Free · macOS, Windows, Linux · ~9 MB
Notion-quality WYSIWYG editing on plain Markdown files stored on your computer. Lightweight, local-first, no lock-in.
Work / Meeting Notes.md Live Markdown
Meeting Notes
Discussed the Q2 roadmap with the team. Shared a link to the design spec and reviewed the timeline.
Focus on performance and editor polish before adding new features.
Finalize Q2 milestones
Share updated timeline with team
#roadmap #q2 #team
Live editing — no split pane needed
Slash commands like Notion
Stored as plain .md files
Why Binderus
I built this because note apps frustrated me.
Most note-taking tools felt either too bloated or too expensive. Some even lock your notes into proprietary formats — that never sat right with me.
All I wanted was a simple, lightweight app to take notes and organize them. Do one thing and do it well.
Binderus is a Notion-quality WYSIWYG editor on plain Markdown files you own. No lock-in, no proprietary format. The app is only ~9 MB and uses minimal memory.
— Van, creator of Binderus
Lightweight by design
Tiny download (~9 MB), low memory, instant startup. The app that gets out of your way and lets you just write.
Your data, always
You own your data — Binderus does not claim any ownership over it. Full stop. Your notes stay with you.
Simplicity is the goal
I carefully pick what goes in. A less cluttered UI is always better — especially when the world already demands so much of our attention.
Live Markdown Editor
See your formatting as you type — no split pane needed. Slash commands, tables, code blocks, LaTeX math, and Mermaid diagrams built in.
Local-First & Private
Notes stored as plain .md files on your disk — or in an encrypted local database with passphrase protection. No cloud required. No telemetry.
Lightweight & Fast
~9 MB download, starts in under a second. Built with Tauri and Rust — not another Electron app eating your RAM. Uses minimal memory.
$ ls ~/Documents/Binderus/
Work Notes/
Meeting Notes.md
Project Plan.md
Ideas.md
Personal/
Journal.md
Reading List.md
$ cat "Meeting Notes.md"
# Meeting Notes
Discussed the Q2 roadmap...
Plain files on your disk. Open them in anything.
Your notes live in ~/Documents/Binderus as standard Markdown files. No proprietary format, no database you can't read.
Open them in VS Code, Obsidian, or any text editor. Move them anywhere. They're yours.
Want to sync across devices? Point your data folder to Dropbox, OneDrive, or Google Drive. Done.
No lock-in. No migration headaches. Ever.
| Binderus | Notion | Obsidian | Typora | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live Markdown Editing | Yes | Yes | Plugin needed | Yes |
| Local-First Files | Yes | Cloud only | Yes | Yes |
| Encrypted Storage | Yes | No | No | No |
| App Size | ~9 MB | ~200 MB | ~300 MB | ~90 MB |
| Multi-Vault | Yes | Workspaces (paid) | Yes | No |
| Slash Commands | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Plugins | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Free Tier | Full app free | Limited | Free (core) | $14.99 |
| Cross-Platform | Mac/Win/Linux | All + Web | All | Mac/Win/Linux |
| Open Source Editor | Yes | No | No | No |
Where are my notes stored?
By default, in ~/Documents/Binderus as plain Markdown files. You can change this in Settings to any directory — perfect for Dropbox, OneDrive, or Google Drive sync.
Is it really free?
Yes. The full app with every feature is free. Cloud sync is coming later as an optional paid feature to support continued development.
How do I sync across devices?
Point your Binderus data folder to a cloud sync directory (Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive). Your files sync automatically. Native cloud sync is coming soon.
How is my data handled?
You own your data — Binderus does not claim any ownership. Notes stay on your computer. If you opt into cloud sync later, files are stored securely without affecting your ownership.
What is the encrypted storage?
An optional mode that stores notes in a local encrypted database instead of plain files. Your notes are unreadable without your passphrase.
Can I use my notes in other apps?
Absolutely. Your notes are standard Markdown files — open them in VS Code, Obsidian, Bear, or any text editor. You can also export to PDF, DOCX, or HTML.
Can I extend Binderus with plugins?
Yes. Binderus has a plugin system — turn plugins on or off from one place so the app stays lightweight and you only run what you need.
Free
$0
Everything you need, locally.
- Unlimited notes & vaults
- Full WYSIWYG editor
- Encrypted local storage
- Export to PDF, DOCX, HTML
- All platforms
Coming Soon
Sync notes across all your devices. Join the beta and get early access before launch.
- Cross-device sync
- End-to-end encrypted
- Early adopter pricing
- Beta testers shape the product