Yarnly
Click to visit website
About
Yarnly is an infinite canvas note-taking application designed for macOS users who need a fluid, spatial environment for capturing ideas. Unlike traditional linear note-taking apps that confine users to pages or lists, Yarnly provides a FigJam-style dynamic grid where users can place text, frames, and sketches anywhere without boundaries. Its primary function is to serve as a persistent, easily accessible digital whiteboard that floats over other applications, allowing for immediate context switching through a global toggle shortcut. The tool features a robust set of editing and navigation utilities, including 10 levels of zoom ranging from 1x to 1000x, a minimap for rapid orientation across large workspaces, and snap-to-grid precision for organized layouts. Users can structure their thoughts using frames with custom title bars or group related items using standard keyboard shortcuts. Beyond basic text entry, Yarnly includes a comprehensive suite of freeform drawing tools with a pen and highlighter, a five-color picker, and adjustable stroke widths, making it suitable for both structured planning and quick creative sketching. Privacy and system performance are central to Yarnly's architectural design. It utilizes high-grade AES-256-GCM encryption with device-bound keys, ensuring that all data remains local and strictly under the user's control without any cloud tracking or external telemetry. The application is a native Apple Silicon binary, optimized specifically for macOS 10.15 and later. It features a hardened runtime and a dedicated menu bar icon for quick access, alongside 14+ visual themes like Nord, Tokyo Night, and various grid sizes to match specific aesthetics. Yarnly is particularly effective for researchers, developers, and designers who find standard document formats too restrictive for complex brainstorming. By combining the flexibility of a drawing tool with the organizational power of text containers and frames, it bridges the gap between a simple scratchpad and a heavy-duty design tool. Its always-on nature via the global toggle ensures that the barrier to capturing a thought is minimized, while the lack of cloud syncing makes it a top choice for security-conscious professionals who handle sensitive information.
Pros & Cons
Offers complete data privacy through local-only storage and AES-256-GCM encryption.
Global shortcut provides immediate access to the canvas from any application.
Supports high-resolution navigation with 10 zoom levels up to 1000x.
Built natively for Apple Silicon ensuring smooth performance on modern Macs.
Includes multiple visual themes like Nord and Tokyo Night to suit user preference.
Availability is strictly limited to macOS 10.15 and higher versions.
Does not offer native cloud synchronization for multi-device workflows.
Lacks collaborative multi-user editing features found in web-based canvas tools.
Feature set is focused on visual notes and lacks advanced database functions.
Use Cases
Software developers can use the global shortcut to quickly diagram code logic or architecture without leaving their IDE.
UX researchers can organize disparate interview notes and screenshots on an infinite grid to identify patterns spatially.
Creative writers can storyboard complex plots or character relationships using the freeform drawing and text frame tools.
Privacy-conscious professionals can brainstorm sensitive projects knowing all data is encrypted and stays local.
Students can capture and organize lecture notes spatially using different colors and zoom levels to categorize info.
Platform
Features
• infinite canvas
• custom themes
• aes-256 encryption
• apple silicon native
• snap-to-grid
• minimap navigation
• pen & highlighter tools
• global shortcut (⌘⇧y)
FAQs
How do I quickly access Yarnly while working in other apps?
You can use the global keyboard shortcut ⌘ShiftY to instantly bring up the infinite canvas from anywhere on your Mac. This allows you to jot down ideas without switching windows or losing focus on your current task.
Is my data synced to a cloud service for backup?
No, Yarnly is designed for privacy and keeps all data locally on your device with AES-256 encryption. To move or secure your data, you can use the built-in ZIP backup and restore functionality.
What are the system requirements for using Yarnly?
Yarnly requires macOS 10.15 or later to function. It is built as a universal binary, meaning it runs natively on both Intel-based Macs and Apple Silicon chips for optimal performance.
Does the app support stylus or tablet input for drawing?
While the site mentions pen and highlighter tools with adjustable strokes, it primarily focuses on macOS desktop interactions. You can use any mouse or trackpad to draw, and macOS-compatible tablets should work as standard pointing devices.
How many zoom levels are available on the canvas?
The canvas supports 10 distinct zoom levels ranging from 1x to 1000x magnification. You can use the minimap to navigate large boards or use the Fit All shortcut to see everything at once.
Pricing Plans
Free
Free Plan• Infinite Canvas
• Global Toggle (⌘⇧Y)
• AES-256 Encryption
• Draw & Sketch Tools
• 14+ Themes
• Apple Silicon Native
• Minimap Navigation
• Snap-to-Grid
Job Opportunities
There are currently no job postings for this AI tool.
Ratings & Reviews
No ratings available yet. Be the first to rate this tool!
