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Emberly vs Heptabase

Two fact sheets from our own research, side by side — pricing, platforms, API access and status re-checked by us rather than quoted from the vendors. Heptabase publishes a starting price ($8.99); Emberly does not. Only Emberly has a free tier.

EmberlyBrowser mind-map workspace where notes, files and bookmarks live as linked nodes instead of foldersHeptabaseVisual whiteboard note-taking app with AI-assisted organization, PDF annotation and a structured AI tutor.

Side by side

FactEmberlyHeptabase
CategoryNote-taking & Second BrainNote-taking & Second Brain
Pricing modelFreemiumPaid
Starts at—$8.99 month
Public APINoNo
PlatformsWebWeb, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
CompanyEmberlyHeptabase
Launched20202021
Last verifiedSep 6, 2026Sep 1, 2026

What our research says

Emberly

Worth it if you think in maps rather than lists: the node graph plus bi-directional links makes an unfamiliar topic easier to re-enter than a stack of documents. The catch is scope. This is a small-team web app with no offline client, no mobile app and no public API, so it is a place to think rather than a system of record.

Pros

  • Notes, files and bookmarks live in one map instead of three apps
  • Bi-directional links between nodes, so context survives when you return months later
  • Real-time collaborative editing on shared maps
  • AI can generate practice quizzes from your own notes

Cons

  • Web-only: no desktop, mobile or offline client
  • Pricing is not readable by an unauthenticated visitor
  • Small vendor with no public API or export ecosystem

Heptabase

Heptabase treats the whiteboard, not the linear document, as the core unit of note-taking, which sets it apart from outline-first tools, and the AI layer is built on top of that spatial structure rather than bolted onto a chat sidebar. AI credits are metered even on the cheapest paid tier, so heavy AI use pushes users toward Premium quickly.

Pros

  • Available across desktop, mobile and web with real sync
  • Card-based whiteboards support bi-directional linking between notes
  • Structured AI Tutor mode goes beyond basic question-answering over notes

Cons

  • No free ongoing plan found, only paid tiers
  • AI credits are limited even on the entry Pro plan

Which one fits

Choose Emberly if you need

  • students building revision maps
  • visual thinkers organising research
  • people who collect bookmarks and later need to find them

Choose Heptabase if you need

  • Students and researchers organizing complex, interlinked topics
  • Visual thinkers who prefer whiteboards over linear documents

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