@@ -6,180 +6,204 @@ Butterfly is a note-taking app that aims for a unified experience across all pla
66
77## Quick Comparison Table
88
9- | Feature | Butterfly | OneNote | Obsidian | Excalidraw | Xournal++ | Samsung Note |
10- | ---------| -----------| ---------| ----------| ------------| -----------| -----------|
11- | ** Open Source** | ✅ Yes (AGPL-3.0) | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (MIT) | ✅ Yes (GPL-2.0) | ❌ No |
12- | ** Cost** | Free | Free | Free (personal) | Free + Paid tiers | Free | Free |
13- | ** Android** | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
14- | ** Windows** | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ (Windows 10)| 🟧 Limited (Samsung devices ONLY) |
15- | ** Linux** | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
16- | ** macOS** | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
17- | ** Web** | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
18- | ** Infinite Canvas** | ✅ Full | ✅ Positive coords only | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ Fixed pages | ❌ Fixed pages |
19- | ** Handwriting** | ✅ | ✅ | 🟧 Limited | ✅ Drawing | ✅ | ✅ |
20- | ** Custom Colors** | ✅ Full palette | ✅ | ✅ Themes | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
21- | ** PDF Import** | ✅ | ✅ | 🟧 Limited | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
22- | ** PDF Export** | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
23- | ** SVG Support** | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
24- | ** Offline Use** | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ Basic | ✅ | ✅ |
25- | ** Cloud Sync** | WebDAV | OneDrive/SharePoint | Paid sync | Paid collab | Manual | OneDrive/Samsung Cloud |
9+ | Feature | Butterfly | OneNote | Obsidian | Excalidraw | Xournal++ | Samsung Notes |
10+ | ------------------- | ---------------- | ---------------------- | --------------- | ----------------- | --------------- | -------------------------------- |
11+ | ** Open Source** | ✅ Yes (AGPL-3.0) | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (MIT) | ✅ Yes (GPL-2.0) | ❌ No |
12+ | ** Cost** | Free | Free | Free (personal) | Free + Paid tiers | Free | Free |
13+ | ** Android** | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
14+ | ** Windows** | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ (Windows 10) | 🟧 Limited (Samsung devices ONLY) |
15+ | ** Linux** | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
16+ | ** macOS** | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
17+ | ** Web** | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
18+ | ** Infinite Canvas** | ✅ Full | ✅ Positive coords only | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ Fixed pages | ❌ Fixed pages |
19+ | ** Handwriting** | ✅ | ✅ | 🟧 Limited | ✅ Drawing | ✅ | ✅ |
20+ | ** Custom Colors** | ✅ Full palette | ✅ | ✅ Themes | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
21+ | ** PDF Import** | ✅ | ✅ | 🟧 Limited | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
22+ | ** PDF Export** | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
23+ | ** SVG Support** | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
24+ | ** Offline Use** | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ Basic | ✅ | ✅ |
25+ | ** Cloud Sync** | WebDAV | OneDrive/SharePoint | Paid sync | Paid collab | Manual | OneDrive/Samsung Cloud |
2626
2727## Detailed Comparisons
2828
2929### Butterfly vs Microsoft OneNote
3030
3131** Similarities:**
32- - Infinite canvas for freeform note-taking
33- - Strong handwriting and drawing support
34- - Support for images and multimedia content
35- - Cross-platform availability
32+
33+ * Infinite canvas for freeform note-taking
34+ * Strong handwriting and drawing support
35+ * Support for images and multimedia content
36+ * Cross-platform availability
3637
3738** Butterfly Advantages:**
38- - ** Open source** - You can inspect, modify, and contribute to the code
39- - ** True infinite canvas** - No coordinate limitations
