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Heptabase vs Scrintal

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 starts at $8.99, Scrintal at $9. Only Scrintal has a free tier.

HeptabaseVisual whiteboard note-taking app with AI-assisted organization, PDF annotation and a structured AI tutor.ScrintalVisual note-taking on an infinite canvas with blocks, bi-directional links, and an AI assistant for repetitive work.

Side by side

FactHeptabaseScrintal
CategoryNote-taking & Second BrainNote-taking & Second Brain
Pricing modelPaidFreemium
Starts at$8.99 month$9 month
Public APINoNo
PlatformsWeb, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, AndroidWeb
CompanyHeptabaseScrintal Labs AB
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

Scrintal

Scrintal's advantage over a plain document editor is the spatial canvas: ideas can be arranged, connected, and rearranged visually rather than forced into a linear outline from the start, which suits early-stage research and brainstorming. Its own pricing page did not render exact figures during this research, and secondary sources show some inconsistency in the current monthly rate.

Pros

  • Infinite canvas with bi-directional linking, not just a flat list of notes
  • Supports importing PDFs, images, and video directly onto the canvas
  • Real-time collaboration lets a team work the same board together

Cons

  • The vendor's own pricing page did not display exact numbers during this research; figures here come from secondary sources
  • A visual canvas has a steeper learning curve than a standard document or list-based notes app for new users

Which one fits

Choose Heptabase if you need

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

Choose Scrintal if you need

  • Researchers and students organizing sources and ideas spatially
  • Teams brainstorming collaboratively on a shared visual board

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