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Heptabase vs Knogra

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); Knogra does not. Only Knogra is free.

HeptabaseVisual whiteboard note-taking app with AI-assisted organization, PDF annotation and a structured AI tutor.KnograA browser-based knowledge graph for building and navigating mind maps, concept maps, and semantic networks.

Side by side

FactHeptabaseKnogra
CategoryNote-taking & Second BrainKnowledge Management & Wikis
Pricing modelPaidFree
Starts at$8.99 month—
Public APINoNo
PlatformsWeb, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, AndroidWeb
CompanyHeptabaseKnogra
Launched2021—
Last verifiedSep 1, 2026Sep 1, 2026

What our research says

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

Knogra

Knogra is a one-person, MIT-licensed project for people who think in networks rather than lists — its animated node-to-node navigation is a genuinely different way to move through a knowledge base than a typical outliner. Being unfunded and solo-maintained cuts both ways: no subscription or lock-in, but also no support line and an unclear future if the maker moves on.

Pros

  • Free with no account or payment required
  • Local-first storage via IndexedDB works offline
  • Animated transitions between nodes make large maps easier to navigate than a static graph view
  • MIT-licensed, so the code itself isn't tied to the hosted site staying up

Cons

  • No company or team behind it means no support channel
  • No visible roadmap or update cadence
  • Best experienced on a desktop-sized screen, by the maker's own description

Which one fits

Choose Heptabase if you need

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

Choose Knogra if you need

  • Visual learners mapping out a complex subject like math or literature
  • Researchers who want to see connections between ideas rather than a flat document list
  • Anyone who wants a free, local-first mapping tool without an account or subscription

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