Your files live on your disk. The cloud just follows along.
Filarr is a local-first workspace for notes, files and a graph that links both. Encrypted natively, works 100% offline. Cloud sync is an option — not the product.
Free forever locally. Cloud sync from €4/month.
Available on Windows and Linux · Mac coming soon
Two views of the cloud.
Most note-taking and encrypted-storage tools start from one idea: your files live on a server, and your app is a window onto them. That’s called cloud-first. Filarr does the opposite.
What local-first actually changes
Your files live on your disk
Not on a remote server with a viewer bolted on top. Filarr stores everything locally, encrypted. Copy your folder and you’ve got your data — no export flow, no vendor handover.
It works offline. Always.
Plane, train, datacenter outage: Filarr keeps working. Opening a note or a file never needs the network. Sync catches up on its own the moment you’re back online.
The cloud is an option, not a pillar
You can use Filarr for a lifetime without ever creating an account. Cloud sync switches on only if you need it — between your devices, end-to-end encrypted. Otherwise it’s simply absent.
Encrypted first. Everywhere.
Native AES-256-GCM. One key per file, protected by a master key derived from your password (PBKDF2, 600,000 iterations). Your password never leaves your machine — even when sync is on, the copy of your key on our servers is itself encrypted by your password and useless to anyone without it.
Cloud-first vs local-first
Two philosophies. Radically different behavior.
This philosophy has a name: local-first software, articulated by Ink & Switch in 2019, adopted by Linear, Obsidian, Muse. Filarr applies its principles to encrypted storage.
Read the “Why local-first” pageNot just file storage.
Filarr combines four tools into one encrypted workspace.
Encrypted files
Store and organize your files with native AES-256-GCM encryption. Each file has its own key (FEK), protected by a master key (KEK). 51+ formats with built-in preview.
Rich notes
Block-based editor powered by TipTap: tasks, tables, callouts, wiki-links, transclusion, templates. Multiple views: list, kanban, masonry, sticky notes, flashcards, wiki.
Graph view
Visualize connections between your notes AND your files. Physics simulation, community detection, time travel. Built from scratch.
Multi-profile
Fully isolate your data: one personal profile, one for work, one per client. Each profile has its own encryption and its own files.
Your ideas, connected.
Filarr’s graph view goes beyond notes: it connects your files too. Real-time physics simulation, automatic community detection, and a time travel mode to see how your connections evolved over time.
- Real-time physics simulation
- Community detection
- Time travel on your connections
- Links notes AND files
Encryption built in, not bolted on.
Each file is encrypted with its own key (FEK) using AES-256-GCM. These keys are themselves protected by a master key (KEK) derived from your password. Everything happens on your machine — nothing leaves in plaintext.
One key per file (FEK)
Each file gets its own File Encryption Key. Compromising one key doesn’t endanger your other files.
Master key (KEK)
Your password generates a Key Encryption Key via PBKDF2. It protects all your FEKs without ever leaving your device.
Local-first encryption
Encryption and decryption happen on your machine. When cloud sync is enabled, only encrypted blobs are uploaded — and the copy of your key we store is itself encrypted by your password, which we never see.
51+ supported formats.
Built-in file preview — without ever sending them to an external server.
PDF, Markdown, text, KaTeX, Mermaid
Video, audio with waveform, images
Syntax highlighting for 30+ languages
Archives, spreadsheets, presentations and more
Let’s compare honestly.
Filarr vs the tools you already know.
| Feature | Filarr | Obsidian | Notion | Cryptomator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Native encryption | Native AES-256-GCM | No (third-party plugin) | AES-256 (layer) | |
| Local-first | No (cloud-only) | |||
| Rich editor (blocks) | Markdown only | |||
| Graph view | Notes + files | Notes only | ||
| File storage | Limited | Encryption only | ||
| Multi-profile | Separate vaults | |||
| 51+ format preview | Limited | Limited | ||
| Canvas / Drawing | Basic | |||
| No account required for local use | ||||
| Price | Free | Free + paid plugins | Freemium + sub | Donation / license |
Free. Really.
The full product, no artificial limits. Cloud sync is live with end-to-end encryption. The local core is complete and free.
Filarr
The complete app, local-only.
€0
- Native AES-256-GCM encryption
- Rich note editor (blocks, tasks, tables)
- Graph view with community detection
- Built-in canvas and drawing
- Multi-profile with data isolation
- 51+ formats with built-in preview
- Windows and Linux (Mac coming soon)
- Automatic updates
Cloud sync available — upgrade from the app
Take back control of your data.
Filarr is free and available on Windows and Linux. Mac support is coming soon. No account required for local use. Cloud sync available from €4/month.
Free locally, optional cloud sync