Better Stickies vs Stickies by Zhorn Software: Modern vs Classic (2026)

Stickies by Zhorn Software has been the power user's free sticky notes app for over two decades. BetterStickies is the modern newcomer with Linux support and a visual-first design. Both are excellent, and they suit different people. Here's an honest breakdown of where each one wins.

Overview

BetterStickies is a modern sticky notes app for Windows and Linux (macOS is in development). It focuses on visual, flexible notes: paste screenshots and files, use GIF or gradient backgrounds, keep code snippets in proper code blocks, split a note across up to three tabbed pages, and organize with nested notes. The free version covers casual use; a one-time unlock (currently $6.99) removes the note limit.

Stickies by Zhorn Software is classic Windows freeware, actively maintained since the early 2000s by a single developer. It is completely free, tiny (about 3 MB), and surprisingly deep: notes can attach to windows and documents, sleep until a date, and even transfer to other PCs over the network.

Pricing

Stickies is fully free with no tiers, no ads, and no nags. The developer accepts donations. That's a genuinely rare model, and it deserves credit.

BetterStickies is freemium: the free version includes 4 notes with no signup and no time limit, and notes are the only thing it limits. Premium is a one-time payment (currently $6.99) that unlocks unlimited notes. No subscription.

Winner: Stickies, if price is the only measure. Nothing beats unlimited-and-free. BetterStickies' answer is that its one-time unlock, currently $6.99, is close enough to free for most people who prefer its experience.

Platform Support

BetterStickies runs natively on Windows and Linux, with macOS in development. Stickies is Windows-only (7 through 11), though a community-maintained portable build exists and some users run it on Linux through Wine.

If you use Linux, this section decides the comparison by itself.

Winner: BetterStickies

Features Comparison

Where Stickies wins

Fair is fair: Zhorn's Stickies has power features that few apps anywhere match.

• Attached notes. A note can pin itself to a specific application, document, website, or folder and appear only when that thing is on screen. It's the killer feature for leaving notes on files and projects.
• Reminder depth. Notes can sleep until a date and recur daily, weekly, or monthly. The alarm system is more granular than most modern apps.
• Network transfer. Notes can be sent to friends or colleagues over LAN or email, no cloud service involved.
• Track record. Twenty-plus years of maintenance, a tiny footprint, and no telemetry.

The trade-offs: the settings dialogs feel like classic Windows utilities (dense and dated), it's Windows-only, and the download has a history of antivirus false positives, which the developer openly acknowledges on the official site.

Where BetterStickies wins

• A modern experience. Notes look and feel like they belong on a 2026 desktop: smooth styling, hover previews, collapsible notes, custom shortcuts, multi-monitor awareness.
• Visual notes. Paste a screenshot straight into a note, set a GIF or gradient background, drop a code snippet into a proper code block. Stickies is text-first; BetterStickies is visual-first.
• Linux support. Native builds, plus availability via the Snap Store.
• Active modern development. Frequent releases and a public roadmap that users vote on.

When to Choose Stickies (Zhorn)

• You're on Windows only and want maximum capability for exactly zero dollars
• Attaching notes to documents, apps, or websites would change your workflow
• You need recurring alarms and sleeping notes
• You value a tiny, decades-proven utility over a modern look

When to Choose BetterStickies

• You use Linux, or Windows and Linux together
• You want notes that hold screenshots, files, and code, not just text
• You care about how your desktop looks (backgrounds, styling, clean UI)
• You want an actively developed app with a modern interface

The Verdict

This is the rare comparison where the honest answer is "both are great." Stickies by Zhorn is the best pure-freeware sticky notes app on Windows, full stop; if you live inside its attach-and-remind workflow, keep it and donate to the developer. BetterStickies is the pick if you want a modern, visual app, if you're on Linux, or if pasting screenshots and code into notes sounds like how you actually work. The free version lets you find out at no cost.

FAQ

Is Stickies by Zhorn Software still maintained?

Yes. Version 10.2a shipped in January 2025. Releases come slowly (roughly yearly) but the app has been continuously maintained for over two decades by its developer, Tom Revell.

Why does antivirus software sometimes flag Stickies?

Zhorn's download page openly acknowledges recurring false positives from some antivirus engines. The app is widely regarded as safe; it's a known issue with small unsigned utilities rather than evidence of malware.

Is BetterStickies free like Stickies is?

The free version of BetterStickies (4 notes, and nothing else limited) is free with no time limit and no signup. Removing the note limit is a one-time payment, currently $6.99. Stickies is entirely free with no limits, funded by donations.

Does either app sync notes to the cloud?

No. Both apps store notes locally and offline. Stickies can transfer notes to other PCs over a local network or email, which is device-to-device rather than cloud sync.

Which app works on Linux?

BetterStickies has native Linux builds (including the Snap Store). Stickies is Windows-only; some users run it under Wine, but that's unsupported.