Flexnote is a local-first note-taking app built on an infinite canvas. You place notes as cards, connect them with bidirectional links, and switch any board to a mind map view. You can annotate PDFs and timestamped videos right on the canvas, then use Flexnote AI for semantic search and Q&A across your notes. Your files stay on your device by default, and sync is optional. It suits students, researchers, and self-learners on Windows, macOS, and Android.

• Infinite Canvas and Mind Maps: Place cards anywhere, then zoom, drag, and arrange them. You can switch any board to a mind map view when you want a clear hierarchy.
• PDF Annotation: Read multi-page PDFs on the canvas and highlight text. Each highlight can become a reference card that you link to your other notes.
• Timestamped Video Notes: Add notes tied to exact moments in YouTube, Bilibili, or local video files. Timestamp cards link back to the canvas, so you can jump to the source.
• Markdown and Bidirectional Links: Write in native Markdown and type @ to link cards. Backlinks are created automatically, which builds a connected knowledge base as you write.
• Tag-Based Database: Organize notes with tags, a Card Library, and Todos, so you can find and filter cards across every whiteboard.
• Flexnote AI: A smart index adds semantic search, knowledge-base Q&A, and content retrieval across your notes. Chat runs on your own API key.
• Local-First Storage with Optional Sync: Notes live on your device and you can edit offline. If you want sync, you can turn on WebDAV, Amazon S3, OneDrive, or Baidu Netdisk.
• Share to the Web: Publish a canvas as a view-only interactive webpage, with optional password protection. Viewers don't need an account.

• Privacy By Default: Notes stay on your device, cloud sync is off unless you turn it on, and Flexnote says it does not use your notes to train models.
• Media-Rich Research In One Place: PDFs, videos, and written notes share one canvas, so you don't have to switch between a PDF reader, a video player, and a notes app.
• Easy Migration:: Built-in importers for Obsidian, Heptabase, and SiYuan, plus Zotero sync, help you bring existing notes and references with you.
• Handles Large Boards:Its custom rendering engine is designed to keep panning and editing smooth, even on canvases with 10,000+ nodes.
• Flexible Sync Choices: You can sync through your own WebDAV server, S3, OneDrive, or Baidu Netdisk, rather than relying on a vendor cloud.
• Affordable Paid Tiers: Pro costs $49/year, there's a one-time Lifetime license, and education discounts are available with a school email.

• Tight Free Plan: The free tier allows 3 whiteboards, 100 cards, and a single device. Most people who use it seriously will need a paid plan quickly.
• No iOS App Or Full Web Editor Yet: iOS is still in development, and the web version only lets you view whiteboards. Anyone who works on an iPhone, an iPad, or in a browser will feel this.
• AI Costs Come In Two Parts: Smart Index points come from Flexnote, while AI chat is billed by your model provider through your own API key. Budgeting is harder than with an all-in-one AI subscription.
• Built For Individuals, Not Teams: Flexnote describes itself as a personal tool for learning and research. Its pricing has no team plans or shared workspaces, unlike collaboration-focused tools such as Notion.

• Academic Research Synthesis: Import papers from Zotero, highlight key passages, and turn them into cards on one canvas. Link the findings across sources to map arguments and spot gaps before you start writing.
• Learning from Video Lectures: Take timestamped notes on YouTube or local lecture videos. Each note links back to the exact moment, so reviewing later takes minutes instead of rewatching whole videos.
• Exam and Course Study: Students can build a mind map for each subject, link concepts with backlinks, and use AI Q&A to quiz themselves on their own material.
• Personal Knowledge Base: Collect notes, web clips, and PDFs over time, then use semantic search to find related ideas even when you don't remember the exact words.
• Mood Boards and Visual Planning: Arrange ideas, references, and cards freely on an infinite canvas to plan creative projects. Share the result as a password-protected webpage.
• Migrating from Obsidian or Heptabase: Import your vaults or whiteboards with links, callouts, and styles intact. You can keep your existing structure while adding PDF and video annotation.