Grug Notes vs Znote
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Znote is completely free, while Grug Notes is free trial.
At a glance
Best for
Category
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- AI note organization
- Semantic search
- Voice transcription
- Email ingestion
- Markdown and templates
- Public publishing
- Ask your notes with AI
- Runnable code blocks
- MCP tool connections
- Git versioning
- Custom slash commands
- Local .md files
| Feature | Grug Notes | Znote |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Self-organizing notes with AI search, voice and email capture | Local Markdown notes with built-in AI and runnable code blocks |
| Category | Productivity | Productivity |
| Pricing model | Free trial | Free |
| Starting price | $5/mo | Free |
| Free plan | No, trial available | Yes, fully free |
| Made by | Grug Notes | Znote |
| Based in | – | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
|
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Pricing compared
Znote is completely free, while Grug Notes is free trial.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
5 plans
Raw
$5/mo
- 100 credits a month
- For minimal AI use
Grug Core
$12/mo
- 1,000 credits a month
- All AI models
- Voice and email capture
- $7/mo billed yearly
Plus
$16/mo
- 2,000 credits a month
- Same features as Core
Pro
$24/mo
- 3,000 credits a month
- Same features as Core
Max
$59/mo
- 10,000 credits a month
- Same features as Core
Prices in USD, checked Oct 29, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Grug Notes
- All AI models on the main plan
- Capture by voice and email
- Start with free credits, no card
- AI use is limited by credits
- Free tier is only 30 credits
- Annual billing needed for the $7 price
Znote
- Free with no account
- Notes stay as plain local files
- Code runs right inside the note
- Maintained by one indie developer
- Few details on supported AI models
- No hosted sync listed
Which one should you choose?
Choose Grug Notes if you want:
- All AI models on the main plan
- Capture by voice and email
- Start with free credits, no card
Watch out: ai use is limited by credits.
Choose Znote if you want:
- Free with no account
- Notes stay as plain local files
- Code runs right inside the note
Watch out: maintained by one indie developer.
Grug Notes vs Znote FAQ
What is the difference between Grug Notes and Znote?
Grug Notes: Self-organizing notes with AI search, voice and email capture. Znote: Local Markdown notes with built-in AI and runnable code blocks. Both are productivity tools.
Is Grug Notes or Znote cheaper?
Znote is completely free, while Grug Notes is free trial.
Do Grug Notes and Znote have free plans?
Grug Notes: No, trial available. Znote: Yes, fully free.
Who makes Grug Notes?
Grug Notes is made by Grug Notes.
Who makes Znote?
Znote is made by Znote.
Which should I choose, Grug Notes or Znote?
Choose Grug Notes if you value all ai models on the main plan and capture by voice and email. Choose Znote if you value free with no account and notes stay as plain local files.