Heptabase (heptabase.com) is a visual-first knowledge management platform that combines a rich card-based note system with infinite canvas whiteboards to help users make sense of complex topics, research, and interconnected ideas. Unlike linear notes apps, Heptabase treats each note as a reusable card that can appear on multiple whiteboards simultaneously — allowing the same idea to live in different conceptual contexts without duplication. Researchers, students, and knowledge workers use Heptabase to map out mental models, synthesize research literature, plan projects visually, and build deep understanding of complex domains. Backed by a committed founding team and a passionate user community, Heptabase is widely regarded as the most serious visual thinking tool available today.
How Heptabase Works
Create a Heptabase account and begin by creating cards — rich text notes written in a clean Markdown editor. Organize your cards into Whiteboards — infinite spatial canvases where you drag and arrange cards visually, draw connections between them with lines and arrows, and cluster related ideas into groups. Because each card exists independently in the card library, the same card can appear on multiple whiteboards in different conceptual arrangements without creating duplicates. Use the Journal for daily chronological capture. Tag cards and use the PDF reader with annotation tools to import and process research papers directly into your knowledge base. Search across all cards and whiteboards and use the Table view to organize cards with structured properties. Heptabase syncs across Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and web.
Key Features
- Visual whiteboards — infinite canvas for spatially arranging and connecting notes and ideas
- Reusable cards — notes that can appear on multiple whiteboards without duplication
- PDF reader and annotation — import, read, and annotate research papers directly inside Heptabase
- Rich card editor — write detailed notes in Markdown with full formatting support
- Daily journal — chronological capture workspace connected to all cards and whiteboards
- Table view — organize cards with structured properties in a database-style grid
- Tags and search — tag-based organization with full-text search across all content
- Bidirectional links — connect cards with references that display backlinks automatically
- Cross-platform apps — native apps for Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android plus web access
- Offline support — full functionality without internet with automatic cloud sync on reconnection
Heptabase Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Annually | Key Inclusions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal | $11.99/mo | $8.99/mo | Unlimited cards and whiteboards, PDF reader, daily journal, cross-platform sync, offline support |
| Pro | $23.99/mo | $17.99/mo | All Personal features, AI assistant, advanced AI features, priority support |
| Team | $71.99/mo | $53.99/mo | All Pro features, shared team workspace, collaborative whiteboards, team admin controls |
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Who Should Use Heptabase?
Heptabase is the ideal tool for academic researchers and PhD students who need to spatially map out and synthesize large bodies of literature, learners studying complex domains who benefit from visual representations of interconnected concepts, product designers and UX researchers who think spatially and want their knowledge base to reflect that, founders and strategists mapping out competitive landscapes and market thinking, and knowledge workers who have tried linear notes apps and consistently found them inadequate for capturing the full structure of their thinking. The Personal plan suits individual researchers and learners, the Pro plan adds AI assistance for synthesis-heavy workflows, and the Team plan covers collaborative research groups.
