Rnote supports sketching, handwritten notes, and annotations on documents and pictures in an open-source vector drawing app.
Rnote
Rnote supports sketching and handwritten note-taking, according to its repository description.
About Rnote
Rnote is an open-source vector-based drawing app for sketching, handwritten notes, and annotating documents and pictures. It provides stylus input with configurable strokes, shape and selection tools, multiple canvas layouts, PDF and image import and export, tabs, autosave, and a CLI for handling .rnote files.
The native .rnote file format is unstable and may change and break compatibility between versions. X11 is unsupported, with known unreliable stylus and touch input.
Key features
- Pressure-sensitive stylus input with configurable stroke styles
- Shape tool for creating shapes
- Selection tool to move, rotate, resize content
- Fixed pages, continuous vertical, or infinite canvas layouts
- Import PDF, bitmap, and SVG images
- Export documents to SVG, PDF, and Xopp formats
Best for: Students, teachers, and drawing tablet owners who take handwritten notes and sketches.
Good for
- Open-source vector-based app written in Rust and GTK4
- Available for Linux, macOS, and Windows
- Adaptive UI for big and small screens with stylus focus
Watch out for
- Native .rnote file format is unstable and may break compatibility
- X11 is unsupported with unreliable stylus and touch input
- Drag and drop can fail without additional file access permissions
Rnote at a glance
- Website
- github.com/flxzt/rnote
- Category
- Productivity › Writing Apps
- Type
- Open-source project
- Pricing
- Not confirmed. Check the site
- Open source
- Yes · Source code
- Language
- English
- Last checked
- Oct 5, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
Rnote alternatives
Tools and sites you could use instead, ranked by how closely they match.
Tuesday JS provides an open-source browser editor for building visual novels.
Open source
5 alternatives
The labelbuddy project provides a desktop application for labeling text.
Open source
Build diagrams from indented text with the web editor from TextUSM, according to its project description.
Open source
5 alternativesPopular in Writing Apps
Well-known listings from the same topic.
Write.aswrite.asMonsterWritermonsterwriter.comLanguageIsAViruslanguageisavirus.comChroniclergithub.com/mak-kirkland/chroniclerInfinite Storyinfinite-story.comDiariumdiariumapp.com
Rnote FAQ
On which operating systems can Rnote be installed?
On Linux via Flatpak on Flathub, on macOS as an app bundle, and on Windows via installer or Winget.
Is the .rnote file format stable?
No. The format is still unstable and might change and break compatibility between versions.
Does Rnote work on X11?
No. X11 is unsupported, and stylus and touch input there is known to be unreliable.
Is something wrong or out of date?
Tell us and an editor will check it.
Own this website?
Claim this listing
Claim the listing and suggest updates yourself. An editor checks every claim first.