https://github.com/meichthys/foss_note_apps
Free and Open Source Note Taking Applications
https://github.com/meichthys/foss_note_apps
alternative applications comparison feature-comparison free journaling markdown note-taking-apps notebook notes notes-application open-source self-hosted wysiwyg
Last synced: about 1 month ago
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Free and Open Source Note Taking Applications
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/meichthys/foss_note_apps
- Owner: meichthys
- License: mit
- Created: 2024-12-02T03:59:05.000Z (6 months ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2024-12-07T05:11:40.000Z (6 months ago)
- Last Synced: 2025-04-12T07:43:53.734Z (about 1 month ago)
- Topics: alternative, applications, comparison, feature-comparison, free, journaling, markdown, note-taking-apps, notebook, notes, notes-application, open-source, self-hosted, wysiwyg
- Language: HTML
- Homepage: https://meichthys.github.io/foss_note_apps/
- Size: 62.5 KB
- Stars: 28
- Watchers: 2
- Forks: 1
- Open Issues: 1
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: readme.md
- License: LICENSE
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README
# 📝 Free and OpenSource Note Taking Applications
There are many great free and open-source alternatives to closed source and/or paid note taking applications. This project aims to track and compare the feature set between the many different options with a focus on 'Gratis' (free as in free beer) open source note apps. 'Libre' (free as in free speech) projects are also welcome, but will likely need to be submitted via a pull request since the time in testing each different project is significant.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This repository displays both objective and subjective measures of feature quality. The owner of this repository reserves the right to make changes to any pull request.
# ⚖️ Feature Comparison
```text
✅ = Feature exists (natively) in at least a limited fashion
🔌 = Feature exists in compatible plugin/extension/third-party
🚧 = Feature may exist but may not be practical or officially released
❌ = Feature does not yet exist
#️⃣ = Subjective measure of feature quality (on scale of 0-10)
Tip: Hover over emoji for additional information (🔗 link to related issue, 🔑 demo credentials, etc)
```
| Name | [Joplin](https://github.com/laurent22/joplin) | [QOwnNotes](https://github.com/pbek/QOwnNotes) | [SilverBullet](https://github.com/silverbulletmd/silverbullet) | [TriliumNext](https://github.com/TriliumNext/Notes) | [Nextcloud Notes](https://github.com/nextcloud/notes) |
| :------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [Logo](features.md#logo) | 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|
| [Source Code](features.md#source_code) |  |  |  |  |  |
| [Contributors](features.md#contributors) |  |  |  |  |  |
| [Last Commit](features.md#last-commit) |  |  |  |  |  |
| [Source Language](features.md#source-language) |  |  |  |  |  |
| [License](features.md#license) |  |  |  |  |  |
| [Freeness](features.md#freeness) | ✅🔟 | ✅🔟 | ✅🔟 | ✅🔟 | ✅🔟 |
| [Documentation](features.md#documentation) | [✅9️⃣](https://joplinapp.org/help/apps/) | [✅6️⃣](https://www.qownnotes.org/getting-started/overview.html) | [✅9️⃣](https://silverbullet.md/) | [✅5️⃣](https://triliumnext.github.io/Docs/) | [✅3️⃣](https://github.com/nextcloud/notes/wiki) |
| [Demo](features.md#demo) | [❌](https://joplinapp.org/plans/) | [✅4️⃣](https://www.qownnotes.org/getting-started/demo.html#qownnotes-demo) | [✅🔟](https://silverbullet.md/) | [❌](https://github.com/TriliumNext/Notes/issues/498) | ❌ |
| [Editor](features.md#editor) | WYSIWYG | Markdown | Markdown | WYSIWYG | Markdown |
| [Storage](features.md#storage) | Database | Filesystem | Filesystem / Database | Database | Filesystem |
| [AI](features.md#ai) | ❌ | [✅5️⃣](https://www.qownnotes.org/blog/2024-05-17-AI-support-was-added-to-QOwnNotes.html) | [🔌6️⃣](https://silverbullet.md/Plugs/AI) | [🔌5️⃣](https://github.com/soulsands/trilium-chat) | [✅5️⃣](https://docs.nextcloud.com/server/latest/admin_manual/ai/index.html) |
| [API](features.md#api) | [✅8️⃣](https://joplinapp.org/help/api/references/rest_api/) | ❌ | [✅8️⃣](https://silverbullet.md/API) | [✅8️⃣](https://triliumnext.github.io/Docs/Wiki/etapi.html) | [✅8️⃣](https://github.com/nextcloud/notes/blob/main/docs/api/README.md) |
