Start without setting up
Just start typing—no title, folder, tag, or decision about where the thought belongs.
A quiet scratchpad for your Mac
Catch the thought.Carry on.
A private scratchpad that opens from anywhere on your Mac. Capture a thought, close it, and get back to what you were doing.
Buy Aside $9.99One-time purchase · No account required
Complete app · No card or account required
Requires macOS 14 or later · No subscription
Before I forget:
Ask Jules whether Thursday still works.
Pick up basil and lemons.
The opening should feel quieter
Ask Jules whether Thursday still works.
Pick up basil and lemons.
The opening should feel quieter
Capture it before it slips away
One small place to think.
Always within reach
Open Aside from any app with a shortcut. Write what you need, dismiss it, and carry on.
Old pages move aside
Older pages move out of the way automatically, but remain available whenever you need them.
Made for the thought in between
Start with what’s in your head.
Shape a thought
Start with the thought itself.
There’s no title field or filing step. Begin typing; add Markdown only when it helps.
Catch something
Capture copied text without switching apps.
Press a shortcut to clean up copied text and append it to your page—without leaving the app you’re using.
Clear your head
Start fresh without losing the last page.
Open a blank page with one shortcut. Previous pages stay available without crowding the one in front of you.
Make it your space
Make it feel at home on your Mac.
Choose the panel size, typeface, text size, and shortcuts that feel natural to you.
After dark
Easy on the eyes, day or night.
Match your Mac automatically, or choose light or dark mode yourself.
Plain files
Your writing is already yours.
Every page is a Markdown file in a folder you choose. Open it in Finder, sync it, commit it to Git, or keep it in your Obsidian vault.
Everything included
Simple at first.Capable when you need it.
Capture
- Global show/hide shortcut
- Clean and append clipboard text
- Launch automatically at login
Write
- Live Markdown formatting
- Syntax-highlighted code blocks
- Auto-closing quotes, brackets, and braces
- Adjustable text and panel sizes
- System, light, and dark appearance
Stay clear
- Start fresh with ⌘N
- Cycle between current pages
- Quiet background archiving
- Search and reopen earlier pages
Keep control
- One Markdown file per page
- Choose any folder on your Mac
- Works with iCloud, Dropbox, Git, and Obsidian
Private by design
Your thoughts stay on your Mac.
No account, no cloud storage, and no analytics in the app. Your writing never leaves your Mac.
Aside for macOS
Keep a scratchpad one shortcut away.
Buy it once and keep it. No subscription or account required.
$9.99one-time purchase
See if Aside fits your workflow with a 14-day free trial. It starts when you write your first note, and your pages remain readable and exportable afterward.
For macOS 14 or later · Complete app · No card or account requiredGood to know.
How does the free trial work?
Download the complete app without entering a card or creating an account. Your 14 days start when you type your first note.
What happens when the trial ends?
Editing pauses, but your pages remain on your Mac. You can keep reading, copying, and exporting them. A one-time purchase restores editing immediately.
Is Aside a subscription?
No. Aside is a $9.99 one-time purchase for the version you buy. Your installed copy remains yours and continues working offline.
Do I have to pay for updates?
Updates for the version you purchase are included. Your installed copy remains yours and continues working offline.
Where are my pages stored?
As individual Markdown files in a folder on your Mac. Aside uses its Application Support folder by default, or you can choose an iCloud Drive, Dropbox, Git, or Obsidian folder in Settings.
Does it support Markdown?
Yes. Aside gives common Markdown syntax a calm, readable appearance while keeping the source editable. Prefer plain text? Turn formatting off in Settings.
Can I use my pages in other apps?
Yes. Every page is already a standard Markdown file. Open the current page or the whole folder in Finder whenever you want to edit, sync, version, or reuse it elsewhere.
How many Macs can I use it on?
One license activates Aside on up to 3 Macs.
How can I get help?
Email aside@hardflip.studio. I’ll get back to you personally.