diff --git a/alembic/versions/0006_checklists.py b/alembic/versions/0006_checklists.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1a26f36
--- /dev/null
+++ b/alembic/versions/0006_checklists.py
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+"""checklists: notes.kind + note_items
+
+Revision ID: 0006
+Revises: 0005
+Create Date: 2026-07-20
+"""
+from alembic import op
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+from sqlalchemy.dialects.postgresql import UUID
+
+revision = "0006"
+down_revision = "0005"
+branch_labels = None
+depends_on = None
+
+
+def upgrade() -> None:
+    op.add_column("notes", sa.Column("kind", sa.Text(), nullable=False, server_default="text"))
+    op.create_table(
+        "note_items",
+        sa.Column("id", UUID(as_uuid=True), primary_key=True),
+        sa.Column("note_id", UUID(as_uuid=True), sa.ForeignKey("notes.id", ondelete="CASCADE"), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column("text", sa.Text(), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column("checked", sa.Boolean(), nullable=False, server_default=sa.false()),
+        sa.Column("position", sa.Integer(), nullable=False, server_default="0"),
+        sa.Column("created_at", sa.DateTime(timezone=True), nullable=False, server_default=sa.func.now()),
+    )
+    op.create_index("ix_note_items_note", "note_items", ["note_id"])
+
+
+def downgrade() -> None:
+    op.drop_index("ix_note_items_note", table_name="note_items")
+    op.drop_table("note_items")
+    op.drop_column("notes", "kind")
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Icon.vue b/frontend/src/components/Icon.vue
index 321df71..d2fb296 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Icon.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Icon.vue
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ const paths: Record<string, string> = {
   pencil: '<path d="M21.174 6.812a1 1 0 0 0-3.986-3.987L3.842 16.174a2 2 0 0 0-.5.83l-1.321 4.352a.5.5 0 0 0 .623.622l4.353-1.32a2 2 0 0 0 .83-.497z"/><path d="m15 5 4 4"/>',
   plus: '<path d="M5 12h14"/><path d="M12 5v14"/>',
   check: '<path d="M20 6 9 17l-5-5"/>',
+  checkbox: '<rect width="18" height="18" x="3" y="3" rx="2"/><path d="m9 12 2 2 4-4"/>',
 };
 </script>
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/NoteCard.vue b/frontend/src/components/NoteCard.vue
index 8253861..a2f9b9f 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/NoteCard.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/NoteCard.vue
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { useNotesStore } from "../stores/notes";
 import { NOTE_CARD_CLASSES, type NoteColor } from "../notes/colors";
 import type { Note } from "../stores/notes";
 import Icon from "./Icon.vue";
+import NoteChecklist from "./NoteChecklist.vue";
 
