Stash

Stash is a note-taking app for macOS that stores everything as plain Markdown files in a regular folder on your computer. There's no proprietary format, no database you can't open elsewhere, and no cloud account required. Your notes live where you put them, and you can move them around, back them up, or edit them with another tool whenever you want.

The pitch is simplicity and ownership. A lot of note apps lock your writing inside a sync layer you don't control. Stash skips that entirely. It reads and writes plain text and Markdown, so your notes are yours even if you stop using the app tomorrow. If you want sync, you bring your own, whether that's Git on GitHub or GitLab, a personal server, or just copying the folder to a USB drive.

Git integration is the standout piece. You can push and pull notes the same way you'd handle code, which means version history, branching, and diffs come for free. For developers this feels natural. For anyone else it's optional, and the app works fine without it. Either way, Stash stays out of your workflow and lets you decide how your data moves between machines.

The interface is native macOS down to the details. It uses standard system controls, respects your accent color, and feels like something Apple might have shipped. That means keyboard shortcuts work where you expect them, dark mode toggles with the system, and there's no Electron overhead slowing things down. Full-text search is fast because everything is local.

Stash also supports tables in CSV and its own MDSV format, which keeps structured data readable inside a plain text file. It's not a spreadsheet replacement, but if you keep lists or reference tables in your notes, they won't break the flow.

The audience is anyone who prefers owning their files over renting cloud storage. Developers who already think in Git will feel at home. Writers who want a calm, distraction-free space will appreciate how little the app gets in the way. And anyone who has lost access to notes locked in a defunct service will understand why local-first matters.

Pricing is a one-time purchase at twelve dollars. That includes all updates through version 1, with no subscription. It runs on Apple Silicon Macs with macOS Tahoe or later. A trial is available if you want to test it before buying.