While many people will say Evernote or Notion is their favorite note-taking tool, I’ve fallen in love with Cherrytree. This simple, yet complex desktop app requires few resources and works perfectly for notes, research, and even journaling. Plus, it’s free.
Content
- 1. Hierarchical Structure for Notes
- 2. Easy Formatting for Rich Notes
- 3. Detailed Search Function
- 4. Add Links, Tables, Images, and Code
- 5. Create Bookmarks for Most Used Nodes
- 6. Various Import and Export Options
- 7. Multiple Use Cases
- 8. Impressive Customization
- 9. Take Cherrytree on the Go
- 10. Password-Protect Your Notes
What Is Cherrytree?
Cherrytree is a small desktop app designed to take notes. It lets you use syntax highlighting and rich text and stores your data in a database file. While it looks deceptively simple, the more you dig into it, the more you realize what you can do with it.
It’s available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. There’s also a third-party Android app, SourCherry, that supports Cherrytree databases and works similarly, as it’s based on the same code. Alternatively, try these other Android note-taking apps.
1. Hierarchical Structure for Notes
Organization is vital when it comes to choosing any note-taking app, and Cherrytree’s hierarchical structure works well for this. Each note is called a node. Create parent and child nodes, nesting as much as necessary.
I like to create main nodes for each project I’m working on, then organize my notes into sub-nodes to keep track of everything. It’s also nice that you can customize nodes with colors, tags, text type, and even icons.
2. Easy Formatting for Rich Notes
Many of the desktop note-taking tools I tried only had basic formatting, such as bold and italics. This app features bold, italics, headings, subscript/superscript, text foreground/background colors, bullet lists, and more. Highlight text and use the menu bar to make changes.
If you go to File -> Preferences -> Format, you can customize spacing and scale for different formats. While I wish you could choose a font from the main screen, you have to go to Preferences -> Fonts to change fonts for different types of text.
Tip: if all you need is a plain text editor, check out
Emacs and why is it our favorite choice of text-editor.
3. Detailed Search Function
When you have hundreds of notes, looking for something through multiple folders gets difficult quickly. Unless you specifically exclude a node from search, you can search a single node, a tree (parent and child nodes), or the entire database. Enter your search term, choose your filters, and enjoy the results.
Filters let you narrow down results by case, time, tags, exact or partial matches, and which node(s) to search.
4. Add Links, Tables, Images, and Code
I often add links to my notes for research, and Cherrytree not only supports links, but I can add tables, images, and even code if I need to. You can link to websites, files, and even other nodes.
A unique feature, though, is automatic syntax highlighting and executing code. When you create a new node, choose Automatic Syntax Highlighting, and select your language. Enter your code, and run it. You can even add a codebox within a node if you don’t need an entire node for it.
5. Create Bookmarks for Most Used Nodes
If you have nodes you use more often than others, create bookmarks for faster access. This is also ideal if you tend to often use certain sub-nodes and want to save yourself a few clicks. Open any node, right-click it, and choose Add to bookmarks. Then, open the Bookmarks menu to get to your chosen node faster.
6. Various Import and Export Options
Cherrytree makes me feel like I’m more in control of my notes. Every time you close the app, you’re prompted to save. This saves all the nodes to a Cherrytree database file. But if you need your nodes exported in a different format or want to change note-taking apps, export to PDF, HTML, plain text, or a Cherrytree document.
If you’re switching from another app to this one, you have 16 import options. I regularly save a backup of my notes to a USB drive and to PDF just in case.
7. Multiple Use Cases
When I first tried Cherrytree, I just needed something simple to use on an old laptop to keep track of my daily to-dos. As I started using this hierarchical note system more, I discovered it works well for:
- Task lists
- Tracking goals
- Planning projects
- Research
- Taking notes
- Journaling (more options if you’re a Windows user)
- Organizing lists of useful sites
- Tracking finances
- Managing subscriptions
Those are just the things I’ve personally used this note-taking app to keep track of and create. Since Cherrytree lets you insert timestamps, it works surprisingly well for quick journal entries. You can even insert Today’s Node in the Tree menu to organize entries and notes automatically by date.
The best part is that you can do everything I mentioned above in the same database, or create different instances (databases) and switch between them.
8. Impressive Customization
I’m fine with a plain note-taking app, but I prefer to customize things, such as the theme, font colors, and even the toolbar. Cherrytree lets you customize numerous aspects to get the right look, feel, and function for your needs.
Outside of just formatting text in a node, go to File -> Preferences, and explore text defaults, plain text and code display, special characters, themes, link colors, toolbar items, and save/back up options.
9. Take Cherrytree on the Go
Yes, this is a desktop note-taking app and not available in the cloud. But it’s available as a portable app. You can install it on a USB drive, and take it with you to use on other computers.
10. Password-Protect Your Notes
The default save type is SQLite (.ctb). It’s not password protected. If anyone else is using your computer, you may want to choose SQLite, Password Protected or XML, Password Protected instead. Enter a password when prompted, and know that your notes are far more secure.
If you mainly work at the same computer all the time, like me, Cherrytree is a dream note-taking tool for your desktop. Of course, if you need access from anywhere, you can use Remote Desktop or a similar tool, and treat your computer as a personal cloud. Alternatively, try these Notion alternatives or sticky note apps for Mac.
Image credit: Canva. All screenshots by Crystal Crowder.
Crystal Crowder –
Staff Writer
Crystal Crowder has spent over 15 years working in the tech industry, first as an IT technician and then as a writer. She works to help teach others how to get the most from their devices, systems, and apps. She stays on top of the latest trends and is always finding solutions to common tech problems.
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