Best Open-Source Note-Taking Apps in 2026
Nine note apps you can inspect, self-host, and keep running even if the company behind them disappears.
Logseq and Joplin are the most mature fully open-source picks: an outliner for networked notes and a markdown-first Evernote replacement. AppFlowy rebuilds Notion's docs-plus-database workspace under an AGPL-3.0 license with no paywall, and Standard Notes encrypts every note end-to-end by default. All nine tools below publish their source code and let you self-host, so your notes stay in files or a database you control instead of a vendor's server.
Of the 10,000+ tools Toolradar tracks, this guide narrows the note-taking category down to the tools that actually publish their source code and let you run them yourself. That distinction matters: plenty of "free" note apps, Evernote, Notion, Apple Notes, cost nothing to use but keep their code closed, which means you cannot audit how your notes are stored, cannot self-host if the company changes its pricing or gets acquired, and cannot fork the project if development stalls. From the 10,000+ tools Toolradar tracks, these are the open-source note-taking apps you can self-host or run locally, with your notes in files you own.
Every pick here was checked directly against its license file and GitHub repository, not just a marketing page that uses the word "open" loosely. We verified each project ships under a real open-source license (AGPL-3.0, GPL-3.0, or MIT), confirmed a working self-hosting or local-storage path exists, and checked for recent commits and releases so you are not building a knowledge base on an abandoned codebase. Obsidian, despite being a popular free note app, is deliberately excluded: its source code is closed and proprietary, so it does not qualify for a guide about open source.
Top Picks
Based on features, user feedback, and value for money.
| Tool | Starting price | Rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Logseq | Free | n/a | People who want an Obsidian-style outliner that is genuinely open source and free to se... |
| Joplin | From $3.22/mo | 4.3(67) | Anyone who wants a free, encrypted, cross-platform notes app they can sync through thei... |
| AppFlowy | From $6/mo | n/a | Teams who want Notion's docs-plus-database workspace without handing their data to a cl... |
| Standard Notes | From $7.5/mo | 4.3(27) | Privacy-focused users who want a simple encrypted notes app and are willing to self-hos... |
| SiYuan | Free | n/a | Power users building a Zettelkasten-style knowledge base who want AI and MCP integratio... |
| Notesnook | Free | n/a | People who want Evernote-style rich notes with real end-to-end encryption and a generou... |
| AFFiNE | From $6.75/mo | n/a | Teams that want Notion's docs plus Miro's whiteboard in one open, self-hosted tool. |
| Anytype | From $9/mo | n/a | Users who want a private, offline-capable graph of notes and are comfortable with a sou... |
| Zettlr | Free | n/a | Researchers, students, and writers who need citation management and export to Word or L... |
People who want an Obsidian-style outliner that is genuinely open source and free to self-host end to end.
Logseq's pricing is extremely generous with its robust Free tier, offering a fully functional local-first knowledge base at no cost.
Watch out
Custom pricing for Sync tier is opaque
Anyone who wants a free, encrypted, cross-platform notes app they can sync through their own cloud storage.
Joplin's pricing is fair, especially for individual users.
Watch out
Teams tier has an asterisk, potential per-user cost
Teams who want Notion's docs-plus-database workspace without handing their data to a closed platform.
AppFlowy's pricing is generally fair, with a generous Free tier for small teams.
Watch out
AI MAX and Vault Workspace require Pro for full features
Privacy-focused users who want a simple encrypted notes app and are willing to self-host for the full feature set for free.
Standard Notes offers a generous free tier with core privacy features.
Watch out
Annual commitment for paid plans
Power users building a Zettelkasten-style knowledge base who want AI and MCP integration without giving up local-first storage.
SiYuan's pricing is exceptionally generous, offering a fully-featured 'Free' tier that includes advanced functionalities like AI integration, databases, and bi-directional links.
Watch out
No paid tiers currently listed
People who want Evernote-style rich notes with real end-to-end encryption and a generous free attachment allowance.
Notesnook's Free tier is incredibly generous, offering a vast array of features that many competitors reserve for paid plans.
Watch out
No obvious hidden costs for the Free tier.
Teams that want Notion's docs plus Miro's whiteboard in one open, self-hosted tool.
AFFiNE's pricing is generally fair, with a generous Free tier offering 10 GB storage.
Watch out
Team plan has 10-seat minimum
Users who want a private, offline-capable graph of notes and are comfortable with a source-available client license.
Anytype is one of the most generous free tiers in the note-taking space, local-first, end-to-end encrypted, and open-source with 1 GB of sync storage at no cost.
Watch out
Free tier limited to 1 GB network sync space
Researchers, students, and writers who need citation management and export to Word or LaTeX alongside their notes.
Zettlr offers an incredibly generous pricing model as it is completely free.
Watch out
No hidden costs; software is entirely free
Other Note-Taking worth considering
Beyond the editorial top picks, these are also strong choices we evaluated.
