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 carefully curated directory of recommended free and open source software, covering every major software category.The directory forms part of our extensive collection of articles for Linux enthusiasts. It includes hundreds of detailed reviews, together with free and open source alternatives to proprietary software from companies such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Cisco, Oracle, and Autodesk. LinuxLinks also covers interesting projects worth exploring, Linux-compatible hardware, free programming books and tutorials, and much more. Know a useful free and open source Linux application that we haven’t covered? Tell us about it using our submission form. |
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