Better Notes

Handwriting, pages and PDFs in one local-first workspace.

macOS 15 or later Apple silicon and Intel One purchase · $10 Complete app — nothing locked No account Apple notarizedDeveloper ID signed

Website Direct edition

Pay once. Fully unlocked. Verified by Apple.

This website download is a separate direct-distribution build from the Mac App Store edition. It contains no StoreKit purchase flow or subscription screen: every feature is available after the one-time website purchase.

Apple notarized this exact disk image after an automated malware check. It is signed with the publisher's Developer ID and its notarization ticket is stapled to the download, so Gatekeeper can verify it even when your Mac is offline.

How signing, notarization and installation work

Version: 1.0.0 (build 1)
Released: 2026-08-22
Requires: macOS 15 or later
Architecture: Apple silicon and Intel
Download: 6.0 MB DMG
Apple check: Notarized · Developer ID signed
SHA-256: ca51fbc9fa8012dcfda94b4fc77db1e58ff57be87b09f66f8709a95b4854eb79

What it is

What Better Notes does

A handwriting and page workspace for Apple Pencil and trackpad that keeps everything as local files, with PDF markup in the same surface as your own pages.

Built for thinking on a page rather than filing notes into a database. Handwriting, typed pages and PDF markup share one workspace, so annotating a paper and writing about it are not two apps.

Local-first: notes are files on your machine, with no account and no required sync.

How it does its job

Handwriting and ink

Apple Pencil and trackpad input treated as first-class, not an afterthought.

PDF in the same space

Mark up a document beside your own pages rather than in a separate reader.

Files, not a database

Your notes remain files you can move, back up and read without this app.

What it doesn't do

There is no collaborative editing. It is a single-author workspace by design.

Native, local-first, and yours

Better Notes is a native Mac app distributed as a complete, fully activated download. No subscription, no account, no locked features, no tracking.

Buy & download

Get Better Notes

Choose $10 for one app, $20 for two different apps, or $49 for every published app through Stripe's hosted checkout. Download on the confirmation page or open the delivery email on your Mac. Each link is single-use; your email shows its exact expiry. Keep the installer for future use. If your link expires or the download fails, ask for a replacement link with your receipt; do not buy again.

Common questions

What is Better Notes?

A light, local-first studio for handwriting, page layout and PDF markup, built in native SwiftUI for macOS, iPadOS, iOS and visionOS. Designed for thinking on a page rather than filing notes into a database.

Who is Better Notes for?

Better Notes is for Mac users looking for notes & study. Handwriting, pages and PDF markup in one local-first workspace - your notes stay files you own.

Which Macs can run Better Notes?

Better Notes requires macOS 15 or later. Supported architecture: Apple silicon and Intel. Check About This Mac before purchasing.

Is this the same Better Notes edition as the Mac App Store version?

No. The Mac App Store edition can include Apple's in-app subscription system. The website Direct edition is a separately signed build with no StoreKit purchase flow: one website purchase unlocks the complete app with no recurring charge.

Is Better Notes the full version, or are features locked?

The download is the complete app. There is no subscription, no locked tier, no account, and no trial timer — every feature is included.

How do I get Better Notes?

Choose $10 for one app, $20 for two different apps, or $49 for every published app through Stripe's hosted checkout on this page. Download links are delivered on the confirmation page and by email. Each link is single-use; its exact expiry is shown in your delivery email. Keep the installer. If the link expires or a download fails, contact support@macossoftware.com with your receipt instead of buying again.

Is the Better Notes Direct edition notarized by Apple?

Yes. Version 1.0.0 is signed with a Developer ID certificate, notarized by Apple, and distributed with a stapled notarization ticket. Its published SHA-256 checksum is ca51fbc9fa8012dcfda94b4fc77db1e58ff57be87b09f66f8709a95b4854eb79.