A keyboard-first notes app for Mac.
Updated
Remlo opens on today’s page with the cursor already in it. Press ⌘K from there and you can jump to any note, start a new one, or search the words inside your notes. If you want a keyboard-first notes app for Mac, that is most of the pitch.
The two keystrokes I use all day
The first is not a keystroke. I open the app and type, because the page for the day exists and the cursor is on it. No folder, no vault, no title field to fill in.
The second is ⌘K. It is a palette: start typing and it finds the note, or offers to make a new one with what you typed. It also reads inside notes. If I remember saying “supplier” in a call two weeks ago but not which call, I type the word and the note comes up.
That second part matters more than it sounds. A title-only search would fail me, because my titles are bad.
Tasks and dates without the mouse
A line that starts with - [ ] is a checkbox, and a checkbox is a to-do. It lands on the To-dos page with every other open one, and links back to the note.
To date it, type the slash command in the note and choose today, tomorrow, or a date. A to-do carries a due date, a scheduled date, or a someday flag. Anything scheduled or due shows in Today.
None of this needs the pointer. I can write a call note, mark three tasks, date two of them, and not touch the trackpad.
How the others compare
Obsidian has a command palette and a quick switcher, both built in. They are good. Obsidian also lets you rebind almost everything, which is why people stay: you can make it fit your hands exactly. The cost is the afternoon you spend deciding what that should be. I wrote about that on the Obsidian alternative page.
Todoist has Quick Add, and Things has Quick Entry. Both are fast for one task. They capture a task, and my sentence usually is not one yet.
Apple Notes has Quick Note on the Mac, a corner gesture or a Globe shortcut. It puts a thought in a small window. It does not make a daily page or collect checkboxes elsewhere.
What Remlo does not do
You cannot remap the shortcuts to your own scheme. The defaults are the system.
There are no plugins, so there is no plugin that adds a missing command.
It is a native Apple app. There is no Windows or Linux version.
Who this suits
The person who lives on a Mac, writes more than they click, and wants capture to cost nothing. The person who bounced off Obsidian because the setup got in the way of the notes.
Remlo is also on iPhone and iPad, works offline, and syncs through your iCloud. The same page for the day is there on every device. It costs $19.99 a year with seven days free, or $149 once.
Open the app, type, and press ⌘K when you need to find something.
Common questions
What does ⌘K do in Remlo?
It opens the command palette. Type to jump to any note, to start a new one, or to find words inside your notes. It searches note text, not only titles.
Do I have to pick a folder before I write?
No. Remlo opens on today's page with the cursor in it. There is no folder or project to choose first.
How do I make a to-do from the keyboard?
Type a checkbox, - [ ], at the start of a line. That line is a to-do and it is collected on the To-dos page. A slash command sets it to today, tomorrow, or a date you pick.
Does Obsidian have a command palette?
Yes, and a quick switcher. Both are good. Obsidian is also configurable far beyond that, which is its strength and its setup cost.
What does Remlo cost?
$19.99 a year with seven days free, or $149 once. One purchase covers Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
Give your mind one place.
Remlo is on the App Store for iPhone and iPad, and on the Mac App Store. One purchase covers all your Apple devices, with 7 days free to start.
