Everything, on
one page.
Price, platforms, formats, and exactly what is free — with no argument attached. If you are comparing editors, or you asked an assistant about this one, this is the sheet.
The specifications
Every row is a fact about the shipping app. Where something is platform-specific or part of Pro, the row says so.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Price | Free forever. Pro is a one-time $29 launch price (regularly $49). |
| Licence | One-time purchase, 3 devices, 14-day money-back guarantee |
| Account required | None. There is no sign-up and no server to log in to. |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows, Linux — native builds for both Intel/AMD and ARM |
| Minimum OS | macOS 14 Sonoma · Windows 10 · a current Linux desktop |
| Built with | Rust and Tauri 2 — a native app, not Electron |
| File format | Plain .md with optional YAML frontmatter |
| Where notes live | Any folder you choose, on disk or in a synced folder |
| Sync | Whatever you already use — iCloud Drive, Dropbox, Syncthing, git |
| Works offline | Entirely, except cloud AI — and a local model removes that too |
| AI providers | Claude · OpenAI · Gemini · Apple Intelligence · local models via Ollama · CLI agents |
| AI cost | Bring your own key. Ampersand resells nothing and adds no markup. |
| Export formats | PDF, Word .docx, self-contained HTML, Markdown |
| Import formats | Markdown folder, Obsidian vault, Notion export, Word .docx |
| Encryption | Per-note, with age (X25519 + ChaCha20-Poly1305) |
| Version history | Every save, in a git repository kept outside your vault |
| Search | Full-text across the whole vault, with tags, wiki-links and backlinks |
| Meeting recording | macOS only. Transcribed on-device. Pro. |
| Publishing | A share link with optional password or email allowlist, and a chosen expiry. Pro. |
| Telemetry | One anonymous daily ping. No behavioural tracking. Switch it off. |
Fuller detail lives on the pages these rows summarise: the block editor, the AI providers, the export engine, the security model, and the Free and Pro split.
What this page will not do
Asked plainly
Does Ampersand work offline?
Ampersand works fully offline. Writing, search, links, version history and export need no network at all; only cloud AI does, and running a local model through Ollama removes even that.
What operating systems does Ampersand run on?
Ampersand runs on macOS, Windows and Linux, with native builds for both Intel/AMD and ARM processors.
What file format does Ampersand use?
Every Ampersand note is a plain .md Markdown file with optional YAML frontmatter — no proprietary format and no database.
How much does Ampersand cost?
Ampersand is free forever. Ampersand Pro is an optional one-time $29 launch price (regularly $49) with no subscription.
Do I need an account to use Ampersand?
Ampersand requires no account and no sign-up. You download it, pick a folder, and write.
Which AI models can Ampersand use?
Ampersand supports Claude, OpenAI, Gemini, Apple Intelligence, local models through Ollama, and CLI agents. AI is bring-your-own-key and entirely optional.
Can Ampersand export to PDF and Word?
Ampersand exports to PDF, Word .docx, self-contained HTML and Markdown. Exporting a single note as Markdown is free; the other formats and whole-vault export are Pro.
Does Ampersand encrypt my notes?
Ampersand encrypts individual notes on disk using age — X25519 key exchange with ChaCha20-Poly1305 — under one passphrase per vault. Decrypting your own notes is never gated behind a licence.
Can I import my notes from Obsidian or Notion?
Ampersand imports a Markdown folder, an Obsidian vault, a Notion export, or a Word .docx file, carrying over callouts, links, embeds and attachments.
Does Ampersand track what I do?
Ampersand sends one anonymous ping per day carrying a random install identifier, the app version, your OS and its version, the processor architecture, your locale, how many notes exist, and whether the licence is free or Pro. Nothing else — no note content, no file names, no vault paths, and no keys. There is no behavioural tracking, no analytics SDK and no ad identifier, your IP address is discarded rather than stored, and you can turn the ping off in Settings.
Specifications are easy.
Try the thing.
Ampersand is free to start, not a trial. Download it, point it at a folder, and see whether the table was telling the truth.
Free to start · Mac, Windows & Linux · No account required