Get Ampersand.
Free to start.
A native markdown editor — light on your machine, and built for Mac, Windows, and Linux alike. Download it, point it at a folder, and own every word you write.
Pick the build
for your machine
Mac builds are code-signed and notarized; Linux comes from signed repositories. On a Mac and not sure which you need? Every Mac sold since late 2020 is Apple Silicon. Windows and Linux builds are below.
M1, M2, M3, M4 & later
The native build for every M-series Mac.
64-bit Intel Macs
For Macs built before the Apple Silicon transition.
Windows 10 & 11
Native installers for x64 and ARM. Windows will warn once on first run — choose More info, then Run anyway.
That warning is about the certificate, not the file: Windows shows it for any installer without a paid Authenticode certificate, whatever it contains. We would rather put that money into the app for now, and will sign once enough people are running it on Windows to justify the yearly cost.
Debian, Ubuntu & beyond
A .deb for Debian and Ubuntu, or a portable AppImage that runs anywhere — both on x86_64 and ARM. Packages come from signed apt and dnf repositories.
Community-supported: every release is built and signed for Linux and we fix what gets reported, but the app is developed on macOS, so Linux-specific issues can take longer. Tearing a tab into its own window is disabled under Wayland, where the compositor rather than the app decides where a new window lands.
Also on the release page: Windows .msi, Linux .rpm, and signed apt and dnf repositories. Browse all releases →
Runs on the machine
you already have
macOS, Windows, or Linux — on either chip family, with a footprint you will barely notice.
macOS 14, Windows 10, or a modern Linux
Built for current systems and kept up to date with each release. On a Mac that means macOS 14 Sonoma or later, including the newest system features.
Every chip, every platform
Native builds for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs, and for Windows and Linux on both x86_64 and ARM. No Rosetta, no emulation.
Small & fast
A native Rust and Tauri app with a light footprint. It launches in about a second and stays quick in long documents.
Signed where it counts
The Mac build is code-signed and notarized by Apple, so Gatekeeper opens it cleanly, and Linux packages come from signed apt and dnf repositories. Windows installers are not certificate-signed yet, so Windows warns once — see the note below.
Up and writing
in three steps
No installer wizard, no account, no configuration. Drag, drop, and open.
Download the app
Grab the latest build for your platform — a signed .dmg on the Mac, an installer on Windows, a .deb, .rpm, or portable AppImage on Linux.
Install it
On the Mac, open the .dmg and drag Ampersand into Applications. On Windows and Linux, run the installer or package like any other app.
Launch & pick your vault
Open Ampersand, choose a folder for your notes, and you are writing. No account, no sign-in.
What you get
without paying
The editor and everyday writing tools are yours from the first launch — no trial clock, no locked notes.
- The full block editor & smart blocks
- Unlimited notes; open any vault
- Search, wiki-links, backlinks & tags
- Templates, import & find and replace
- Inline AI — rewrite, summarize, grammar (bring your own key)
- Markdown export
What Pro
unlocks
A single one-time $29 launch price (regularly $49) adds the power features. One payment, up to 3 devices, with a 14-day money-back guarantee.
- Export to PDF, Word & HTML
- AI agent, ask your document & vault
- AI image generation & prompt library
- Per-note encryption with Touch ID
- Version-history restore
- Create multiple vaults, iCloud sync & quick capture
Always up to date
Your words stay put
Before you download
Is Ampersand free?
Yes. The full editor is free forever — not a trial. A one-time Pro upgrade ($29 launch price (regularly $49)) unlocks extras like PDF and Word export, AI agents, encryption, and multiple vaults. There is no subscription, and Pro covers up to 3 devices.
Does it run on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs?
Both. Ampersand ships a native build for Apple Silicon (M1 and later) and a separate native build for 64-bit Intel Macs — just pick the one for your chip. You only need macOS 14 Sonoma or later.
Is the download safe?
On a Mac, yes — every build is code-signed with an Apple Developer ID and notarized by Apple, so Gatekeeper opens it without warnings. The Windows installers are not yet Authenticode-signed, so SmartScreen will show an "unknown publisher" prompt the first time (More info → Run anyway). Linux .deb and .rpm packages are published through signed apt and dnf repositories.
Does Ampersand phone home?
There is no account and no sign-in, and your notes never leave the folder you picked. The one exception is an anonymous daily ping — a random install id, the app version, your OS and language, free-or-Pro, and a count of how many notes are in your vault. No note content, filenames, paths, or keys. You can turn it off in Settings, and the full payload is spelled out on our privacy page.
How do updates work?
Ampersand has a built-in auto-updater. New signed versions are verified and installed in place, so you stay current without hunting for a new download. You can always check for updates manually from the About screen.
Get Ampersand
on every desk.
The full editor is free — download it now and write your first note in about two minutes.
Free to start · Mac, Windows & Linux · No account required