself. The app promises "true plain-text" with no reformatting on open and no transformations on copy/paste.
Key Technical Details
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Storage | Local markdown files (any folder) |
| Sync | User-managed (Dropbox, iCloud, etc.) |
| Format | Standard Markdown with wiki link extensions |
| Extensions | Custom scripts in various languages |
| Open Source | No |
Strengths
- True plain text — No hidden transformations; files are exactly what you write
- Power user editing — VS Code-inspired features like multiple cursors and expand selection
- Complete ownership — Local files work with any app, now or 50 years from now
- Wiki links — Bidirectional linking with automatic link updates on rename
- Extensible — Custom scripts for commands, hooks, and workflows
Cautions
- Five years in beta — Announced public beta in 2021; still waitlist-only as of June 2026
- Stalled releases — No new version since 0.41.0 on December 6, 2024; prior gap between 0.40 (Feb 2023) and 0.41 was nearly two years
- macOS only — No iOS, Windows, or web version announced
- Solo-developer risk — One person building (at least) two apps; limited public information about sustainability
- Limited ecosystem — No established plugin/community ecosystem
- Pricing unknown — Pre-order offered, but no published price or GA date
Pricing & Licensing
| Tier | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Beta | Free (waitlist) | Current beta access |
| Pre-order | Offered on site; price not publicly listed | Future full version |
| GA Pricing | TBA | Not announced |
Licensing model: Unknown; as of June 2026 the site offers a pre-order option but publishes no price or GA date
Hidden costs: Unknown until general availability; pre-ordering software with an 18-month release gap carries obvious risk
Competitive Positioning
Direct Competitors
| Competitor | Differentiation |
|---|---|
| Obsidian | Nota claims cleaner editing; Obsidian has established ecosystem and mobile apps |
| FSNotes | Nota has more advanced editing; FSNotes is open source and free |
| VS Code | Nota is purpose-built for notes; VS Code requires extension setup |
When to Choose Nota Over Alternatives
- Choose Nota when: You want VS Code-level editing in a dedicated notes app
- Choose Obsidian when: You need mobile apps, plugins, and an established ecosystem
- Choose FSNotes when: You want open source and free with proven stability
Ideal Customer Profile
Best fit:
- Power users who want advanced editing without VS Code complexity
- Developers familiar with code editor features
- People who value true plain-text storage
Poor fit:
- Users needing mobile access
- People wanting a stable, established product
- Anyone uncomfortable with beta software
What Users Say
Public discussion of Nota is sparse and largely dates to the 2021 launch threads; no substantial new Reddit or Hacker News threads about Nota surfaced in searches conducted June 2026. The most telling exchange remains a September 2022 Hacker News thread where developer Antonio Stoilkov wrote, "I'm the founder of a beautiful Markdown editor. Actually, two: Nota… It's a notes app but a lot of our users use it as a markdown editor."
A user reply in that thread captured the frustration that still defines Nota's story: "I signed up for the early version of Nota back in 2020 and it was still beta / invite-only way back then. Then, your website said 'macOS beta coming in 2021' in 2021, and now in 2022 it says 'macOS beta coming in 2022'," wrote replwoacause. Four years later, the waitlist is still the only way in.
Viability Assessment
| Factor | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Financial Health | Unknown — no GA revenue; pre-orders only |
| Market Position | Marginal — never exited beta while Obsidian and iA Writer consolidated the category |
| Innovation Pace | Stalled — no release since December 2024 |
| Community/Ecosystem | Minimal — little public discussion since the 2021 launch threads |
| Long-term Outlook | Poor |
Eleven years after development reportedly began and five years after the public beta announcement, Nota has still not shipped a general release. The changelog shows long gaps — nearly two years between 0.40 (February 2023) and 0.41 (December 2024) — and nothing since. The website remains live and accepting waitlist signups as of June 11, 2026, so the project is not formally abandoned, but the trajectory points to a side project, not a product on a path to GA.
Bottom Line
Nota promised an intriguing middle ground between simple markdown editors and full code editors, but the promise has not materialized. As of June 2026 it is still waitlist-only, has not shipped a release in 18 months, and has generated essentially no community discussion since launch. The concept lives on better-supported elsewhere — Obsidian for linking and extensibility, iA Writer for polish, FSNotes for open-source plain text.
Recommended for: Almost no one at this point — at most, curious power users already on the beta who treat it as a free experiment.
Not recommended for: Anyone choosing a notes app to rely on; anyone considering the pre-order.
Outlook: Effectively stalled. The site is alive and the app technically works, but without a release since December 2024 or any GA signal, expect Nota to remain a perpetual beta.
Research by Ry Walker Research • methodology