SideNotes

Take notes on your screen side

ProductivityWritingNotes

▲ 113 votes6 commentsLaunched May 13, 2026

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Daily #12Weekly #29

A beautiful note taking app with superpowers. It shows and hides on the side of your monitor to manage your notes distraction-free. Keep your notes organised, personalised and always at your fingertips. Markdown, tasks, pictures, colors, folders included.

AI Analysis

📝 Summary

SideNotes is a beautiful note-taking app that slides in and out from the side of your monitor for quick, distraction-free access while working. Core features include Markdown support, task management, image embedding, color coding, folders for organization, and personalization options. It solves key pain points such as context-switching between apps, cluttered interfaces, and losing focus during deep work by keeping notes always at your fingertips yet non-intrusive. The value proposition centers on seamless, organized note-taking integrated into existing workflows without disrupting productivity.

📈 Market Timing

In 2025-2026, productivity tools continue to see strong demand driven by remote/hybrid work, AI augmentation, and multi-monitor setups. Note-taking apps are a mature category, but the niche for minimal-distraction, side-panel solutions aligns with trends toward focused, personalized digital workspaces. Economic factors favor affordable productivity software. However, market saturation and shift toward AI-integrated all-in-one tools make it less ideal. Overall: Moderate Timing.

✅ Feasibility

Technical implementation involves desktop overlay/window management (feasible with Electron or native Mac/Windows APIs), with moderate difficulty for smooth hide/show animations and Markdown rendering. Development and operation costs are low-to-medium for a small team; no supply chain issues as it's pure software. Compliance risks minimal. High scalability via updates and potential cloud sync. Overall rating: High, supported by proven similar apps and accessible tech stack.

🎯 Target Market

Primary users: knowledge workers, writers, developers, designers, and students (ages 20-45) in tech, creative, and professional services industries. Geographically focused on US, Europe, and East Asia with high computer usage. TAM for productivity/note-taking software exceeds $15B, SAM for desktop productivity apps around $2B, SOM for sidebar-style niche estimated at $100M+. Core pain points include note fragmentation and workflow interruptions. Willingness to pay is moderate-to-high for premium, beautiful tools (likely via one-time purchase or subscription).

⚔️ Competition

Medium. Direct competitors: 1. Obsidian (obsidian.md), 2. Bear (bear.app), 3. Notion (notion.so), 4. Craft (craft.do), 5. Apple Notes. SideNotes advantages: unique side-monitor access for zero-distraction workflow, focused beautiful UI, bundled features like tasks/colors without complexity. Disadvantages: smaller ecosystem and community than Obsidian, lacks real-time collaboration of Notion, potentially higher learning curve for power features compared to simpler apps. Differentiation is present but faces pressure from established free/bundled alternatives.

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