Acres Pricing, Features & AI Visual Workspace Overview

Acres is a local-first visual workspace and infinite canvas for agent-assisted Markdown note-taking.

Quick Answer

Acres is a local-first visual workspace that blends infinite canvas whiteboarding with plain Markdown notes. It features native AI agent integrations, allowing tools like Claude or local models to draft and edit connected cards on your board while you retain full control over the local files.

Pros

• Local-first storage using plain Markdown and JSON files
• Native integration with AI agents via MCP and built-in AI dock
• Robust import capabilities from Obsidian and Heptabase
• One-time lifetime payment option available

Cons

• Desktop only (macOS and Windows); no mobile app mentioned
• Requires bringing your own API key for AI features
• Relies on local files, which may require manual backup or sync setups

Example scenario

A user imports an Obsidian vault, transforming folders into visual boards. They then connect an AI agent (like Claude or GPT) to read their board, draft new connected cards from a long text note, and review the word-level diffs before approving the changes to their local Markdown files.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Acres store my notes?

According to the official website, Acres stores your notes as plain Markdown files and your boards as readable JSON in a local folder you choose. There is no proprietary database locking your data.

Can I use AI agents with Acres?

Yes, Acres supports a built-in AI dock where you can bring your own API key for Claude, GPT, Gemini, or use local models via Ollama or LM Studio. It also supports Model Context Protocol (MCP) for tools like Cursor and Claude Code.

Does Acres support importing from other note apps like Obsidian?

Acres offers an import tool that can bring in an Obsidian vault or a Heptabase backup. According to the vendor, folders become boards, notes become cards, and features like wikilinks and PDF highlights are retained.

How much does Acres cost?

Acres offers a 14-day free trial. After the trial, it costs $59 for a one-time lifetime license or $9 per month.

Acres is a local-first visual workspace that combines infinite canvas whiteboarding with Markdown note-taking. According to its official website, it allows users to organize their thoughts using cards, connectors, mind maps, and colorable sections on an endless board. The platform is built around local files, meaning notes are stored as plain Markdown and readable JSON in a folder you control, rather than locked in a proprietary database. The vendor positions Acres as an "agent-native" environment. Through the Model Context Protocol (MCP), users can connect AI agents like Claude Code, Cursor, or Codex to interact directly with their boards. The built-in AI assistant can read the board and suggest structural changes—such as drafting new cards from wall-of-text notes, wiring connections, and framing sections. These AI edits are presented as word-level diffs for user approval, ensuring the user remains in control of the content. Users can bring their own API keys for models like Claude, GPT, Gemini, or run local models via Ollama or LM Studio. In addition to visual organization, Acres offers task management features where every checkbox in a card becomes a task, aggregated into a Kanban view. It supports importing from Obsidian and Heptabase, retaining folder structures, wikilinks, and PDF highlights. Pricing includes a 14-day free trial, after which users can choose a $59 one-time lifetime license or a $9/month subscription.

• Pricing: freemium

Specifications

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