Supernotes — Fast, Card-Based Markdown Notes

TL;DR

TL;DR: Supernotes is a fast, card-based note-taking app built for writers and knowledge workers who want Markdown power without the overhead of a full wiki.

Source and Accuracy Notes

⚠️ This section is MANDATORY. All links must be verified from actual source, not guessed.

• Project page: supernotes.app
• HN launch thread: news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30440275 (251 points)
• License: proprietary SaaS (free tier available)

What Is Supernotes?

Supernotes is a collaborative note-taking app built around notecards instead of traditional documents or folders. You write individual cards — each a self-contained block of Markdown, LaTeX math, images, and emoji — then arrange and nest them into boards. Cards collapse, expand, and link to each other, making it easy to build up a personal knowledge base without fighting a rigid hierarchy.

The product launched on HN as “Supernotes 2” in 2025 and has since expanded to a full iOS app and real-time collaboration features.

Key features as described on the product site:

• Notecard model — each card is a collapsible unit; boards hold unlimited nested cards
• Markdown + LaTeX + images — full Markdown rendering with math block support
• Real-time collaboration — share boards and edit together
• Cross-platform — web app + iOS app, offline-ready
• Free to start — no credit card required

Setup and Core Workflow

Supernotes is a web-first SaaS — there is nothing to install for the core experience.

Web App

1. Go to supernotes.app and sign up with email or Google account
2. Create your first board from the dashboard
3. Click + to add a new card — it opens inline, ready for Markdown input
4. Use / commands for formatting (similar to Notion’s slash menu)

iOS App

The iOS app is available on the App Store. It syncs with the web board in real time and supports offline editing — changes queue locally and push when connectivity returns.

Card Syntax

Cards support standard Markdown plus some Supernotes-specific syntax:

# Card title

Regular paragraph text.

> Blockquote inside a card

Inline math: $E = mc^2$

Block math:

$$
\int_0^\infty e^{-x^2} dx = \frac{\sqrt{\pi}}{2}
$$

[[Another Card]] — link to another card in your board

Collaboration

From the board menu, click Share and invite collaborators by email. Collaborators need a free Supernotes account. Real-time cursors show who is editing which card.

Practical Evaluation Checklist

• Markdown rendering — clean, fast; code blocks with syntax highlighting
• Card linking — [[Card Name]] syntax works across boards
• LaTeX math — block math renders correctly via MathJax or KaTeX
• Offline mode — iOS app queues edits; web app requires connectivity
• Search — global search across all boards and cards
• Export — cards can be exported as Markdown or PDF

Security Notes

• Data is stored on Supernotes’ servers (proprietary SaaS, not self-hosted)
• No end-to-end encryption is advertised for the free tier
• Review their privacy policy if handling sensitive notes

FAQ

Q: Is there a self-hosted option? A: No — Supernotes is a hosted SaaS. There is no self-hosted version available at this time.

Q: How does it compare to Notion? A: Supernotes is much simpler — no databases, no sophisticated block types, just cards and boards. If you want a lightweight Notion without the complexity, Supernotes fills that niche.

Q: Does it support backlinks between cards? A: Yes — use the [[Card Name]] syntax to create links between cards, even across different boards.

Q: Is there an offline mode? A: The iOS app supports offline editing with sync on reconnect. The web app requires an internet connection.

Conclusion

Supernotes is a focused, well-designed note tool for people who prefer card-based thinking over document hierarchies. The Markdown + LaTeX support makes it useful for technical writers and researchers, while the clean UI keeps it accessible for casual note-takers. The main trade-off is that it is not self-hosted — your data lives on Supernotes’ servers. If that fits your workflow, it is worth a try.

Try it: supernotes.app