encrypted note-taking
Standard Notes is a cross-platform, end-to-end encrypted note-taking app with file sync and optional self-hosting.
Same problem, same approach. Swapping one for another is a config change, not a rewrite.
choose when you want a comparable E2EE notebook with flexible sync targets (Nextcloud, Dropbox) and plugin support.
Joplin - the privacy-focused note taking app with sync capabilities for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS.
choose when you want a direct E2EE peer with an integrated Evernote importer and a modern UI.
A fully open source & end-to-end encrypted note taking alternative to Evernote.
Solves the same problem with a different architecture or at a different layer. Expect to rewrite the integration.
choose when you want AI-assisted organization of local Markdown notes rather than encrypted cloud sync.
Capture first. Organize later. A local-first Markdown app that turns scattered records into clear notes with AI.
choose when you want a lightweight self-hosted memo/capture stream rather than a full E2EE notebook.
Open-source, self-hosted note-taking tool built for quick capture. Markdown-native, lightweight, and fully yours.
choose when you want a self-hosted knowledge base without Standard Notes' sync/encryption model.
Your Self-Hosted Knowledge Base
choose when you need Notion-like databases and project workspaces while keeping self-hosting.
Bring projects, wikis, and teams together with AI. AppFlowy is the AI collaborative workspace where you achieve more without losing control of your data. The leading open source Notion alternative.
choose when you want a local-first docs-plus-canvas workspace instead of a plain encrypted notes app.
There can be more than Notion and Miro. AFFiNE(pronounced [ə‘fain]) is a next-gen knowledge base that brings planning, sorting and creating all together. Privacy first, open-source, customizable and ready to use.
choose when you want block-based documents, self-hosting, and AI agents alongside notes.
An open-source, privacy-first, self-hosted knowledge workspace where humans and AI agents work together 开源、隐私优先、自托管的知识工作空间，让人与智能体在此协作
choose when you want an outliner with graph/backlinks rather than a traditional encrypted notebook.
A privacy-first, open-source platform for knowledge management and collaboration. Download link: http://github.com/logseq/logseq/releases. roadmap: https://logseq.io/p/NX4mc_ggEV
choose when you need a hierarchical note tree and self-hosted web access with scripting.
Build your personal knowledge base with Trilium Notes
choose when you need realtime collaborative Markdown for a team, not private E2EE notes.
CodiMD - Realtime collaborative markdown notes on all platforms.
choose when you need team workspaces, SSO/OIDC, and local S3 backups instead of a personal E2EE notes app.
📚 The open-source, offline-first Notion, Obsidian & Confluence alternative. Advanced Markdown, multi-tenant teams, OIDC/SSO, and local S3 backups. Deploy in one command.
choose when you want semantic linking and a self-hosted networked knowledge base.
Self-hosted, semantically-connected personal knowledge base
choose when you want scriptable terminal note-taking with Git versioning and plain-text portability.
CLI and local web plain text note‑taking, bookmarking, and archiving with linking, tagging, filtering, search, Git versioning & syncing, Pandoc conversion, + more, in a single portable script.
choose when you use Nextcloud/ownCloud and want notes stored as plain-text files.
QOwnNotes is a plain-text file notepad and todo-list manager with Markdown support and Nextcloud / ownCloud integration.
choose when you want a local-first Markdown app built for AI-agent workflows instead of E2EE sync.
Open-source Reflect rewrite: A local-first AI agent-friendly Markdown note-taking app
choose when you need a minimal offline-first self-hostable note taker.
Offline first, self hostable note taking application
An earlier or more limited way to do the job. Still the right call when you need something small, proven, or CPU-only.
choose when you want a hierarchical PKM workflow integrated into VSCode rather than a standalone encrypted app.
The personal knowledge management (PKM) tool that grows as you do!
choose when you keep notes in a Git repository and need a mobile-first editor for them.
Mobile first Note Taking integrated with Git
choose when you want a simple self-hosted web notes app backed by a flat Markdown folder.
A self-hosted, database-less note taking web app that utilises a flat folder of markdown files for storage.
choose when you want TiddlyWiki's extensibility in a desktop app with automatic Git backups.
TidGi is an privacy-in-mind, automated, auto-git-backup, freely-deployed knowledge management Desktop note app, based on Tiddlywiki, with REST API for web-clipping and Anki connect. 「 太记 」是一个基于「 太微 TiddlyWiki 」的知识管理桌面应用，能保护隐私内容、高级自动化、自动Git云备份、部署为博客，且可通过RESTAPI与Anki等应用连接。（迭代开发中欢迎试用，开发进度见下方链接）(Under active development, see website below for details)
choose when you want a VSCode-based PKM workflow over standalone encrypted notes.
A personal knowledge management and sharing system for VSCode
choose when you are on Apple platforms and want a fast native Markdown app with iCloud sync.
Fast Markdown note-taking app for Mac and iPhone
These projects were analysed and named app among their alternatives. The relationship is not symmetric — how app rates them is a separate judgement, made when app is analysed in its own right.
calls app “Choose Standard Notes for a highly polished, end-to-end encrypted notes experience with a focus on longevity and a simple, reliable sync, though its editors are more limited than Notesnook's.”
A fully open source & end-to-end encrypted note taking alternative to Evernote.
calls app “choose when end-to-end encrypted notes are your priority and you don't need AI.”
An open-source, self-hosted personal AI note tool prioritizing privacy, built using TypeScript .
calls app “End-to-end encrypted notes platform; choose it when you need a hardened, cross-platform note client with its own sync stack.”
Laverna is a JavaScript note taking application with Markdown editor and encryption support. Consider it like open source alternative to Evernote.
calls app “Choose when an encrypted, minimal, cross-platform note app is more important than an IDE workflow.”
The personal knowledge management (PKM) tool that grows as you do!
calls app “choose for end-to-end encrypted notes with cross-platform clients and a managed sync service.”
Fast Markdown note-taking app for Mac and iPhone
calls app “Choose if you want end-to-end encrypted notes with cross-platform clients rather than a self-hosted timeline server.”
Open-source, self-hosted note-taking tool built for quick capture. Markdown-native, lightweight, and fully yours.
calls app “Choose when you need end-to-end encrypted sync across desktop/mobile apps.”
CLI and local web plain text note‑taking, bookmarking, and archiving with linking, tagging, filtering, search, Git versioning & syncing, Pandoc conversion, + more, in a single portable script.