My stack

    Heptabase

    Heptabase is visual note-taking software with infinite-canvas whiteboards and a built-in AI agent, sold only as a paid subscription after a 7-day trial.

    Visit Heptabase
    ToolTrim verdict Good

    Keep it if Keep it if you build a long-term, visual knowledge base and are willing to pay from day one.

    Compare alternatives
    About

    In practice. What you can do with Heptabase.

    Heptabase turns note-taking into a visual exercise: cards and connections live on infinite-canvas whiteboards instead of a linear page, which suits building a long-term knowledge base from many small notes. A built-in AI agent, with access to Gemini, GPT or Claude depending on the plan, answers questions and parses uploaded PDFs with OCR on the higher tiers.

    Pricing starts at 8.99 USD a month billed annually (13.99 month-to-month) for the Pro plan with 100 AI credits a month; Premium and Premium+ raise the AI credit allowance sharply, up to 8,100 credits. There is no permanent free plan, only a 7-day trial.

    Practical uses

    • Research synthesisA writer gathers sources on an infinite-canvas whiteboard and uses the built-in AI to ask questions across linked notes.
    • PDF researchA student uploads PDFs on the Premium plan and uses OCR parsing to pull quotes directly into their notes.

    Features & use cases

    Knowledge management
    Collaboration
    Brainstorming

    The case for and against. What Heptabase does well, and when it costs too much.

    For. What works in its favour.

    • Infinite-canvas whiteboards make it easy to visually connect notes instead of relying on a linear structure.
    • Unlimited notes, whiteboards and tags are included even on the entry Pro plan.

    Pays off from

    13 minsaved a month

    Heptabase costs $8.99/month. If your hour is worth $40, those 13 min cover it.

    Against. What to plan for.

    • No permanent free plan: only a 7-day trial before a paid subscription is required.
    • AI usage is capped by a credit system that varies sharply between plans, from 100 to 8,100 credits a month.

    Too expensive if

    • You use it less than once a month
    • A simple free version or a tool already in your stack would do

    Pricing. What does Heptabase cost ?

    Pro

    ToolTrim reference price

    $8.99/mo

    Billed annually · $13.99/mo billed monthly.

    • Unlimited notes, whiteboards, tags
    • 100 AI credits/month

    Premium

    $17.99/mo

    • Unlimited PDF uploads with OCR parsing
    • 1,800 AI credits/month

    Premium+

    $53.99/mo

    • 8,100 AI credits/month
    • Discounted extra credits

    Checked on September 25, 2026Official pricing

    Alternatives. What could replace Heptabase?

    Obsidian4.0/5 · ExcellentFree, then from $5/moObsidian is a free, local-first Markdown note-taking app with bidirectional linking, a plugin ecosystem, and optional paid sync and publish services.Notion3.6/5 · Very goodFree, then from €11.50/moAll-in-one workspace for notes, docs, wikis and databases, with a generous free plan and per-seat paid tiers.Logseq3.8/5 · Very goodFreeLogseq is a free, open-source local-first knowledge graph app with an outliner and optional cloud sync.Roam Research3.2/5 · GoodFrom €11.81/moRoam Research is a networked note-taking app built on bidirectional links, daily notes and block references.

    Our verdict. What to know about Heptabase.

    How the score breaks down

    Added value

    No permanent free plan and AI credits vary sharply between tiers, making cost-effectiveness hard to judge without comparative data.

    Simplicity

    Neutral score: time to a first useful result is not covered by the collected sources.

    Fit for purpose

    Whiteboards, AI Q&A and PDF OCR parsing work as described, with no workaround mentioned.

    Performance

    Covers visual note-taking and AI assistance well for an individual, but AI usage is tightly capped and no comparison data positions it as a category reference.

    Reversibility

    Neutral score: export formats and data portability are not covered by the collected sources.

    Decided? Visit Heptabaseor compare alternatives

    Heptabase Summary

    Category
    productivity tool.
    Price from
    $8.99/mo (Pro).
    Best for
    Independent researchers, writers and students who organize complex notes and sources visually over the long term.
    Avoid if
    Avoid it if you want a free note-taking tool or heavy AI usage on a budget: credits run out fast on the entry plan.
    Alternatives
    Obsidian, Notion, Logseq, Roam Research.
    ToolTrim verdict
    Entry cost is 8.99 USD a month billed annually (about 108 USD a year) for the Pro plan with 100 AI credits a month.

    Frequently asked questions. What people ask about Heptabase.

    What is Heptabase used for?

    Heptabase is visual note-taking software with infinite-canvas whiteboards and a built-in AI agent, sold only as a paid subscription after a 7-day trial.

    How much does Heptabase cost?

    Heptabase costs $8.99/month (Pro plan). Price verified on September 25, 2026.

    Is Heptabase suitable for beginners?

    Independent researchers, writers and students who organize complex notes and sources visually over the long term.

    Is Heptabase worth the price?

    Entry cost is 8.99 USD a month billed annually (about 108 USD a year) for the Pro plan with 100 AI credits a month.

    What are the best alternatives to Heptabase?

    The main alternatives to Heptabase are: Obsidian, Notion, Logseq, Roam Research. Free alternatives: Logseq.

    HeptabaseFrom $8.99/mo
    Visit site

    Your next step.

    Visit Heptabase