A free note taking app for unorthodox notes

CherryTree is a free program that addresses the problem of people having to take non-linear, hierarchical, or unorthodox notes while still being able to navigate the results. It allows users to store files, text, images, links, tables, and even executable snippets of code in this note taking app.

It is almost a hybrid of the functions of EverNote with the tools and usability of Notepad++, which is probably why this notepad note taking app is so popular with developers. It is also useful for writers who create non-linear notes, or even for brainstorming on several topics.

What is Cherrytree software?

It is a note-taking program that allows several types of media to sit in categories and notes beside each other. It allows for hierarchical note-taking, meaning users can create umbrella ideas and then drill down the details in relevant sections. It allows for multi-formatted notes to be placed within hundreds of sub-categories.

Is Cherrytree free?

Yes, it is free, but not open source. This means you can use it as you wish, even for a large business, but you cannot sell it or re-code and resell it. The developer does give away the source code, so you could change it and keep it for personal use or business use, just so long as you don’t sell it.

Not a tool for everybody

If you do not hearken back to a day before Windows existed, then the layout of this developer notes tool will seem daunting. It looks like early 90s accounting software, which may put some people off. It works well and is very in-depth, but its new-user unfriendliness means it doesn’t have mass appeal.

A very deep tool

The level of customization on this hierarchical note-taking app may seem standard at first, but it is actually very deep. Each facet of each note can be customized based on both what it contains and how it acts within the user interface itself.