40- - ** Better privacy** - Store data locally or choose your own WebDAV provider
41- - ** Lighter weight** - Faster startup and lower resource usage
42- - ** SVG support** - Vector graphics import and export
43- - ** No vendor lock-in** - Your data stays under your control
39+
40+ * ** Open source** – You can inspect, modify, and contribute to the code
41+ * ** True infinite canvas** – No coordinate limitations
42+ * ** Better privacy** – Store data locally or choose your own WebDAV provider
43+ * ** Lighter weight** – Faster startup and lower resource usage
44+ * ** SVG support** – Vector graphics import and export
45+ * ** No vendor lock-in** – Your data stays under your control
4446
4547** OneNote Advantages:**
46- - ** Deep Microsoft ecosystem integration** - Works seamlessly with Office 365
47- - ** Advanced OCR** - Text recognition from handwritten notes and images
48- - ** Enterprise features** - Advanced sharing and permission management
48+
49+ * ** Deep Microsoft ecosystem integration** – Works seamlessly with Office 365
50+ * ** Advanced OCR** – Text recognition from handwritten notes and images
51+ * ** Enterprise features** – Advanced sharing and permission management
4952
5053** Best for:**
51- - ** Butterfly** : Privacy-conscious users, Linux users, those wanting lightweight open-source solutions
52- - ** OneNote** : Microsoft ecosystem users, teams needing collaboration, macOS users
54+
55+ * ** Butterfly** : Privacy-conscious users, Linux users, those wanting lightweight open-source solutions
56+ * ** OneNote** : Microsoft ecosystem users, teams needing collaboration, macOS users
5357
5458### Butterfly vs Obsidian
5559
5660** Similarities:**
57- - Cross-platform support
58- - Customizable interface and themes
59- - Local data storage with sync options
61+
62+ * Cross-platform support
63+ * Customizable interface and themes
64+ * Local data storage with sync options
6065
6166** Butterfly Advantages:**
62- - ** Canvas-based interface** - Freeform drawing and note placement
63- - ** Built-in drawing tools** - No plugins required for handwriting
64- - ** Simpler learning curve** - Ready to use out of the box
65- - ** Better for visual thinkers** - Infinite canvas for mind mapping
66- - ** Web version available** - No installation required
67+
68+ * ** Canvas-based interface** – Freeform drawing and note placement
69+ * ** Built-in drawing tools** – No plugins required for handwriting
70+ * ** Simpler learning curve** – Ready to use out of the box
71+ * ** Better for visual thinkers** – Infinite canvas for mind mapping
72+ * ** Web version available** – No installation required
6773
6874** Obsidian Advantages:**
69- - ** Powerful linking system** - Bidirectional links between notes
70- - ** Markdown-based** - Future-proof plain text format
71- - ** Advanced search** - Complex queries and filtering
72- - ** Graph view** - Visualize connections between notes
73- - ** Better for text-heavy notes** - Structured note organization
74- - ** Plugin/extension** Plugin/extension support for enhanced functionality
75+
76+ * ** Powerful linking system** – Bidirectional links between notes
77+ * ** Markdown-based** – Future-proof plain text format
78+ * ** Advanced search** – Complex queries and filtering
79+ * ** Graph view** – Visualize connections between notes
80+ * ** Better for text-heavy notes** – Structured note organization
81+ * ** Plugin/extension support** – For enhanced functionality
7582
7683** Best for:**
77- - ** Butterfly** : Visual note-takers, sketching, casual note-taking, students
78- - ** Obsidian** : Knowledge workers, researchers, those building personal knowledge bases
84+
85+ * ** Butterfly** : Visual note-takers, sketching, casual note-taking, students
86+ * ** Obsidian** : Knowledge workers, researchers, those building personal knowledge bases
7987
8088### Butterfly vs Excalidraw
8189
8290** Similarities:**
83- - Excellent drawing and diagramming capabilities
84- - Clean, intuitive interface
85- - Web-based accessibility
86- - Open-source foundation
