Heynote

What it is for

Heynote is a persistent scratchpad of text blocks: you press ⌘-Enter for a new block, keep math / JSON / Markdown in the same Scratch buffer, and the app is Free (MIT + Commons Clause). Use it when the job is a scratch buffer you start at a public $, not when you need Obsidian’s $0 Bases table + Sync $4.

Soft-note: Free desktop (Mac / Windows / Linux). Source at heyman/heynote is MIT + Commons Clause (LICENSE file; GitHub’s license API is unlabeled / SPDX NOASSERTION — we cite the file). Distinct from Obsidian, Craft, and Logseq.

What makes it unique: the cover is Heynote’s official Scratch buffer (sidebar Archive / Tripps / Paris2026 / Ideas / Links / Scratch, math 13 inches in cm → 33.02 cm, Markdown checkboxes, GitHub-key JSON, SELECT * FROM table) from heynote.com/img/light/screenshot3.png — not a wordmark. The 33.02 cm chip itself is ops of Scratch.

Key features

• Scratch blocks — persistent text divided into blocks (cover still; docs). One desk. Cover 13 inches in cm sits here.
• Math / calculator blocks — variables, functions, units, currencies (1 EUR in USD → 1.169166 USD on the cover) (docs Math Blocks; product). A napkin, not a Pro tile.
• Per-block language — JSON / SQL / Markdown highlighting on the cover (cover; docs). A language, not a $0 meter.
• Multiple buffers — Scratch / Ideas / Links tabs plus ⌘-N / ⌘-P (cover; docs). A buffer, not Get started.
• Buffer tree — Archive / Tripps / Paris2026 directories (cover; docs). A tree, not Enterprise.
• Inline images + markup — paste / drag images; freehand markup (docs; product). An image, not SSO.

Download is a CTA (not a desk). Free / MIT + Commons Clause stay in Pricing. There is no AI extra to drop.

Who it's for

Best fit: developers who will stay on Free while they keep a first Scratch math + JSON buffer — then keep it at $0, not Obsidian Sync $4 first unless they want an encrypted vault, and not if they need native sync or a mobile app (this is a local desktop buffer).

Pricing

Verified 2026-10-23 (Asia/Shanghai) from heynote.com (2.9.1 downloads for Mac / Windows / Linux; no paid SKU) plus github.com/heyman/heynote (LICENSE MIT + Commons Clause; GitHub license API is unlabeled / SPDX NOASSERTION — we cite the file) and docs.

• Heynote — Free. Mac Universal / Arm / Intel, Windows, Linux AppImage / Snap. Current site lists 2.9.1.
• Source — MIT + Commons Clause at heyman/heynote. Commons Clause forbids selling the software.
• No paid SKU. Do not invent a Heynote $.
• Homebrew unofficial cask exists (brew install --cask heynote) — not a paid storefront.

Limitations / costs

• No native sync / no mobile app. The notes library is a folder of .txt files; Dropbox / OneDrive can copy it, but simultaneous edits can conflict (docs).
• A scratchpad, not Obsidian’s $0 Bases vault. For that table see Obsidian.
• Commons Clause, not OSI MIT-only. We link the LICENSE file; GitHub’s API field is unlabeled.

Alternatives

• Obsidian — a local Bases table when you want the app at $0 / Sync $4, not a Scratch math buffer.
• Craft — a hosted All Docs home when you want Starter $0 / Plus $8, not persistent blocks on disk.
• Logseq — a local outliner + page graph when you want Free forever $0, not a calculator scratchpad.

Official tutorial

We searched @heynote (404), @Heynote (404), @heynoteapp (404), @HeynoteApp (404), @jonatanheyman (404), @heyman (200, title heyman, no product how-to we could oEmbed), and @heylab (200, title HeyLab — Chinese gadget channel, not Jonatan Heyman’s Heylab). heynote.com has no YouTube link on the HTML we fetched. No official product channel to embed. Written path: heynote.com plus docs, heyman.info post, Show HN, and github.com/heyman/heynote.

Website

https://heynote.com/

Source

Catalog row curated for AI Tools Nav. Cover is Heynote’s official Scratch buffer still (Archive / Tripps / Paris2026 / Ideas / Links / Scratch + 13 inches in cm → 33.02 cm + Markdown checkboxes + GitHub-key JSON + SELECT * FROM table) from heynote.com/img/light/screenshot3.png. Dollars checked on heynote.com + LICENSE (Free; MIT + Commons Clause; no paid SKU; GitHub license API unlabeled / NOASSERTION — we cite the file). GitHub: heyman/heynote. No official YouTube.

Last verified

2026-10-23 (Asia/Shanghai) editorial check.