| [App:Android](features.md#app-android) | [✅6️⃣](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.cozic.joplin) | ❌ | ❌ | [✅3️⃣](https://github.com/FliegendeWurst/TriliumDroid) | [✅5️⃣](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=it.niedermann.owncloud.notes&pli=1) |
| [App:iOS](features.md#app-ios) | [✅6️⃣](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/joplin/id1315599797) | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | [✅5️⃣](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nextcloud-notes/id813973264) |
| [App:Linux](features.md#app-linux) | [✅🔟](https://joplinapp.org/help/install/) | [✅🔟](https://www.qownnotes.org/installation/) | ❌ | [✅🔟](https://github.com/TriliumNext/Notes/releases) | ❌ |
| [App:MacOS](features.md#app-macos) | [✅🔟](https://joplinapp.org/help/install/) | [✅🔟](https://www.qownnotes.org/installation/) | ❌ | [✅🔟](https://github.com/TriliumNext/Notes/releases) | ❌ |
| [App:Terminal](features.md#terminal) | [✅6️⃣](https://joplinapp.org/help/apps/terminal/) | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | [🚧5️⃣](https://github.com/djmoch/nncli/) |
| [App:WebApp](features.md#app-webapp) | [🚧6️⃣](https://joplinapp.org/help/dev/BUILD#web) | ❌ | [✅🔟](https://github.com/TriliumNext/Notes/releases) | [✅🔟](https://github.com/TriliumNext/Notes/releases) | [✅🔟](https://apps.nextcloud.com/apps/notes) |
| [App:Windows](features.md#app-windows) | [✅🔟](https://joplinapp.org/help/install/) | [✅🔟](https://www.qownnotes.org/installation/) | ❌ | [✅🔟](https://github.com/TriliumNext/Notes/releases) | ❌ |
| [Automations](features.md#automations) | ❌ | [✅9️⃣](https://triliumnext.github.io/Docs/Wiki/scripts) | [✅8️⃣](https://silverbullet.md/Space%20Script) | [✅8️⃣](https://silverbullet.md/Space%20Script) | ❌ |
| [Calendar/Timeline](features.md#calendar-timeline) | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | [✅7️⃣](https://triliumnext.github.io/Docs/Wiki/day-notes.html) | ❌ |
| [Diagraming](features.md#diagraming) | [✅8️⃣](https://silverbullet.md/Space%20Script) | ❌ | [✅6️⃣](https://silverbullet.md/Plugs/Mermaid) | [✅8️⃣](https://triliumnext.github.io/Docs/Wiki/canvas-note.html) | ❌ |
| [Docker](features.md#docker) | ❌ | ❌ | [✅🔟](https://silverbullet.md/Install/Docker) | [✅7️⃣](https://triliumnext.github.io/Docs/Wiki/docker-server-installation.html) | [✅6️⃣](https://github.com/nextcloud/all-in-one) |
| [Encryption](features.md#encryption) | [✅9️⃣](https://joplinapp.org/help/apps/sync/e2ee/) | [✅8️⃣](https://www.qownnotes.org/blog/2016-10-02-Note-encryption-with-keybase.io-or-directly-with-PGP.html) | ❌ | [✅7️⃣](https://triliumnext.github.io/Docs/Wiki/protected-notes.html) | ❌ |
| [Export](features.md#export) | [✅8️⃣](https://joplinapp.org/help/apps/import_export/#exporting) | ✅7️⃣ | ✅3️⃣ | [✅7️⃣](https://triliumnext.github.io/Docs/Wiki/markdown.html) | ✅5️⃣ |
| [Formatting](features.md#formatting) | ✅7️⃣ | [✅8️⃣]() | ✅5️⃣ | ✅9️⃣ | ✅7️⃣ |
| [Geolocation](features.md#geolocation) | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| [Handwriting](features.md#handwriting) | [🔌6️⃣](https://joplinapp.org/plugins/plugin/io.github.personalizedrefrigerator.js-draw/) | ❌ | ❌ | [✅2️⃣](https://triliumnext.github.io/Docs/Wiki/canvas-note.html) | ❌ |
| [Journaling](features.md#journaling) | [🔌6️⃣](https://joplinapp.org/plugins/plugin/com.leenzhu.journal/) | [🔌7️⃣](https://github.com/qownnotes/scripts/tree/master/journal-entry) | ✅5️⃣ | ✅6️⃣ | ❌ |
| [Import](features.md#import) | [✅8️⃣](https://joplinapp.org/help/apps/import_export/#importing) | [✅6️⃣](https://www.qownnotes.org/getting-started/importing-notes.html#importing-notes) | ✅3️⃣ | ✅8️⃣ | ✅4️⃣ |
| [Media:Attachments](features.md#media-attachments) | ✅6️⃣ | ✅6️⃣ | [✅6️⃣](https://silverbullet.md/Attachments) | ✅7️⃣ | ✅5️⃣ |
| [Media:Audio](features.md#media-audio) | ✅6️⃣ | ✅4️⃣ | [✅6️⃣](https://silverbullet.md/Attachments) | ✅5️⃣ | ✅5️⃣ |
| [Media:Photos](features.md#media-photos) | ✅6️⃣ | ✅6️⃣ | [✅6️⃣](https://silverbullet.md/Attachments) | ✅8️⃣ | ✅5️⃣ |
| [Media:Videos](features.md#media-videos) | ✅6️⃣ | ✅4️⃣ | [✅6️⃣](https://silverbullet.md/Attachments) | ✅5️⃣ | ✅5️⃣ |
