Rnote is an open-source, vector-based drawing and note-taking application designed for handwritten notes, freehand sketches, diagrams, and document annotation. Built with Rust and GTK, it provides a flexible workspace for users who prefer writing or drawing with a stylus, touchscreen, or mouse.
Rnote is useful for students organizing lecture notes, educators explaining concepts, artists creating sketches, and professionals developing visual ideas. Its different canvas layouts and export options make it suitable for both structured documents and freeform brainstorming.
Rnote supports stylus-based input and configurable stroke styles, making it useful for handwriting, sketching, and detailed annotations. Compatible devices may also provide pressure-sensitive drawing, depending on the hardware, operating system, and input configuration.
The application includes tools for creating shapes, drawing freehand strokes, and selecting existing objects. Users can move, rotate, resize, and modify content to refine diagrams, organize notes, or develop illustrations without recreating an entire page.
Rnote offers several ways to organize content, including fixed-page documents, vertically scrolling workspaces, and an infinite canvas. Fixed pages work well for structured notes, while an infinite canvas is useful for mind maps, diagrams, and visual planning.
Users can customize page formats and backgrounds to suit different writing and drawing tasks. The workspace browser helps organize documents, while tabs make it easier to switch between multiple open projects. Autosave support can reduce the risk of losing recent changes, although important work should still be backed up.
Rnote supports importing common visual and document formats, including PDFs, bitmap images, and SVG files. Depending on the version and export workflow, projects can be exported to formats such as PDF, SVG, PNG, and JPEG.
These options make it easier to share annotated documents, publish diagrams, or transfer illustrations into other creative applications.
Flatpak is a convenient way to install Rnote on supported Linux distributions. If Flatpak and the Flathub remote are configured on your system, run:
flatpak install flathub com.github.flxzt.rnote
Launch the application with:
flatpak run com.github.flxzt.rnote
Package identifiers and installation instructions can change between releases. Check the official Rnote repository for current installation details and platform-specific instructions.
Rnote is available for Linux and has offered packages for other desktop platforms, including Windows and macOS. Availability, installation methods, and feature parity can vary by release, so consult the official project documentation before installing it on a particular operating system.
The native .rnote format is intended to preserve editable project content. However, compatibility may differ between application versions. Export important work to a suitable interchange or document format, such as PDF or SVG where appropriate, and keep a backup of the original project before upgrading.
Some users may also encounter input-device issues, including inconsistent palm rejection or drag-and-drop behavior. These problems can depend on the desktop environment, device drivers, permissions, and touchscreen configuration. Check the project’s issue tracker for known problems and available fixes.
Rnote provides an open-source alternative to proprietary handwriting and drawing applications. Its combination of stylus input, vector-based editing, flexible canvas layouts, and document export makes it a useful tool for personal notes and professional visual work.
To explore supported features, installation options, and recent development updates, visit the Rnote GitHub project. Linux users can also browse other desktop utilities and system tools in the Nautilus file manager guide.
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