A beautiful, local-first project management app built for creative professionals. Think in projects, not apps. Everything offline, everything yours.
macOS · Apple Silicon + Intel · Free
No cloud syncs, no subscription fees, no cluttered menus. Just a premium workspace that respects your workflow and your data.
Local-First
Complete data sovereignty. All projects stored locally in transparent JSON format. No cloud, no subscriptions.
Kanban Boards
Drag-and-drop project tracking across To Do, In Progress, Review, and Done stages.
Auto File Scaffolding
Creates standardised folder structures (Design, Assets, Exports) on your hard drive when you start a project.
Invoicing & Proposals
Generate professional PDF invoices and project reports directly within the app.
Premium UI
Meticulously designed Light and Dark modes with a craft-material colour palette — Ink, Mist, Ember, Moss.
Keyboard-First
Every action is reachable in ≤3 interactions. Command palette (⌘K) and keyboard shortcuts for everything.
Most modern tools are cloud-native, which is excellent for real-time multiplayer collaboration. But if you work alone, you often pay a "cloud tax"—monthly subscriptions, mandatory logins, and the risk of a service shutting down and taking your data with it.
As an offline project management Mac app, Forma Workspace stores everything as transparent JSON files directly on your hard drive. This means zero latency, guaranteed offline access, and complete data ownership. The tradeoff? No built-in team syncing across devices. If you need a free alternative to Linear or Notion for solo work, local-first is the way to go.
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Own Your Data
No locked-in databases. Just plain JSON files.
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No Subscriptions
A truly free open source Mac kanban app.
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Always Fast
No loading spinners. Offline access is instant.
Dark enough to disappear into a long coding session. Structured enough to feel like a professional tool. Light enough to stay out of the way.
Colour Palette
Version
2.0.0
Platform
macOS (Universal)
Architecture
Apple Silicon + Intel
Framework
Next.js + Electron
License
MIT
Storage
Local JSON
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Forma Workspace a Notion alternative?
For specific use cases, yes. While Notion is a cloud-based, all-in-one workspace for teams, Forma Workspace is a local-first project management app designed specifically for solo creative professionals on Mac. If you need a free alternative to Notion that works entirely offline, stores data in local JSON files, and doesn't require a subscription, Forma Workspace is a focused and fast alternative.
Does Forma Workspace work offline?
Yes, absolutely. As an offline project management Mac app, Forma Workspace does not require an internet connection to function. All your Kanban boards, invoices, and project files are stored directly on your hard drive, ensuring complete data sovereignty and zero latency.
Is Forma Workspace really free forever?
Yes. Forma Workspace is a completely free, open source Mac kanban app released under the MIT License. There are no premium tiers, no hidden subscriptions, and no cloud-sync paywalls to worry about.