Last Updated on March 20, 2026
SpeedyNote is a lightweight, fast, and stylus-optimized note-taking app built for classic tablet PCs, low-resolution screens, and vintage hardware.
This is free and open source software.
Features include:
- Pressure-sensitive inking with stylus support.
- Multi-page notebooks with tabbed or scrollable page view.
- PDF background integration with annotation overlay.
- Dial UI + Joy-Con support for intuitive one-handed control.
- Per-page background styles: grid, lined, or blank (customizable).
- Portable .spn notebooks for note storage.
- Zoom, pan, thickness, and color preset switching via dial.
- Markdown sticky notes are supported for text-based notes.
- Designed for low-spec devices (133Hz Sample Rate @ Intel Atom N450).
- Supports multiple languages across the globe (Covers half the global population).
Website: github.com/alpha-liu-01/SpeedyNote
Support:
Developer: alpha-liu-01
License: MIT License
SpeedyNote is written in C++. Learn C++ with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
Related Software
| Handwritten GUI Notes Apps | |
|---|---|
| Xournal++ | Handwriting notetaking software with PDF annotation support |
| Rnote | Sketch and take handwritten notes |
| Saber | Notes app built for handwriting |
| SpeedyNote | Built for classic tablet PCs, low-resolution screens, and vintage hardware. |
| Butterfly | Provides a simple UI with powerful customization. |
| Lorien | Infinite canvas drawing/note-taking app |
| Write | Designed for note-taking, brainstorming, and sketching. |
| Writernote | Take notes in an intelligent way |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
 Explore our comprehensive directory of recommended free and open source software. Our carefully curated collection spans every major software category.This directory is part of our ongoing series of informative articles for Linux enthusiasts. It features hundreds of detailed reviews, along with open source alternatives to proprietary solutions from major corporations such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Cisco, Oracle, and Autodesk. You’ll also find interesting projects to try, hardware coverage, free programming books and tutorials, and much more. Discovered a useful open source Linux program that we haven’t covered yet? Let us know by completing this form. |