Heptabase
Scrintal
| Feature | Heptabase | Scrintal |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $11.99/mo | Free / from $12/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.6 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Best For | researchers, students, visual-thinkers, phd-students | researchers, visual-thinkers, writers, students |
| Founded | 2021 | 2021 |
| Whiteboards | ✓ | ✗ |
| Card System | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mindmaps | ✓ | ✗ |
| Journal | ✓ | ✗ |
| Tags | ✓ | ✗ |
| Pdf Annotation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Infinite Canvas | ✗ | ✓ |
| Note Cards | ✗ | ✓ |
| Connections | ✗ | ✓ |
| Bi Directional Links | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mind Maps | ✗ | ✓ |
| Collaboration | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Heptabase Pros
- Visual-first approach to note-taking
- Whiteboards for spatial thinking
- Card-based system is very flexible
- Great for research and learning
✗ Heptabase Cons
- No free plan
- Mobile app is limited
- Steeper learning curve than simple note apps
✓ Scrintal Pros
- Visual note connections
- Infinite canvas
- Combines notes and mindmaps
- Good for visual thinkers
✗ Scrintal Cons
- Newer platform still maturing
- Limited integrations
- No mobile app yet
The Verdict
Heptabase is built for researchers and students, with a focus on whiteboards and card-system. Scrintal targets researchers and visual thinkers and leads with infinite-canvas and note-cards.
Both tools come in at similar price points ($11.99/mo for Heptabase, $12/mo for Scrintal), so pricing won't make the decision for you.
Scrintal has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. Heptabase requires a paid subscription from day one.
Heptabase edges out on user ratings (4.6 vs 4.2). While both are well-regarded, that gap reflects real differences in user satisfaction worth considering.
Both tools are a solid fit for researchers, students, visual thinkers — in those cases, the decision often comes down to workflow style and how your team prefers to organize work.
Bottom line: Heptabase has a slight overall edge — but if visual note connections matters most to you, Scrintal may still be the right call.