| [Multiple Users](features.md#multiple-users) | ✅6️⃣ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅8️⃣ |
| [Note Embedding](features.md#note-embedding) | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅7️⃣ | ❌ |
| [Plugins](features.md#plugins) | [✅8️⃣](https://joplinapp.org/plugins/) | [✅6️⃣](https://github.com/qownnotes/scripts) | [✅5️⃣](https://silverbullet.md/Plugs) | [✅3️⃣](https://triliumnext.github.io/Docs/Wiki/custom-widget.html) | ❌ |
| [Public Sharing](features.md#public-sharing) | [✅6️⃣](https://joplinapp.org/help/apps/share_notebook#what-is-actually-shared) | ✅6️⃣ | ✅8️⃣ | [✅8️⃣](https://triliumnext.github.io/Docs/Wiki/sharing.html) | ✅8️⃣ |
| [Revisions](features.md#revisions) | [✅8️⃣](https://joplinapp.org/help/apps/note_history) | [✅9️⃣](https://www.qownnotes.org/getting-started/git-versioning.html#git-versioning) | ❌ | [✅8️⃣](https://triliumnext.github.io/Docs/Wiki/note-revisions.html) | ✅7️⃣ |
| [Search](features.md#search) | [✅5️⃣](https://joplinapp.org/help/api/references/rest_api#searching) | ✅5️⃣ | [✅5️⃣](https://silverbullet.md/Full%20Text%20Search) | [✅9️⃣](https://triliumnext.github.io/Docs/Wiki/search.html) | ✅5️⃣ |
| [Custom Shortcuts](features.md#custom-shortcuts) | ❌ | [✅9️⃣](https://www.qownnotes.org/getting-started/shortcuts.html#shortcuts) | [✅6️⃣](https://silverbullet.md/Shortcuts) | [✅8️⃣](https://triliumnext.github.io/Docs/Wiki/keyboard-shortcuts.html) | ❌ |
| [Spellcheck](features.md#spellcheck) | [✅🔟](https://joplinapp.org/help/dev/spellcheck) | [✅🔟](https://www.qownnotes.org/editor/spellchecking.html#spellchecking) | ✅8️⃣ | ✅🔟 | ✅🔟 |
| [Splitscreen](features.md#splitscreen) | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅8️⃣ | ❌ |
| [Support](features.md#support) | [✅8️⃣](https://github.com/laurent22/joplin/#community) | [✅8️⃣](https://github.com/pbek/QOwnNotes#qownnotes) | [✅5️⃣](https://community.silverbullet.md/) | [✅7️⃣](https://github.com/TriliumNext/Notes#-discuss-with-us) | ✅4️⃣ |
| [Sync](features.md#sync) | [✅7️⃣](https://joplinapp.org/help/dev/spec/sync#sync-targets) | [✅7️⃣](https://www.qownnotes.org/getting-started/concept.html#nextcloud-desktop-sync-client) | [✅6️⃣](https://silverbullet.md/Sync) | [✅9️⃣](https://triliumnext.github.io/Docs/Wiki/synchronization.html) | ✅7️⃣ |
| [Tagging](features.md#tagging) | ✅6️⃣ | ✅6️⃣ | [✅7️⃣](https://silverbullet.md/Objects) | ✅4️⃣ | ✅2️⃣ |
| [Visualization](features.md#visualization) | [🔌6️⃣](https://joplinapp.org/plugins/plugin/joplin-plugin-knowledge-graph/) | ❌ | ❌ | [✅7️⃣](https://triliumnext.github.io/Docs/Wiki/note-map.html) | ❌ |
| [Web Clipping](features.md#web-clipping) | [✅8️⃣](https://joplinapp.org/help/install#web-clipper) | [✅9️⃣](https://www.qownnotes.org/getting-started/browser-extension.html#qownnotes-web-companion-browser-extension) | [🔌7️⃣](https://github.com/davecburke/silverbullet-clipper) | [✅7️⃣](https://triliumnext.github.io/Docs/Wiki/web-clipper.html) | [❌](https://github.com/nextcloud/notes/issues/403) |
**Note:** This list is by no means comprehensive and is provided on a best efforts basis. No guarantees are made to it's accuracy or completeness. If you see an error or inaccuracy, please report it and contribute a fix if you can!
For links to other note taking projects, see:
- [Awesome Self-Hosted](https://github.com/awesome-selfhosted/awesome-selfhosted#photo-and-video-galleries)
- [Awesome Privacy](https://github.com/pluja/awesome-privacy#photo-storage)
An HTML version of this comparison table is here: https://meichthys.github.io/foss_note_apps/
## 👋 More Feature Comparisons
Check out my other feature comparisons:
📸 [foss_photo_libraries](https://github.com/meichthys/foss_photo_libraries)
## 🤝 Contributing
Please contribute additions and corrections!
When contributing, please add links to the source of the information.
(i.e. link to an issue that indicates that a feature does not exist)
Tip: Using a [Markdown Editor](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=zaaack.markdown-editor) helps with formatting.
## 🆘 Support
Maintaining this list of projects takes a lot of time. If you found this comparison helpful, please let me know by considering supporting me. This lets me know that someone is finding this project useful and gives me an incentive to keep it up to date.
You can support me on Liberapay or Github Sponsors:
