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

Minimalist notepad that titles itself

Just write. AI handles the titles and categories. Stays lightweight, stays local. Built for developers.

Find & Replace (⌃H)
AI title & category (BYOK)
40+ file types
Local-first. No tracking.
Download on App Store Download DMG

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.

Find & Replace

⌃H opens a draggable panel with live highlighting. Replace one or all matches, toggle case sensitivity, and see results instantly.

Smart organization

Drag notes onto categories, pin important ones to the top, and use system buckets (Today/This Week/Archived) to keep everything tidy.

Local-first by design

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

AI-powered titling

Let AI suggest titles and categories when you hit 500+ characters, or right-click "Auto title" anytime. Works offline with mock mode.

Developer-friendly

Tab/⇧Tab indentation, monospace font, and support for 40+ file types (JS, Python, Swift, JSON, YAML, and more).

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 [email protected] for data questions, takedowns, or AI endpoint issues. Review our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

Ready for simpler note-taking?

Notepad-- is your minimalist, local-first buffer for logs, snippets, and daily scratch work. Just write, let AI handle the organization.

Download on App Store Download DMG