87- - Hand-drawn aesthetic for diagrams
91+
92+ * Excellent drawing and diagramming capabilities
93+ * Clean, intuitive interface
94+ * Web-based accessibility
95+ * Open-source foundation
96+ * Hand-drawn aesthetic for diagrams
8897
8998** Butterfly Advantages:**
90- - ** Mobile apps** - iOS and Android support
91- - ** Desktop applications** - Windows and Linux apps available
92- - ** Text editing** - Rich text support beyond just drawings
93- - ** File management** - Organize notes with pages and structure
94- - ** PDF import** - Annotate existing documents
95- - ** Offline-first** - Works without internet connection
99+
100+ * ** Mobile apps** – iOS and Android support
101+ * ** Desktop applications** – Windows and Linux apps available
102+ * ** Text editing** – Rich text support beyond just drawings
103+ * ** File management** – Organize notes with pages and structure
104+ * ** PDF import** – Annotate existing documents
105+ * ** Offline-first** – Works without an internet connection
96106
97107** Excalidraw Advantages:**
98- - ** Collaboration focus** - Real-time collaborative drawing
99- - ** Library system** - Reusable components and templates
100- - ** Excalidraw Plus features** - Professional collaboration tools
101- - ** Integration friendly** - Embeds well in other applications
102- - ** Specialized for diagrams** - Purpose-built for technical drawings
108+
109+ * ** Collaboration focus** – Real-time collaborative drawing
110+ * ** Library system** – Reusable components and templates
111+ * ** Excalidraw Plus features** – Professional collaboration tools
112+ * ** Integration friendly** – Embeds well in other applications
113+ * ** Specialized for diagrams** – Purpose-built for technical drawings
103114
104115** Best for:**
105- - ** Butterfly** : General note-taking with drawing, mobile users, offline work
106- - ** Excalidraw** : Team diagramming, technical documentation, collaborative sketching
116+
117+ * ** Butterfly** : General note-taking with drawing, mobile users, offline work
118+ * ** Excalidraw** : Team diagramming, technical documentation, collaborative sketching
107119
108120### Butterfly vs Xournal++
109121
110122** Similarities:**
111- - Excellent handwriting support
112- - PDF annotation capabilities
113- - Open-source and free
114- - Cross-platform (Windows, Linux)
115- - Stylus/pen input optimization
123+
124+ * Excellent handwriting support
125+ * PDF annotation capabilities
126+ * Open-source and free
127+ * Cross-platform (Windows, Linux)
128+ * Stylus/pen input optimization
116129
117130** Butterfly Advantages:**
118- - ** Mobile support** - iOS and Android support
119- - ** Web version** - Browser-based access
120- - ** Modern interface** - Contemporary design and UX
121- - ** Infinite canvas** - Not limited to page boundaries
122- - ** Cloud sync** - WebDAV integration built-in
123- - ** Multiple export formats** - SVG, PNG, PDF support
131+
132+ * ** Mobile support** – iOS and Android support
133+ * ** Web version** – Browser-based access
134+ * ** Modern interface** – Contemporary design and UX
135+ * ** Infinite canvas** – Not limited to page boundaries
136+ * ** Cloud sync** – WebDAV integration built-in
137+ * ** Multiple export formats** – SVG, PNG, PDF support
124138
125139** Xournal++ Advantages:**
126- - ** Built with GTK** - Natively integrated in the GNOME interface
127- - ** Audio recording** - Link audio notes to written content
140+
141+ * ** Built with GTK** – Natively integrated in the GNOME interface
142+ * ** Audio recording** – Link audio notes to written content
128143
129144** Best for:**
130- - ** Butterfly** : Mobile note-taking, modern UI preferences, cloud sync needs
131- - ** Xournal++** : Academic users, PDF-heavy workflows
145+
146+ * ** Butterfly** : Mobile note-taking, modern UI preferences, cloud sync needs
147+ * ** Xournal++** : Academic users, PDF-heavy workflows
132148
133149### Butterfly vs Samsung Notes
134150
135151** Similarities:**
136- - Excellent handwriting support
137- - PDF annotation capabilities
