Barside

Barside is a free desktop “second brain” for Windows, Mac (beta), and Linux that replaces scattered productivity apps with one connected workspace. It’s local-first, so notes, media, and settings live on your computer without requiring an account to capture what matters. Cloud sync is optional, giving you the flexibility to stay private or add synchronization when you want it.

Capture and organize everything in one place. Link notes with [[ to create or connect them, explore connections with a note map, and structure content using headings, checklists, tables, and code. Use templates to start from saved note formats and workspaces to group notes and links by project. Tasks pull directly from your checklists into one tasks board, grouped by when they’re due.

Barside also supports media and meetings capture. Record your screen into notes, generate clip-style exports with captions and framing options, extract text from screenshots, and search clipboard history. Transcribe calls with timestamps and turn transcripts into usable follow-through: summaries, quoted decisions, proposed tasks, and recap drafts.

When you need help, Barside includes an AI assistant, AI agents, and AI search across your local library. Agent actions wait for approval in an inbox—nothing is sent or changed outside Barside until you approve. For teams and communities, Spaces offer chat, polls, shared notes, resources, and file sharing, with support for private and paid Spaces.

Is Barside free?

Yes—Barside is offered as a free desktop app.

Do I need an account to save notes?

No. You can take notes without an account, and your notes live on your computer. Cloud sync is optional.

How do note links and the note map work?

Type [[ in a note to link to another note or create a new one. The note map shows linked notes as dots and those [[ links as lines.

Can I turn meetings into follow-ups?

Yes. Barside can record/transcribe calls with timestamps, then help generate a recap draft with summaries, quoted decisions, and proposed tasks you can edit.

How do AI assistants and AI agents stay under my control?

Use the AI assistant to edit, write, and organize your notes step-by-step. For AI agents, actions go into an approval inbox—nothing is sent or changed outside Barside until you approve.

What does Barside include for reading and offline access?

You can save webpages as a copy with layout and images, and keep a readable reading inbox for articles and newsletters so you can read without loading from the web.