 defineProps<{ note: Note }>();
 const emit = defineEmits<{ (e: "open", note: Note): void }>();
@@ -18,9 +19,27 @@ function cardClass(color: NoteColor): string {
     class="group relative mb-4 break-inside-avoid rounded-xl border p-3 shadow-sm transition hover:shadow-md"
     :class="cardClass(note.color)"
   >
+    <!-- Checklist notes can't nest interactive controls in a <button>, so use a
+         focusable div; text notes keep a semantic button. -->
+    <template v-if="note.kind === 'list'">
+      <div
+        role="button"
+        tabindex="0"
+        class="rounded focus:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-brand"
+        @click="emit('open', note)"
+        @keydown.enter="emit('open', note)"
+      >
+        <h3 v-if="note.title" class="mb-1 break-words text-sm font-semibold text-neutral-900 dark:text-neutral-100">
+          {{ note.title }}
+        </h3>
+      </div>
+      <NoteChecklist class="mt-1" :note-id="note.id" :items="note.items" @click="emit('open', note)" />
+    </template>
+
     <button
+      v-else
       type="button"
-      class="block w-full cursor-text text-left focus:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-brand focus-visible:ring-offset-2 focus-visible:ring-offset-transparent rounded"
+      class="block w-full cursor-text rounded text-left focus:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-brand focus-visible:ring-offset-2 focus-visible:ring-offset-transparent"
       @click="emit('open', note)"
     >
       <h3 v-if="note.title" class="mb-1 break-words text-sm font-semibold text-neutral-900 dark:text-neutral-100">
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/NoteChecklist.vue b/frontend/src/components/NoteChecklist.vue
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..98e90ea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/components/NoteChecklist.vue
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+<script setup lang="ts">
+import { ref } from "vue";
+import { useNotesStore, type ChecklistItem } from "../stores/notes";
+
+const props = defineProps<{ noteId: string; items: ChecklistItem[]; editable?: boolean }>();
+const notes = useNotesStore();
+const newItem = ref("");
+
+async function addItem() {
+  const text = newItem.value.trim();
+  if (!text) return;
+  await notes.addItem(props.noteId, text);
+  newItem.value = "";
+}
+
+function toggle(item: ChecklistItem) {
+  void notes.updateItem(props.noteId, item.id, { checked: !item.checked });
+}
+
+function editText(item: ChecklistItem, value: string) {
+  if (value !== item.text) void notes.updateItem(props.noteId, item.id, { text: value });
+}
+
+function remove(item: ChecklistItem) {
+  void notes.deleteItem(props.noteId, item.id);
+}
+</script>
+
+<template>
+  <div class="flex flex-col gap-1">
+    <div v-for="item in items" :key="item.id" class="group/item flex items-center gap-2">
+      <input
+        type="checkbox"
+        class="h-4 w-4 shrink-0 accent-brand"
+        :checked="item.checked"
+        @change="toggle(item)"
+        @click.stop
+      />
+      <input
+        v-if="editable"
+        :value="item.text"
+        class="min-w-0 flex-1 bg-transparent text-sm outline-none"
+        :class="item.checked ? 'text-neutral-400 line-through' : ''"
+        @change="editText(item, ($event.target as HTMLInputElement).value)"
+      />
+      <span
+        v-else
+        class="min-w-0 flex-1 truncate text-sm"
+        :class="item.checked ? 'text-neutral-400 line-through' : 'text-neutral-700 dark:text-neutral-300'"
+        >{{ item.text }}</span
+      >
+      <button
+        v-if="editable"
+        type="button"
+        class="text-neutral-300 opacity-0 hover:text-neutral-600 group-hover/item:opacity-100 dark:hover:text-neutral-200"
+        aria-label="Delete item"
+        @click="remove(item)"
+      >
+        ×
+      </button>
+    </div>
+
+    <form v-if="editable" class="mt-1 flex items-center gap-2" @submit.prevent="addItem">
+      <span class="h-4 w-4 shrink-0" />
+      <input
+        v-model="newItem"
+        type="text"
+        placeholder="+ List item"
+        class="min-w-0 flex-1 bg-transparent text-sm outline-none placeholder:text-neutral-400"
+      />
+    </form>
+
+    <p v-if="!editable && items.length === 0" class="text-sm italic text-neutral-400">Empty checklist</p>
+  </div>
+</template>
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/NoteEditor.vue b/frontend/src/components/NoteEditor.vue
index 471943f..e698ee6 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/NoteEditor.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/NoteEditor.vue
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 <script setup lang="ts">
-import { nextTick, onMounted, ref, watch } from "vue";
+import { computed, nextTick, onMounted, ref, watch } from "vue";
 import { useNotesStore } from "../stores/notes";
 import ColorPicker from "./ColorPicker.vue";
 import Icon from "./Icon.vue";
 import LabelPicker from "./LabelPicker.vue";
+import NoteChecklist from "./NoteChecklist.vue";
 import type { Note, NoteLabel } from "../stores/notes";
 import type { NoteColor } from "../notes/colors";
 
@@ -11,6 +12,10 @@ const props = defineProps<{ note: Note }>();
 const emit = defineEmits<{ (e: "close"): void }>();
 const notes = useNotesStore();
 
