The fastest way to review &
add notes to audio files

A local-first audio collaboration tool built for musicians and creatives. Add timestamped notes that anyone can read, without ever having to upload your audio files to the cloud.

Download for Windows Learn more →
Comment Mode

Share comments with collaborators in a few clicks

Add and share time-stamped comments, point or range, and compare multiple variations easily. Anyone can edit your notes, even without the app.

Annotone Comment Mode with timestamped comments and an editable plain-text notes file
Annotone Chooser Mode organizing recordings with ratings and keeper flags
Chooser Mode

Review multiple takes in minutes (not hours)

Add notes across multiple files and mark your favorite parts with star ratings and 'keeper' or 'maybe' flags, so you can easily filter down to the best takes.

Own Your Files

Convenience without compromising security.

Your audio is never uploaded to our servers. Annotone links to your local files using relative directory paths that work across your devices, just like your DAW or video software.

Simply share the plain-text notes file that anyone can upload and edit in Annotone or Notepad, or send a password-protected review link that guests can open in their browser.

Private sharing through portable notes files or a password-protected browser review link

Audio collaboration made joyfully simple.

Timestamp-based comments Zero leak risk, your files stay local Lightning fast Lifetime license

I used to keep all my song notes in Google Docs, but searching for files and timestamps always kills the creative flow. With Annotone, every comment is just a click away and the shortcuts make it easy to quickly add notes while you listen, without needing to pause. But what really sold me is that I never have to upload my demos or stems to add notes, and it's not a subscription.

Vaishalini Vaishalini
Record Producer & Singer-Songwriter

Make the switch

Already paying a cloud subscription to collaborate on your audio? Here's why you might prefer Annotone:

Alternatives
✕Monthly subscriptions: rented tools, not owned.
✕Leak risk: your audio must be uploaded to the cloud.
✕Lock-in: pay forever or lose your data, no exports.
✕Internet required: can't run offline, needs paid account.
Annotone
✓Buy once, use forever: one-time license.
✓No file uploads: zero leak risk by design.
✓Plain text export: anyone can edit in Notepad.
✓Local-first design: runs offline, no Internet needed.
// our mission

Your work shouldn't be locked in the cloud

Creative software has become increasingly dependent on accounts, servers, subscriptions, and expensive cloud storage. Annotone takes a more boring, old-school approach: your files remains on your device, your notes are stored as plaintext files anyone can read, and the software you buy is yours for life.

Learn more about Standalone Software Co. →

Buy once, use forever

Simple, one-time purchase model: Annotone is yours for life and costs less than a month's subscription to alternatives.

LIFETIME LICENSE
$49
$69
Launch special
Yours forever, bug fixes and patches included.
Download for Windows Mac coming soon
  • ✓ Unlimited files & comments
  • ✓ Audio is never uploaded
  • ✓ Works offline
  • ✓ Plain text: anyone can edit
  • ✓ Sharable review links
  • ✓ Buy once, use forever
+ coming next: voice notes, Mac version... (included in your license)

Questions people ask

Does Annotone upload my audio anywhere?
No. Annotone only opens audio files that are already on your computer. Your files are never sent to a server by design.
Does Annotone work offline?
Annotone runs entirely locally, so you can review and annotate any audio stored on your device, regardless of whether you are connected to the Internet.
What happens if the person I'm working with doesn't have Annotone?
Your annotations are saved as plain text, so anyone can still open and edit the notes using an ordinary text editor like Notepad. Better yet, you can send anyone a password-protected review link, which they can open in their browser without installing Annotone. Just share the audio separately using whatever file-sharing method you already use (Annotone will re-link the local audio files the same way a DAW does).
Do my collaborators need to buy Annotone?
Not to read or edit the notes you send them. Annotone saves annotations in a human-readable .txt file that can be opened without the app. You can also share a password-protected review link that they can open in their browser without installing Annotone. If they want to use Annotone itself to review and annotate their own audio, they'll need a license.
Can I use Annotone on more than one computer?
Yes. A single Annotone license can be activated on up to three of your computers.
What does a lifetime license actually mean?
A perpetual license means you can use Annotone forever. Patches and fixes are free. One license can be active on up to 3 devices. Because Annotone runs locally and dependency-free, it is designed to be something you can truly own and use in perpetuity. Plus, if we ever ship a major new version (think a considerable new feature set, not just polish), existing customers get it at a significant upgrade discount.
What audio formats are supported?
WAV, MP3, and FLAC.
Do you plan to support video in the future?
Not for the foreseeable future. Our design philosophy at Standalone is building nimble tools that do one job really well. The reason most competing solutions are slow and expensive is that they try to do too much and keep adding features that only a fraction of users utilize. If we do rollout support for commenting and reviewing video files, it would likely be in a separate sister application, available in a discounted bundle.
Does it work inside my DAW?
Not yet. Annotone is a standalone app today. A DAW plugin is planned for a later release, based on user feedback and demand.

Have an idea for a feature? Tell us what you need →