A notes app · built for one reader
Your thoughts.
Your browser.
Your business.
Write and organize Markdown notes in your browser. Daily notes, quick capture, and search keep your writing easy to find. Share a note through an encrypted, expiring link when you choose.
- Stored locally
- Works offline
- No account needed
Write, save, and keep a local copy.
Start with a note, save your changes locally, and keep a backup you can take with you.
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01
Open Scratchpad
Your browser loads the app's files. Once cached, Scratchpad can open offline, so you can keep writing without a connection.
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02
Write in Markdown
Use headings, lists, links, tables, and code blocks. Scratchpad keeps a local draft as you type; Save commits your changes to the note.
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03
Keep a local copy
Notes are stored in this browser. In supported browsers, you can also link a folder to keep Markdown files on your device. Export regular backups in case browser storage is cleared.
Tools for everyday writing.
Capture thoughts, connect related notes, and find them again. Backups, revision history, and storage controls help you look after your local copy.
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Markdown editing
Write headings, lists, tables, callouts such as
[!NOTE], and syntax-highlighted code. Rich-text pastes become Markdown. Switch between editing and the rendered note. -
Task lists
Tick checkboxes right in the rendered note. Toggles write back to your Markdown and respect revision history.
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Daily note & quick capture
The Today date in the rail opens today's note, created on first use from your "Daily template" note. Months stay collapsible, optional Monthly Reviews link back without copying content, and Quick capture appends a timestamped line from anywhere.
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Linked notes
Connect notes with
[[Title]]links, with suggestions as you type. See backlinks and unlinked mentions on each note, and choose whether to update references when you rename it. -
Fast organization
Open one focused folder at a time, return Home for pinned and recent notes, drag to file a note, or use ranked search across titles, text, and tags in every folder, narrowed with
tag:,title:, andfolder:. A folder named Templates turns its notes into palette commands. -
Images, kept local
Paste, drop, or attach an image and it lives in this browser beside the note, referenced from plain Markdown. Images travel with backups and the Markdown ZIP, and never with a share link.
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A folder you own
In supported browsers, link a local folder to keep Markdown copies of your notes. Edit those files in another editor and Scratchpad can read the changes back.
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Safer across tabs
If another tab changes your note, Scratchpad stops before overwriting it and lets you choose what to keep.
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Storage protection
Ask your browser to keep notes out of automatic storage cleanup. Availability varies, and backups still matter.
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History & draft recovery
Recover unsaved edits after a reload, or restore any of the last 10 saved versions of a note.
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Archive without losing context
Archive finished notes to clear the working list while keeping them editable and searchable. Open Archive from the Notes menu.
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Trash & full erasure
Deleted notes wait in Trash for 30 days before they're removed for good. Type ERASE when you truly want every local note and preference gone.
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Encrypted backups
Protect a full backup with a passphrase. Encryption happens in this browser, and the passphrase is never stored.
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Portable import & export
Move full JSON backups or readable Markdown. Import one file or a whole set of Markdown notes.
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Offline updates on your terms
Use the cached app offline. In Settings, check for updates and choose when to reload a ready version.
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Keyboard-first
⌘N for a new note, ⌘S to save, ⌘K to search. Type > in the search box to find and run commands.
How Scratchpad handles your notes.
Writing and saving stay on this device. Creating or explicitly updating a share link uploads an encrypted copy. The host stores ciphertext; the decryption key stays in the link's fragment.
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No automatic uploads
You choose which note to share and when to update its public copy. Ordinary edits and saves stay local.
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No accounts
Scratchpad works without registration, passwords, or an email address.
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No trackers
Scratchpad doesn't collect analytics, advertising IDs, session recordings, or usage reports.
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No external assets
The app's scripts, styles, and icons are served from its own origin. Fonts come from your device.
A place for personal writing.
A grocery list, a difficult message, or an outline for next quarter can all start in the same place. Scratchpad keeps them on your device, ready to organize and revisit.
Choose how to keep a copy: export a backup, save Markdown files, or link a local folder in a supported browser. Sharing is a separate action you take for an individual note.
Shortcuts for everyday writing.
- ⌘/Ctrl + N New note
- ⌘/Ctrl + S Save the current edit
- ⌘/Ctrl + K · / Jump to search; type > to run a command, or use arrows and Enter to open a result
- Esc Clear search, or leave edit mode
Open Scratchpad and start a note.
Write in your browser, then come back when you need your notes. Export a backup to keep a copy outside browser storage.