Alternatives
Fully Booked AI
Boost salon and med spa revenue with AI-driven lead management, automated booking, and AI search optimization to turn website visitors into loyal clients.
View Details
MEGA
MEGA is an AI marketing platform that deploys autonomous AI agents for full-service SEO and Paid Ads management, helping startups and SMBs grow traffic and ROI.
View Details
Gentura
Gentura is an AI tool that replaces traditional marketing teams with autonomous agents, delivering organic traffic and scaling content marketing at superhuman speed.
View Details
Markifact
Markifact is a no-code marketing automation platform that lets you build AI-powered workflows to automate decisions and actions across all your marketing channels.
View Details
AI Marketer
AI Marketer is an AI-powered agent that automates social media marketing on X and LinkedIn, focusing on account growth, lead generation, and sales.
View Details
GetResponse
Grow your audience with AI-driven email marketing, automated sales funnels, and landing pages. Boost sales using smart product recommendations and SMS tools.
View DetailsXamtac
Xamtac is an AI-powered marketing ecosystem with tools for strategy, asset organization, data management, and campaign launching. It aims to increase marketing efficiency and impact across multiple channels.
View Details
Customers.ai
AI-powered marketing platform for website visitor identification, targeted advertising, and email marketing.
View Details
Naturobot
Naturobot is an AI automation platform designed for smarter marketing and growth, offering next-generation enterprise process automation capabilities.
View Details
Enso
Enso is an AI marketplace providing automated marketing bots for small businesses, simplifying tasks and boosting growth.
View Details
Hashmeta AI
Scale your business with expert-led AI marketing agents that handle SEO, social media, and 24/7 lead response at a fraction of the cost of a traditional team.
View Details
Social Connector
Boost customer engagement and loyalty using an AI-powered programmatic rewards system that gamifies interactions across email, social media, and web2 applications.
View Details
AI Wizard
All-in-one AI marketing suite for website creation, video production, graphic design, content writing, and chatbot integration.
View Details
HelloMyBot
HelloMyBot is an omnichannel platform for creating callbots, voicebots, and chatbots. Automate conversational marketing and improve customer service with AI-powered virtual assistants.
View Details
bagel agents
AI agents for crypto marketing. Instantly implement marketing strategies with specialized AI agents for planning, execution, trend analysis, and supervision.
View Details
Inrō
Scale Instagram sales and lead capture using an automated AI Agent that handles comments, stories, and DMs with human-like accuracy for creators and brands.
View Details
MarketersPen
Scale your business presence with automated marketing workflows and SEO-optimized content creation tools designed for high-growth sales and marketing teams.
View Details
QApop
Optimize your Quora marketing through question research and AI-driven content drafting.
View Details
FlareLane
FlareLane is an AI-powered marketing automation tool, using SMS, push notifications, email, and in-app messages to maximize ROI and boost conversion rates.
View DetailsE1U Life
E1U Life is an all-in-one platform providing done-for-you online marketing solutions, including CRM, email, SMS, website/funnel builders, and AI automation.
View DetailsFeatured Tools
adly.news
Connect with engaged niche audiences or monetize your subscriber base through an automated marketplace featuring verified metrics and secure Stripe payments.
View Details
Nana Banana Pro
Maintain perfect character consistency across diverse scenes and styles with advanced AI-powered image editing for creators, marketers, and storytellers.
View Details
Kling 4.0
Transform text and images into cinematic 1080p videos with multi-shot storytelling, character consistency, and native lip-synced audio for professional creators.
View Details
AI Seedance
Generate 15-second cinematic 2K videos with physics-based audio and multi-shot narratives from text or images. Ideal for creators and marketing teams.
View Details
Mistrezz.AI
Engage in immersive NSFW roleplay and ASMR voice sessions with adaptive AI companions designed for structured escalation, fantasy scenarios, and personal connection.
View Details
Seedance 3.0
Transform text prompts or static images into professional 1080p cinematic videos. Perfect for creators and marketers seeking high-quality, physics-aware AI motion.
View Details
Seedance 3.0
Transform text descriptions into cinematic 4K videos instantly with ByteDance's advanced AI, offering professional-grade visuals for creators and marketing teams.
View Details
Seedance 2.0
Generate broadcast-quality 4K videos from simple text prompts with precise text rendering, high-fidelity visuals, and batch processing for content creators.
View Details
BeatViz
Create professional, rhythm-synced music videos instantly with AI-powered visual generation, ideal for independent artists, social media creators, and marketers.
View Details
Seedance 2.0
Generate cinematic 1080p videos from text or images using advanced motion synthesis and multi-shot storytelling for marketing, social media, and creators.
View Details