Why we recommend Acres first
Acres puts Markdown notes, connected cards, mind maps, PDFs and tasks in one visual workspace. The files live in your folder, and the built-in assistant and bundled MCP server can work with the same notes and boards. The desktop license is $59 once, after a 14-day trial. Acres Plus includes the app, Sync, and Publish for $9/month. Model-provider usage is billed separately.
We make Acres, so this is our recommendation. It is a newer app with less refinement than some established alternatives. We don't claim feature-for-feature parity: each page lists specific reasons to choose the competitor, including free options, mobile support and collaboration. You can read how we write these comparisons and check therelease notes for what has shipped.
Start with the best canvas note apps guide for the wider field, or the Heptabase, Noteey and Acres comparison for three closely matched visual note apps.