Paper Notes is a lighter way to keep thoughts, tasks and reminders in view. No more app-switching, no lost browser tabs, no notes app you forget to open.
Instead, your notes live at the edge of your screen — real-feeling paper that is always one glance away. They stay above everything you are doing, even fullscreen, and tuck away the moment you move on.
And they slide back out the instant your cursor touches the edge. Nothing to open, nothing to find.
Write it and forget it. Notes remember their color, position and checklist state between sessions, stored right on your own machine — no account, no cloud, no telemetry. Everything is exactly where you left it, even after a restart.
One note for groceries, one for meetings, one for today's plan — stack as many as you like
Shopping lists, agendas, quick thoughts — each note stays where you put it. Drag notes up and down the edge to organize your day.
Checklists that survive restarts and keep your day on track
Checklist mode ticks items off as you go, and everything persists locally. Your list is still there tomorrow, exactly as you left it.
Notes live in one file you own
Your notes live in a single local file — back it up, move it between machines, or version it in git. Restore anywhere and every note comes back exactly where you left it. Nothing ever leaves your machine.
Plain JSON on disk, no lock-in
Export any note as plain text or markdown — paste it into Obsidian, Notion, or anywhere else. Plain formats mean your notes outlive the app. No lock-in, ever.
Everything is stored locally in a plain file on your own computer. No sign-up, no analytics, no tracking. Open the app, pin a thought, and it stays between you and your screen — the way notes should work.
Local-first by design
Notes persist in a readable JSON file on disk — inspect it, back it up, move it. No mystery database, no vendor lock-in.
Works offline, always
Write notes on a plane, in a basement, on a trail. No internet required — your paper does not need Wi-Fi.
Private by default
No telemetry, no crash reporting, no analytics. Paper Notes makes no network calls at all.
Yours forever
Buy once for $1.99 and it is yours. No subscription, no per-seat math, no renewal emails. Pay once, keep forever.
Pick from five paper colors — yellow, pink, blue, green, purple — each with subtle texture, folded corners, and a natural rotation. Shadows and slight imperfections make every note feel like real paper on your screen instead of another gray window. Notes look good enough that you will want to keep them around.
From installing to having your first note tucked at the edge takes about a minute. Smooth like paper.
1
Install and launch
Download the installer for Windows or macOS, run it, and Paper Notes appears at the right edge of your screen with a few starter notes.
2
Press Ctrl+Shift+N
The global shortcut creates a new note instantly — from anywhere, in any app. Or use the tray icon if you prefer clicking.
3
Type, or make a checklist
Write a plain note or switch to checklist mode. Add items, tick them off, edit anytime — everything saves automatically.
4
Drag to position, pick a color
Drag notes vertically to arrange them. Open the ••• menu to switch colors, flip between note and checklist, or delete a note.
5
Move on — it tucks itself
Click elsewhere and the note tucks into the edge, leaving a slim paper strip. Hover the edge and it slides back out. Your screen stays clean; your notes stay put.
$1.99 once. That is the whole price. Pay to download, use everything, keep it forever. No upfront fees, no hidden costs, no subscription — not now, not later.
Checkout is handled securely by Dodo Payments — a merchant of record that takes care of taxes, so buying is clean and compliant worldwide.
Compare that to subscription tools charging $3–5 every single month, month after month.
Join the first wave of Paper Notes users. Download once for $1.99, pin your first note, and get back to work.
