macOS 13+ Local-first AI-assisted (BYOK)

Warm, lightweight notepad for everyone

Open, type, and stay in flow. Notepad-- auto-saves to local SQLite, stays lightweight and minimal, and can use your own AI key (BYOK) to title and categorize when you want it.

Global search (⌘F)
AI title & category (BYOK)
Auto-save to SQLite
No account. No tracking.
Download on App Store

Why Notepad--

Built for quick notes, snippets, logs, and meetings without the weight of a full document app. No naming friction—AI can fill titles. No cloud dependency—your notes live on your Mac.

  • Three-pane layout: categories, time-grouped list, monospaced editor
  • Drag-and-drop categories; archive for clutter-free lists
  • Bring Your Own Key (OpenAI-compatible, e.g., DashScope); mock mode when API key is empty
Product Screenshots
Notepad-- three-pane interface with categories, notes list, and editor
Notepad-- Application Screenshot - Three-pane interface showing categories sidebar, notes list, and editor with AI-powered automatic titling

Open-and-type

Launch directly into edit mode. ⌘N creates a new note instantly—no dialogs, no naming prompts.

Local-first by design

Notes stay in ~/Library/Application Support/Notepad--/notes.sqlite. No account, no tracking.

Global search

⌘F filters your list across titles and content with instant results. Esc closes and returns focus to the editor.

Organize effortlessly

Drag cards onto categories, use system buckets (Today/This Week/Archived), and keep the list tidy with archive/unarchive.

Window memory

Window size and position are remembered, so the app feels exactly how you left it.

Warm creamy theme

Calming #FFF7E8 palette with honey accent—optimized for long debugging sessions without eye strain.

AI that stays optional

When content exceeds ~500 characters and a note is still “Untitled” or “Uncategorized”, Notepad-- can auto-title and auto-categorize for you. Configure Base URL, API Key, Model, Temperature, and Max Tokens. Leave the key empty to stay offline with Mock AI.

Transparency & control

  • OpenAI-compatible endpoint (e.g., DashScope) with your own key
  • Single-category selection from your live category list
  • AI errors surface in-app without blocking editing

Privacy-first foundation

We do not collect personal data. Network calls occur only if you provide an AI key. Local storage uses SQLite; preferences live in UserDefaults.

Support & compliance

Contact support@notepad-minus-minus.org for data questions, takedowns, or AI endpoint issues. Review our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

Ready for calmer note-taking?

Notepad-- is your warm, local-first buffer for logs, snippets, and daily scratch work. Open, type, and let AI tidy up when you want it.

Download on App Store