+// Read the note reactively from the store so checklist item add/toggle/delete
+// (which reconcile a fresh note object) reflect live while the editor is open.
+const liveNote = computed(() => notes.items.find((n) => n.id === props.note.id) ?? props.note);
+
 const title = ref(props.note.title ?? "");
 const body = ref(props.note.body);
 const color = ref<NoteColor>(props.note.color);
@@ -44,6 +49,24 @@ async function removeLabel(id: string) {
   await onLabelsChange(labelList.value.filter((lb) => lb.id !== id));
 }
 
+async function toggleKind() {
+  if (liveNote.value.kind === "list") {
+    await notes.setKind(props.note.id, "text");
+    return;
+  }
+  // Convert existing body lines into checklist items, then switch to a list.
+  const lines = body.value
+    .split("\n")
+    .map((s) => s.trim())
+    .filter((s) => s.length > 0);
+  for (const line of lines) await notes.addItem(props.note.id, line);
+  if (lines.length > 0) {
+    body.value = "";
+    await notes.saveEdit(props.note.id, { title: title.value, body: "", color: color.value });
+  }
+  await notes.setKind(props.note.id, "list");
+}
+
 async function close() {
   const changed =
     (title.value.trim() || null) !== (props.note.title ?? null) ||
@@ -80,12 +103,15 @@ async function act(fn: () => Promise<void>) {
           class="w-full bg-transparent text-base font-semibold outline-none placeholder:text-neutral-400"
         />
         <textarea
+          v-if="liveNote.kind === 'text'"
           ref="bodyInput"
           v-model="body"
           rows="8"
           placeholder="Take a note…"
           class="w-full resize-none bg-transparent text-sm leading-relaxed outline-none placeholder:text-neutral-400"
         />
+        <NoteChecklist v-else class="py-1" :note-id="liveNote.id" :items="liveNote.items" editable />
+
         <div v-if="labelList.length" class="flex flex-wrap gap-1.5 pt-1">
           <span
             v-for="lb in labelList"
@@ -104,9 +130,20 @@ async function act(fn: () => Promise<void>) {
           </span>
         </div>
       </div>
+
       <div class="flex items-center justify-between gap-2 border-t border-neutral-100 px-3 py-2 dark:border-neutral-800">
         <ColorPicker v-model="color" />
         <div class="flex items-center gap-0.5">
+          <button
+            v-if="!note.trashed"
+            type="button"
+            class="icon-btn"
+            :class="liveNote.kind === 'list' ? 'text-brand-700 dark:text-brand' : ''"
+            :title="liveNote.kind === 'list' ? 'Convert to text note' : 'Convert to checklist'"
+            @click="toggleKind"
+          >
+            <Icon name="checkbox" />
+          </button>
           <LabelPicker v-if="!note.trashed" :model-value="labelList" @update:model-value="onLabelsChange" />
           <template v-if="!note.trashed">
             <button
diff --git a/frontend/src/stores/notes.ts b/frontend/src/stores/notes.ts
index 0f09ead..d66aaa2 100644
--- a/frontend/src/stores/notes.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/stores/notes.ts
@@ -4,21 +4,31 @@ import { api } from "../api/client";
 import type { NoteColor } from "../notes/colors";
 
 export type NoteView = "active" | "archived" | "trash";
+export type NoteKind = "text" | "list";
 
 export interface NoteLabel {
   id: string;
   name: string;
 }
 
+export interface ChecklistItem {
+  id: string;
+  text: string;
+  checked: boolean;
+  position: number;
+}
+
 export interface Note {
   id: string;
   title: string | null;
   body: string;
   color: NoteColor;
+  kind: NoteKind;
   pinned: boolean;
   archived: boolean;
   trashed: boolean;
   labels: NoteLabel[];
+  items: ChecklistItem[];
   created_at: string | null;
   updated_at: string | null;
 }
@@ -76,7 +86,7 @@ export const useNotesStore = defineStore("notes", () => {
 
