Supernotes
FreemiumCard-based note-taking app that organizes thoughts as small, linkable cards with tags and filters instead of long pages
What is Supernotes?
Supernotes is a small but beautifully designed note-taking app built around the idea that notes should be short, focused cards rather than long sprawling pages. Every card is a 1000-character limit, which forces you to atomize thoughts into small, discrete units — similar to the Zettelkasten slip-box method but with a modern UI and cross-platform sync. You can tag cards, link them to each other, nest cards as parents and children, and filter your collection by tag, date, or author. The card size constraint sounds limiting but is deliberate — it encourages clarity and linking rather than dumping. Supernotes is cross-platform with apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, and web, all with real-time sync and offline support. It also supports shared collections for small-team collaboration, making it one of the few note apps that is genuinely good for 2-5 person teams who want to share notes without the complexity of Notion. In 2025 Supernotes added some AI features including AI card rewriting and summarization, though the app remains lighter on AI than many competitors. Supernotes is built by an independent team and has a loyal user base drawn from academics, researchers, and Zettelkasten practitioners. The pricing is reasonable: free tier with 100 cards, Unlimited at $7.50/month, and Premium at $10/month with more collaboration features.
⚡ Quick Verdict
Zettelkasten practitioners, academics, and anyone who wants small, atomic notes instead of long pages
Users who want long-form writing, rich databases, or heavy team collaboration features
Free (100 cards) · Unlimited $7.50/mo · Premium $10/mo
Yes — 100 cards, all features
Atomic card design enforces clarity and linking, making it excellent for serious note-takers
1000-character card limit can feel restrictive for long-form writing
Bottom line: Supernotes scores 4.2/5 — The best card-based, Zettelkasten-style note app on the market. Free tier is enough to evaluate, Unlimited ($7.50/mo) is enough for most individuals.
Pricing
Free: 100 cards, all core features including tags, filters, mobile apps, offline sync, basic sharing. Good for evaluation or very light use.
Unlimited — $7.50/month (annual, $8.50 monthly): Unlimited cards, unlimited collections, rich text and markdown, card nesting, advanced filtering, and PDF export. Recommended for individual users.
Premium — $10/month (annual, $12 monthly): Everything in Unlimited plus shared collections with collaborative editing, priority support, custom themes, and advanced integrations. Recommended for small teams of 2-5.
Student discount — 50% off on all paid plans with valid .edu email. Lifetime deals were offered during Kickstarter but are no longer available.
Key Features
- Card-based notes with 1000-character limit that forces atomization
- Tags, filters, and saved views for organizing cards
- Card nesting — parent/child relationships for hierarchical organization
- Bidirectional links between cards with inline previews
- Real-time collaborative editing on shared collections (Premium)
- Markdown support with rich text editing and code blocks
- Offline support on desktop and mobile with automatic sync
- AI card rewriting and summarization (introduced 2025)
- Cross-platform — macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, web
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Beautiful, minimal UI that makes note-taking feel enjoyable
- 1000-character limit genuinely encourages clearer thinking
- One of the only note apps with good real-time collaboration for small teams
- Fair pricing — $7.50/month unlocks everything for individuals
Cons
- Character limit can feel restrictive for users who prefer long-form notes
- AI features are basic compared to Notion, Mem, or Capacities
- Smaller community than Obsidian or Notion
FAQ
What is the 1000-character limit in Supernotes?
Every card in Supernotes is capped at 1000 characters. This is intentional — it enforces the Zettelkasten principle that notes should be atomic, with one idea per card. If you need to write more, you create linked cards. Some users love this constraint; others find it frustrating. If you want to write essays and documents inside your notes, Supernotes is probably not for you. If you want to build a personal knowledge base through atomic linked ideas, the limit is a feature, not a bug.
Is Supernotes good for teams?
For small teams (2-5 people), yes. Premium ($10/month) includes shared collections with real-time collaborative editing, which is unusual for note apps outside of Notion. Larger teams with complex permission needs, nested workspaces, or enterprise SSO will find Notion or ClickUp more appropriate. Supernotes shines in small trusted teams that want to share research, reading notes, or project documentation without overhead.
How does Supernotes compare to Obsidian?
Different mental models. Obsidian is local-first markdown with unlimited note length and plugin-based customization. Supernotes is cloud-first with a 1000-character limit and a beautiful built-in UI that needs no configuration. Obsidian wins on privacy, longevity, and flexibility. Supernotes wins on polish, team features, and enforced atomic thinking. Pick based on whether you value control (Obsidian) or simplicity (Supernotes).
Is the free plan actually useful?
For evaluation, yes. For ongoing use, only if you keep fewer than 100 cards at a time, which is tight. The free plan includes all core features so you can genuinely test the card-based workflow before paying. Most serious users upgrade to Unlimited ($7.50/month) within a week or two, since 100 cards fills quickly once you start atomizing your thinking.
Does Supernotes support markdown?
Yes, with rich text editing on top. You can write cards in markdown syntax and Supernotes will render them visually, including headings, lists, code blocks, links, and images. You can also paste rich text from the web and it converts automatically. The editor is a hybrid — it supports markdown for power users who prefer typing syntax, and rich text toolbars for users who don't want to learn markdown.
What AI features does Supernotes have?
As of 2025, Supernotes has AI-powered card rewriting (improve clarity and fix grammar) and AI summarization (collapse a group of cards into a summary card). These are useful but not as extensive as the AI chat and semantic search in Notion, Mem, or Capacities. If AI is central to your note workflow, other tools offer more today.
Is Supernotes good for Zettelkasten?
Yes — arguably the best consumer Zettelkasten app. The atomic card format, linking, tags, and filtering match the Zettelkasten method almost perfectly. Traditional Zettelkasten on paper or in tools like Zettlr or The Archive require more setup. Supernotes is the closest thing to a turnkey Zettelkasten experience with a modern UI and mobile sync. Researchers and knowledge workers influenced by Sönke Ahrens' "How to Take Smart Notes" often gravitate toward it.
📋 Good to know
Sign up at supernotes.app, install desktop and mobile apps, start writing cards. Import from Notion, Obsidian, or plain markdown supported.
GDPR compliant. Data encrypted in transit and at rest, stored on EU servers. AI features use OpenAI but content is not used for training. Export at any time.
Unlimited ($7.50/mo annual) when you hit 100 cards on the free plan. Premium ($10/mo) if you need collaborative editing in shared collections.
Low to moderate. Basic card-taking is obvious. Zettelkasten-style linking and tagging workflows take a few days to develop.