138- - Free
139- - Stylus/pen input optimization
140- - Templates
152+
153+ * Excellent handwriting support
154+ * PDF annotation capabilities
155+ * Free
156+ * Stylus/pen input optimization
157+ * Templates
141158
142159** Butterfly Advantages:**
143- - ** Mobile support** - iOS and Android support
144- - ** Web version** - Browser-based access
145- - ** Infinite canvas** - Not limited to page boundaries
146- - ** Cloud sync** - WebDAV integration built-in
147- - ** Multiple export formats** - SVG, PNG, PDF support
148- - ** Cross-platform** - Windows, Android, iOS, and Linux
149-
160+
161+ * ** Mobile support** – iOS and Android support
162+ * ** Web version** – Browser-based access
163+ * ** Infinite canvas** – Not limited to page boundaries
164+ * ** Cloud sync** – WebDAV integration built-in
165+ * ** Multiple export formats** – SVG, PNG, PDF support
166+ * ** Cross-platform** – Windows, Android, iOS, and Linux
167+
150168** Samsung Notes Advantages:**
151- - ** Native OneUI** - OneUI's interface design
152- - ** Audio recording** - Link audio notes to written content
153- - ** Optimized for Samsung devices** - Works best on samsung devices running OneUI, Samsung's Operating System
169+
170+ * ** Native OneUI** – OneUI’s interface design
171+ * ** Audio recording** – Link audio notes to written content
172+ * ** Optimized for Samsung devices** – Works best on Samsung devices running OneUI, Samsung’s operating system
154173
155174** Best for:**
156- - ** Butterfly** : Mobile note-taking, cloud sync needs, inifite canvas, cross-platform usage
157- - ** Samsung Notes** : PDF-heavy workflows, Samsung devices
175+
176+ * ** Butterfly** : Mobile note-taking, cloud sync needs, infinite canvas, cross-platform usage
177+ * ** Samsung Notes** : PDF-heavy workflows, Samsung devices
158178
159179## Migration and Compatibility
160180
161181** From OneNote:**
162- - Export OneNote pages as PDF and import into Butterfly
163- - Recreate drawings and handwritten notes natively in Butterfly
164- - Consider using WebDAV sync to replace OneDrive synchronization
182+
183+ * Export OneNote pages as PDFs and import them into Butterfly
184+ * Recreate drawings and handwritten notes natively in Butterfly
185+ * Consider using WebDAV sync to replace OneDrive synchronization
165186
166187** From Obsidian:**
167- - Copy text content and recreate in Butterfly's text tools
168- - Convert Markdown files to PDF for import if needed
169- - Use Butterfly's infinite canvas for mind maps instead of graph view
188+
189+ * Copy text content and recreate it in Butterfly’s text tools
190+ * Convert Markdown files to PDF for import if needed
191+ * Use Butterfly's infinite canvas for mind maps instead of the graph view
170192
171193** From Excalidraw:**
172- - Export drawings as SVG and import into Butterfly
173- - Recreate collaborative workflows using Butterfly's sync features
174- - Transition from pure diagramming to mixed note-taking
194+
195+ * Export drawings as SVG and import them into Butterfly
196+ * Recreate collaborative workflows using Butterfly’s sync features
197+ * Transition from pure diagramming to mixed note-taking
175198
176199** From Xournal++:**
177- - Export annotated PDFs and import into Butterfly
178- - Transfer handwritten notes by recreating or importing as images
179- - Adapt from page-based to infinite canvas workflow
200+
201+ * Export annotated PDFs and import them into Butterfly
202+ * Transfer handwritten notes by recreating or importing them as images
203+ * Adapt from a page-based to an infinite canvas workflow
180204
181205** From Samsung Notes:**
182- - Export notes as PDFs and import into Butterfly
183- - Handwritten annonations should be redrawn in butterfly for best experience
184- - Adapt from page-based to infinite canvas workflow
185206
207+ * Export notes as PDFs and import them into Butterfly
208+ * Handwritten annotations should be redrawn in Butterfly for the best experience
209+ * Adapt from a page-based to an infinite canvas workflow
0 commit comments