   async function mutate(
     id: string,
-    changes: Partial<Pick<Note, "title" | "body" | "color" | "pinned" | "archived">>,
+    changes: Partial<Pick<Note, "title" | "body" | "color" | "kind" | "pinned" | "archived">>,
   ): Promise<void> {
     reconcile(await api.patch<Note>(`/api/notes/${id}`, changes));
   }
@@ -84,12 +94,25 @@ export const useNotesStore = defineStore("notes", () => {
   const setPinned = (id: string, pinned: boolean) => mutate(id, { pinned });
   const setArchived = (id: string, archived: boolean) => mutate(id, { archived });
   const setColor = (id: string, color: NoteColor) => mutate(id, { color });
+  const setKind = (id: string, kind: NoteKind) => mutate(id, { kind });
   const saveEdit = (id: string, changes: { title: string; body: string; color: NoteColor }) => mutate(id, changes);
 
   async function setLabels(id: string, labelIds: string[]): Promise<void> {
     reconcile(await api.put<Note>(`/api/notes/${id}/labels`, { label_ids: labelIds }));
   }
 
+  async function addItem(id: string, text: string): Promise<void> {
+    reconcile(await api.post<Note>(`/api/notes/${id}/items`, { text }));
+  }
+
+  async function updateItem(id: string, itemId: string, changes: { text?: string; checked?: boolean }): Promise<void> {
+    reconcile(await api.patch<Note>(`/api/notes/${id}/items/${itemId}`, changes));
+  }
+
+  async function deleteItem(id: string, itemId: string): Promise<void> {
+    reconcile(await api.del<Note>(`/api/notes/${id}/items/${itemId}`));
+  }
+
   async function trash(id: string): Promise<void> {
     reconcile(await api.post<Note>(`/api/notes/${id}/trash`));
   }
@@ -114,8 +137,12 @@ export const useNotesStore = defineStore("notes", () => {
     setPinned,
     setArchived,
     setColor,
+    setKind,
     saveEdit,
     setLabels,
+    addItem,
+    updateItem,
+    deleteItem,
     trash,
     restore,
     deleteForever,
diff --git a/src/thoughtsync/models/all.py b/src/thoughtsync/models/all.py
index 7a57230..f4bd49b 100644
--- a/src/thoughtsync/models/all.py
+++ b/src/thoughtsync/models/all.py
@@ -3,4 +3,4 @@
 Imported for side effects only (model registration on Base.metadata).
 """
 
-from . import group, label, note, settings, share, user  # noqa: F401
+from . import group, label, note, note_item, settings, share, user  # noqa: F401
diff --git a/src/thoughtsync/models/note.py b/src/thoughtsync/models/note.py
index 93904b9..9a52741 100644
--- a/src/thoughtsync/models/note.py
+++ b/src/thoughtsync/models/note.py
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ class Note(Base):
     title: Mapped[str | None] = mapped_column(Text(), nullable=True)
     body: Mapped[str] = mapped_column(Text(), nullable=False, server_default="")
     color: Mapped[str] = mapped_column(Text(), nullable=False, server_default="default")
+    # 'text' (freeform body) or 'list' (a checklist of note_items).
+    kind: Mapped[str] = mapped_column(Text(), nullable=False, server_default="text")
     pinned: Mapped[bool] = mapped_column(Boolean(), nullable=False, server_default=func.false())
     archived: Mapped[bool] = mapped_column(Boolean(), nullable=False, server_default=func.false())
     # Soft delete: non-null => in Trash. Restore sets it back to null.
@@ -55,6 +57,7 @@ class Note(Base):
             "title": self.title,
             "body": self.body,
             "color": self.color,
+            "kind": self.kind,
             "pinned": self.pinned,
             "archived": self.archived,
             "trashed": self.deleted_at is not None,
diff --git a/src/thoughtsync/models/note_item.py b/src/thoughtsync/models/note_item.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d0a0bd1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/thoughtsync/models/note_item.py
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import uuid
+from datetime import datetime
+
+from sqlalchemy import Boolean, DateTime, ForeignKey, Integer, Text, func
+from sqlalchemy.dialects.postgresql import UUID
+from sqlalchemy.orm import Mapped, mapped_column
+
+from . import Base
+
+
+class NoteItem(Base):
+    """A single checklist item within a note (only used when note.kind == 'list')."""
+
+    __tablename__ = "note_items"
+
+    id: Mapped[uuid.UUID] = mapped_column(UUID(as_uuid=True), primary_key=True, default=uuid.uuid4)
+    note_id: Mapped[uuid.UUID] = mapped_column(
+        UUID(as_uuid=True), ForeignKey("notes.id", ondelete="CASCADE"), nullable=False
+    )
+    text: Mapped[str] = mapped_column(Text(), nullable=False)
+    checked: Mapped[bool] = mapped_column(Boolean(), nullable=False, server_default=func.false())
+    position: Mapped[int] = mapped_column(Integer(), nullable=False, server_default="0")
+    created_at: Mapped[datetime] = mapped_column(DateTime(timezone=True), nullable=False, server_default=func.now())
diff --git a/src/thoughtsync/notes.py b/src/thoughtsync/notes.py
index 4da07e9..68bc6c0 100644
--- a/src/thoughtsync/notes.py
+++ b/src/thoughtsync/notes.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ from .auth import login_required
 from .db import session_scope
 from .models.label import Label, NoteLabel
 from .models.note import NOTE_COLORS, Note
+from .models.note_item import NoteItem
 
