Linked notes, on your Mac.
Vellum keeps your notes as plain Markdown files you own. Link them with [[wikilinks]], follow the backlinks, and watch a living graph of your thinking take shape — fast, local, and private.
Free editor & one vault · $5.99 one-time for Pro · macOS 14+ · Local & private
Features
Your files. Your knowledge graph.
The editor, one vault, search, wikilinks and tags are free. The graph, multiple vaults, iCloud sync, templates and PDF export unlock with Pro.
Live-preview editor
Write in Markdown and see it render as you type — headings, lists, code and checkboxes, no mode-switching.
[[Wikilinks]] & backlinks
Type [[ to link any note. Every note shows what links back to it, so connections surface themselves.
Instant full-text search
Find any line across your whole vault the moment you type — no indexing waits, no spinner.
Tags
Drop #tags anywhere and browse everything that shares one. Lightweight structure, zero folders required.
Knowledge graph
See your vault as a living map of linked notes — zoom, drag, and rediscover the threads between ideas.
Multiple vaults
Keep work, journal and research in separate vaults — switch between them instantly without mixing notes.
iCloud sync
Your notes follow you across every Mac through your own iCloud Drive — no Vellum account, no server in the middle.
Templates & daily notes
One key opens today's note; templates pre-fill the structure you reach for every time.
PDF export
Turn any note — or a whole folder — into a clean, shareable PDF straight from the editor.
Plain Markdown, yours
Every note is a real .md file in a folder you control. Portable, future-proof, never locked in a database.
Speaks your language
Fully localized in six languages, following your Mac automatically.
Local & private
Vellum runs entirely on your Mac. No account, no server — the studio never sees a single note.
Pricing
Buy it once. Own it forever.
The editor is free. Unlock the graph, sync and the rest with a one-time purchase — no subscriptions on individual tools.
Vellum
Every Pro feature, owned forever.
- Free editor, one vault, search, wikilinks & tags
- Knowledge graph & multiple vaults
- iCloud sync, templates & daily notes
- PDF export · free updates, no subscription
Whittle All-Access
Every Whittle tool, including everything we ship next.
- Vellum, Glint & Morph, fully unlocked
- Every current & future Whittle app
- All updates included
- The only Whittle subscription
The editor is free, forever — no account, no trial timer. Pro is a one-time purchase with a 14-day free trial; All-Access is the only subscription.
FAQ
Questions, answered
Is it private?
Yes. Vellum stores your notes as plain files on your Mac and never uploads them. There's no account and no Vellum server — your writing stays yours.
What format are my notes?
Plain Markdown — one real .md file per note, in a folder you control. Open or edit them in any app, back them up however you like; nothing is locked in a proprietary database.
What's free, and what's Pro?
The editor, one vault, full-text search, wikilinks and tags are free forever. Vellum Pro ($5.99) unlocks the knowledge graph, multiple vaults, iCloud sync, templates & daily notes, and PDF export — with a 14-day free trial.
Does it sync across my Macs?
Yes, with Pro. Vellum syncs through your own iCloud Drive, so your notes follow you across every Mac — no Vellum account and nothing routed through us.
Is it one-time or a subscription?
Vellum Pro is a one-time $5.99 purchase — buy it once and own it forever. The only subscription is Whittle All-Access ($15.99/year) for every tool we ship.
What macOS version do I need?
macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later, on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.
Will it open on first launch?
Vellum is signed but not yet notarized, so the first time you may need to right-click the app and choose Open. After that it launches normally. Stuck? Email [email protected] and a human will help.
Start your vault
Download Vellum for macOS — the editor is free, Pro unlocks the graph and sync. Plain files, local and private, yours.