Don't forget to ask
- Q4 budget approval
- Push back on Dec launch
- Headcount sign-off
Free forever · No signup · 100% local
Sticky notes that actually float over Zoom.
Windows Sticky Notes hide behind every full-screen app. macOS Stickies don't work on Windows. Apple Notes uploads to iCloud. We fixed all three.
- 0 KB ever uploaded
- MIT open source
- Mac · Win · Linux · ChromeOS
Q3 Review · notes
Don't forget to ask
- Q4 budget approval
- Push back on Dec launch
- Headcount sign-off
- 1:1 with Raj — Friday
"They want answers, not data."
Always on top
How it works
Browser tab →
floating window.
Browser tab →
floating window.
One click. Zero install.
Every browser since Chrome 116 has a hidden superpower called Document Picture-in-Picture. We use it to give your note a real OS-level window that stays on top of everything else — Zoom, fullscreen video, Excel, anything.
1
Open a note
Pick any sticky note in your browser.
2
Click Pop out
Or hit Cmd+Shift+P. One key, one click.
3
It floats forever
Real OS-level always-on-top window. Survives every fullscreen.
Why switch
Seven things native sticky notes structurally can't do.
Windows Sticky Notes and macOS Stickies have been around for 20+ years. They still can't do these. Not because the teams are lazy — because the architecture doesn't allow it.
- Hides behind Zoom
Floats over every fullscreen app
Document Picture-in-Picture API gives us a real OS-level always-on-top window. Survives screen share, fullscreen, virtual desktops.
- Mac-only or Windows-only
Works on every desktop
Mac, Windows, Linux, Chromebook — anything with Chrome 116+ or Edge. Your notes follow you across machines.
- Cloud sync = upload
Nothing leaves your device
Notes live in your browser's local storage (OPFS). Not on our server. We can't read them. There IS no server.
- Plain text only (Windows)
Full rich text + markdown
Headings, lists, checkboxes, code blocks, links. Type markdown shortcuts (`# `, `- `, `[ ] `) and they render instantly.
- No export, locked in
One-click markdown export
Export any note — or all notes — as a markdown ZIP. Your data outlives any browser, any OS reinstall.
- Mouse-only workflow
Keyboard-first, Cmd+K palette
Press N for new note, / to search, Cmd+K for everything. Press ? to see all shortcuts. Vim users will feel at home.
- "Trust us" privacy
MIT open source, audit it
Every line on GitHub. Self-host if you want. The privacy claim is verifiable, not a marketing line.
How we stack up
The three things that matter most.
| Feature | Windows Sticky Notes | macOS Stickies | Apple Notes / Keep | AlwaysOnTopNotes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floats over fullscreen Zoom | ||||
| Works on Mac AND Windows AND Linux | ||||
| Notes never uploaded anywhere |
Floats over fullscreen Zoom
- Windows Sticky Notes
- macOS Stickies
- Apple Notes / Keep
- AlwaysOnTopNotes
Works on Mac AND Windows AND Linux
- Windows Sticky Notes
- macOS Stickies
- Apple Notes / Keep
- AlwaysOnTopNotes
Notes never uploaded anywhere
- Windows Sticky Notes
- macOS Stickies
- Apple Notes / Keep
- AlwaysOnTopNotes
See the full 15-row comparison
· or just try it now
Questions you might have
Honest answers to the real questions.
Privacy & storage
Where are my notes actually stored?
In your browser's local storage — specifically the Origin Private File System (OPFS) with an IndexedDB fallback for older browsers. Nothing is sent to our servers. There IS no server. The entire app is static HTML + JavaScript served from a CDN. Open your browser's DevTools → Network tab and try saving a note. You won't see a single network request.
Can you read my notes?
No. We can't because we don't have them. Notes live in your browser's local storage on your device, never on our infrastructure. The MIT-licensed source on GitHub is auditable line-by-line — you can verify there's no upload code, no analytics on note content, no telemetry. We get one anonymous pageview from Google Analytics when you load the page. That's it.
What happens to my notes if I clear my browser data?
They're gone. That's the tradeoff for true local storage: your notes live in YOUR browser, and clearing browser data wipes them like it wipes cookies. This is why we ship a one-click "Export all as markdown" button — back up before clearing. Switching to a new device? Same answer: export → import. (Real device sync via end-to-end encrypted CRDTs is on the long-term roadmap, but only as an opt-in.)
Is it safe to type sensitive information?
Safer than typing it into any cloud-based notes app (Apple Notes, Google Keep, Notion, etc.), because those services upload, store, index, and back up your text. We don't. But "safe" is relative — anything in your browser is accessible to malware running on your device, the same way it could access your bank app. For passwords specifically, use a dedicated password manager.
Compatibility & setup
Which browsers does it work in?
Full experience (with the floating window): Chrome 116+, Edge 116+, Opera 102+, Brave 1.58+. Read-write but no floating: Safari 17+ (no Document PiP support yet), Firefox (no Document PiP support yet). Mobile browsers can edit notes normally — Document PiP is desktop-only, period.
Do I need to install anything?
No — it works as a website. But if you want a desktop icon and offline support, click "Install as app" in the menu (or your browser's address bar). That makes it a Progressive Web App, available offline, launchable from your Start menu / Dock without opening the browser first.
Does it work offline?
Yes, once you've loaded it once. The app is cached via a service worker on first visit. Subsequent visits work fully offline — create notes, edit, search, pop out to floating window. Your notes never needed the internet to begin with, since they live locally.
Vs native sticky notes
How is this different from Windows Sticky Notes?
Three structural advantages: (1) Our notes float over Zoom, Teams, full-screen video — Windows Sticky Notes get hidden behind any maximized window. (2) Same notes work on Mac, Linux, and Chromebook — Windows Sticky Notes is Windows-only. (3) Markdown export anytime — Windows Sticky Notes has no export at all, so a Windows reinstall wipes them permanently. Plus rich text, keyboard shortcuts, and open source code you can audit.
Can I sync notes between my Mac and PC?
Not automatically — we don't upload anything, so there's no "cloud sync" to enable. The current workflow is: export as markdown from one device → import on the other. End-to-end encrypted device sync (using CRDTs over a relay you control) is on the long-term roadmap, but only as an opt-in feature. The default will always be local-only.
Features
Can I use markdown?
Yes — the editor (built on Tiptap) supports markdown shortcuts as you type. Type `# ` for a heading, `- ` for a list, `[ ] ` for a checkbox, `**bold**` for bold, ` ``code`` ` for inline code, and so on. You can also paste markdown and it renders rich, or paste rich text and it's preserved. Export gives you clean markdown back.
Can I share notes with someone else?
Export the note as a markdown file (`.md`) and share that — same as you'd share any other file. We deliberately don't offer a cloud share link, because creating one would require uploading the note to our server, which breaks the core privacy promise.
Sustainability
Is it really free forever?
Yes. No ads, no tracking, no premium tier, no "upgrade for more features." The whole app is a static site on Cloudflare Pages — running costs are essentially zero. Maintained as an indie project by one developer (Shrestha). If you want to support the work, there's an optional tip jar in the menu, but it's strictly optional.
What if the site goes down or the project is abandoned?
Your notes don't depend on us. They're in your browser's local storage, accessible even if alwaysontopnotes.com vanishes tomorrow. The source code is MIT-licensed on GitHub — fork it, self-host it (it's a static site, runs on any web server), or run it from a local file. The export feature also gives you portable markdown files that work with any text editor forever.