Open Source Note-Taking Software
Note-Taking software provides a digital environment for capturing thoughts, organizing tasks, and building personal knowledge bases. These tools use markdown formatting and bidirectional linking to connect disparate pieces of information into a structured wiki. This type of software suits researchers and writers who need to manage large volumes of text and documentation. Self-hosting these apps ensures that private journals and sensitive research remain on personal hardware. You can synchronize these notes across different devices without relying on external corporate servers to store your intellectual property.
This page lists 43 open source tools in the Note-Taking category. The most popular are AppFlowy, Affine and Memos. Most use the AGPL-3.0 or MIT license, and 22 offer an official Docker image.
AppFlowy
A collaborative workspace for notes and databases that provides data ownership and native cross platform support.
Affine
A local-first knowledge base that merges structured documents, infinite whiteboards, and databases into one workspace.
Memos
A self-hosted note-taking tool for quick capture using a timeline-first interface and markdown-native formatting.
MarkText
A markdown editor providing real-time preview and distraction-free writing modes for desktop operating systems.
Joplin
Manage notes and to-do lists with markdown support, end-to-end encryption, and synchronization across multiple cloud services.
SiYuan
A privacy first personal knowledge management system with block level references and markdown WYSIWYG editing.
Logseq
A privacy-first knowledge management platform using bidirectional linking and outlines to organize notes and tasks.
Trilium
A hierarchical note taking application designed for building large, scriptable personal knowledge bases with visual mapping.
Open Notebook
Manage research through AI summarization, multi-format content ingestion, and multi-speaker podcast generation with local data control.
Meetily
Records, transcribes, and summarizes meetings on local infrastructure to maintain data sovereignty and privacy.
Tolaria
Manage markdown knowledge bases using git version control and direct AI model integration without requiring accounts.
Notesnook
An end to end encrypted note taking application with zero knowledge architecture and cross device synchronization.
Zettlr
A markdown editor and publication workbench designed for academic writing and zettelkasten knowledge management.
Note-gen
A cross-platform markdown note application that uses AI to transform raw captures into structured documentation.
Blinko
A self-hosted card note taking application that uses retrieval augmented generation to search notes via natural language.
Anarlog
Records system audio and transcribes meetings locally to turn rough notes into editable markdown summaries on disk.
AnyType
A local-first personal knowledge base for managing notes, tasks, and databases with peer-to-peer encrypted synchronization.
HedgeDoc
Create and edit markdown notes in real time with a collaborative editor for teams and individuals.
massCode
A local first developer workspace combining code snippets, markdown notes, and an integrated HTTP client.
Yank Note
A Markdown editor with AI assistance, version control, and support for embedding diagrams and runnable code.
Standard Notes
A cross platform note taking application featuring end to end encryption and synchronization across unlimited devices.
SilverBullet
A programmable personal knowledge database using Markdown and Lua for extensible note taking and data management.
TagSpaces
Organize and manage local files using a privacy focused tagging system that works entirely offline.
Floral Notepaper
A lightweight cross platform desktop sticky note tool with Markdown editing and real time preview capabilities.
Deta Surf
A browser and notebook hybrid for researching, summarizing, and organizing web pages, PDFs, and videos in one place.
flatnotes
A self-hosted, database-less note taking web app that utilizes a flat folder of markdown files.
ByteStash
A self-hosted web application for storing, organizing, and managing code snippets with AI assistant integration.
tiez-clipboard
Manage clipboard history with tags and synchronize copied content across devices using WebDAV and MQTT.
MarkFlowy
A lightweight markdown editor with integrated AI capabilities for content summarization and multi language translation.
CrossPaste
Sync clipboard content across multiple devices using a serverless architecture with end to end encryption.
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