 bp = Blueprint("notes", __name__, url_prefix="/api/notes")
 
@@ -50,13 +51,47 @@ async def _labels_for_notes(db, note_ids: list) -> dict:
     return result
 
 
+def _serialize_item(item: NoteItem) -> dict:
+    return {"id": str(item.id), "text": item.text, "checked": item.checked, "position": item.position}
+
+
+async def _items_for_notes(db, note_ids: list) -> dict:
+    """Map note_id -> [checklist items] in one query, ordered by position."""
+    result: dict = {}
+    if not note_ids:
+        return result
+    items = (
+        await db.scalars(
+            select(NoteItem).where(NoteItem.note_id.in_(note_ids)).order_by(NoteItem.position, NoteItem.created_at)
+        )
+    ).all()
+    for item in items:
+        result.setdefault(item.note_id, []).append(_serialize_item(item))
+    return result
+
+
 async def _serialize_note(db, note: Note) -> dict:
     data = note.serialize()
     labels = await _labels_for_notes(db, [note.id])
     data["labels"] = labels.get(note.id, [])
+    items = await _items_for_notes(db, [note.id])
+    data["items"] = items.get(note.id, [])
     return data
 
 
+async def _serialize_notes(db, notes: list) -> list:
+    ids = [n.id for n in notes]
+    labels_map = await _labels_for_notes(db, ids)
+    items_map = await _items_for_notes(db, ids)
+    out = []
+    for n in notes:
+        data = n.serialize()
+        data["labels"] = labels_map.get(n.id, [])
+        data["items"] = items_map.get(n.id, [])
+        out.append(data)
+    return out
+
+
 async def _get_owned(db, note_id: str) -> Note | None:
     """Fetch a note the current user OWNS (mutations are owner-only in M1/M2)."""
     try:
@@ -84,13 +119,7 @@ async def list_notes():
             stmt = stmt.where(Note.id.in_(select(NoteLabel.note_id).where(NoteLabel.label_id == lid)))
         stmt = stmt.order_by(Note.pinned.desc(), Note.updated_at.desc())
         notes = (await db.scalars(stmt)).all()
-        labels_map = await _labels_for_notes(db, [n.id for n in notes])
-        out = []
-        for n in notes:
-            data = n.serialize()
-            data["labels"] = labels_map.get(n.id, [])
-            out.append(data)
-        return jsonify({"notes": out})
+        return jsonify({"notes": await _serialize_notes(db, notes)})
 
 
 @bp.get("/search")
@@ -114,13 +143,7 @@ async def search_notes():
             .limit(100)
         )
         notes = (await db.scalars(stmt)).all()
-        labels_map = await _labels_for_notes(db, [n.id for n in notes])
-        out = []
-        for n in notes:
-            data = n.serialize()
-            data["labels"] = labels_map.get(n.id, [])
-            out.append(data)
-        return jsonify({"notes": out})
+        return jsonify({"notes": await _serialize_notes(db, notes)})
 
 
 @bp.post("")
@@ -175,6 +198,8 @@ async def update_note(note_id: str):
             note.body = data["body"]
         if "color" in data:
             note.color = normalize_color(data["color"])
+        if "kind" in data and data["kind"] in ("text", "list"):
+            note.kind = data["kind"]
         if "pinned" in data:
             note.pinned = bool(data["pinned"])
         if "archived" in data:
@@ -219,6 +244,89 @@ async def set_note_labels(note_id: str):
         return jsonify(await _serialize_note(db, note))
 
 
+async def _get_item(db, note: Note, item_id: str) -> NoteItem | None:
+    try:
+        iid = uuid.UUID(item_id)
+    except (ValueError, TypeError):
+        return None
+    return await db.scalar(select(NoteItem).where(NoteItem.id == iid, NoteItem.note_id == note.id))
+
+
+@bp.post("/<note_id>/items")
+@login_required
+async def add_item(note_id: str):
+    data = await request.get_json(silent=True) or {}
+    text = data["text"].strip() if isinstance(data.get("text"), str) else ""
+    async with session_scope() as db:
+        note = await _get_owned(db, note_id)
+        if note is None:
+            return jsonify({"error": "not found"}), 404
+        max_pos = await db.scalar(
+            select(func.coalesce(func.max(NoteItem.position), -1)).where(NoteItem.note_id == note.id)
+        )
+        db.add(NoteItem(note_id=note.id, text=text, position=int(max_pos) + 1))
+        await db.commit()
+        return jsonify(await _serialize_note(db, note)), 201
+
+
+@bp.patch("/<note_id>/items/<item_id>")
+@login_required
+async def update_item(note_id: str, item_id: str):
+    data = await request.get_json(silent=True) or {}
+    async with session_scope() as db:
+        note = await _get_owned(db, note_id)
+        if note is None:
+            return jsonify({"error": "not found"}), 404
+        item = await _get_item(db, note, item_id)
+        if item is None:
+            return jsonify({"error": "not found"}), 404
+        if "text" in data and isinstance(data["text"], str):
+            item.text = data["text"]
+        if "checked" in data:
+            item.checked = bool(data["checked"])
+        await db.commit()
+        return jsonify(await _serialize_note(db, note))
+
+
+@bp.delete("/<note_id>/items/<item_id>")
+@login_required
+async def delete_item(note_id: str, item_id: str):
+    async with session_scope() as db:
+        note = await _get_owned(db, note_id)
+        if note is None:
+            return jsonify({"error": "not found"}), 404
+        item = await _get_item(db, note, item_id)
+        if item is None:
+            return jsonify({"error": "not found"}), 404
+        await db.delete(item)
+        await db.commit()
+        return jsonify(await _serialize_note(db, note))
+
+
+@bp.post("/<note_id>/items/reorder")
+@login_required
+async def reorder_items(note_id: str):
+    data = await request.get_json(silent=True) or {}
+    order = data.get("item_ids")
+    if not isinstance(order, list):
+        return jsonify({"error": "item_ids must be a list"}), 400
+    async with session_scope() as db:
+        note = await _get_owned(db, note_id)
+        if note is None:
+            return jsonify({"error": "not found"}), 404
+        existing = {
+            str(i.id): i for i in (await db.scalars(select(NoteItem).where(NoteItem.note_id == note.id))).all()
+        }
+        pos = 0
+        for iid in order:
+            item = existing.get(str(iid))
+            if item is not None:
+                item.position = pos
+                pos += 1
+        await db.commit()
+        return jsonify(await _serialize_note(db, note))
+
+
 @bp.post("/<note_id>/trash")
 @login_required
 async def trash_note(note_id: str):
diff --git a/tests/test_notes.py b/tests/test_notes.py
index ded1555..74dbcac 100644
--- a/tests/test_notes.py
+++ b/tests/test_notes.py
@@ -56,3 +56,9 @@ async def test_search_requires_auth(app):
     client = app.test_client()
     resp = await client.get("/api/notes/search?q=hello")
     assert resp.status_code == 401
+
+
+async def test_add_item_requires_auth(app):
+    client = app.test_client()
+    resp = await client.post("/api/notes/00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000/items", json={"text": "x"})
+    assert resp.status_code == 401