What Is an Open-Source Note-Taking App?
An open-source note-taking app publishes its full source code under a license like AGPL-3.0, GPL-3.0, or MIT, so anyone can inspect how it stores and syncs your notes, fix bugs, or run their own copy of the sync server. Most of the tools in this guide store notes as local markdown files or in a database you can host yourself, which means you are not locked into one company's server or pricing.
That is different from apps that are merely free to use. Note apps like Evernote, Notion, and Apple Notes keep their code closed even though the app itself costs nothing to download. If the vendor shuts down, changes pricing, or gets acquired, a closed-source free app can disappear or paywall your notes overnight. An open-source app's code stays available even if the original company folds, and a community fork is always possible because the license permits it.
Why Data Ownership Matters for Notes
Notes are some of the most personal data you produce: journals, drafts, passwords, medical details, financial plans. Storing years of that inside a closed, proprietary app format means trusting one company's server uptime, pricing decisions, and business survival to keep your own thinking accessible. Open-source note apps remove that single point of failure: your notes live as portable markdown files or in a database you run yourself, so switching apps or recovering data never depends on an export button someone could remove later.
Self-hosting also closes off a specific risk: silent changes to how your data is used. A note app whose sync server code is public, and that you can optionally run yourself, cannot quietly change what happens to your content without that change showing up in a public commit log. That transparency is the practical reason people choose Logseq over Notion, or Joplin over Evernote, even when the closed alternative has a nicer default interface.
Key Features to Look For
AGPL-3.0, GPL-3.0, or MIT source code you, or a security researcher, can actually read, not just a marketing claim of being open.
A documented way to run the sync server yourself, such as Docker Compose, WebDAV, or Nextcloud, instead of depending on the vendor's cloud.
Notes saved as plain files, like Markdown or SQLite, on your device by default, so the app stays usable offline or after a project is abandoned.
Recent commits and releases. Being open source does not guarantee a project is maintained, check GitHub activity before committing years of notes to it.
A complete export to a standard format like Markdown or JSON, so you can leave the app without losing formatting, tags, or backlinks.
Community-built plugins for flashcards, citations, or task management, since open projects rely on contributors to fill feature gaps.
Mistakes to Avoid
- ×
Assuming free means open source. Evernote, Notion, and Apple Notes are free to use but keep their code closed, so a self-hosting or auditing option never exists.
- ×
Picking an open-source app and then only using the paid, closed sync service it happens to offer, which reintroduces the same vendor lock-in you were trying to avoid.
- ×
Ignoring GitHub activity. A repository with no commits in over a year is a sign the project, and your notes format, may be abandoned, check release history before migrating years of notes into it.
- ×
Skipping the export test. Confirm you can export everything, including backlinks and attachments, to a standard format before you commit, not after you need to leave.
- ×
Confusing source-available with open source. Some apps publish code you can read but restrict redistribution or self-hosting rights, read the actual license file, not just the marketing page.
Expert Tips
- →
Check the license file directly on GitHub (LICENSE or LICENSE.md), not just the marketing site. AGPL-3.0 and GPL-3.0 both guarantee you can self-host and audit the code; a source-available license may not.
- →
If an app's official sync is a paid add-on, like Logseq Sync or SiYuan's cloud plan, you can usually get equivalent sync for free through Syncthing, a self-hosted WebDAV server, or Git, since the notes are just files.
- →
Test the export before you migrate, not after. Import a sample set of notes, then export it back out to markdown and check that links, tags, and images survive the round trip.
- →
Star and watch the GitHub repo before committing years of notes to it. Commit frequency and open-issue response time tell you more about long-term viability than the marketing page does.
- →
Pair a local-first app, like Logseq or Zettlr, with your own automated backup, a nightly Git commit or cloud folder sync, instead of relying only on the vendor's optional cloud, so you are never dependent on one company staying in business.
The Bottom Line
Logseq, Joplin, and AppFlowy are the safest starting points: each is fully AGPL-licensed, free to self-host, and actively maintained heading into 2026. From the 10,000+ tools Toolradar tracks, these nine are the open-source note-taking apps you can self-host or run locally, with your notes in files you own, so pick based on structure, outliner, documents, or encrypted vault, rather than price, since none of them charge for the core app.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free open-source note-taking app?
Logseq and Joplin are the strongest overall picks. Logseq is a local-first outliner with bi-directional links and whiteboards under an AGPL-3.0 license, while Joplin is a more traditional markdown notes app with encryption and a large plugin library, also AGPL-3.0. Both are free for unlimited notes, and both let you sync through your own storage, Nextcloud, WebDAV, Git, or Syncthing, at no cost.
Is Obsidian open source?
No. Obsidian is free to use but its source code is closed and proprietary, so you cannot audit it, self-host its sync service, or fork it if the company changes direction. If open source specifically matters to you, Logseq is the closest feature equivalent: it offers local markdown files, bi-directional links, and a plugin system, but under an AGPL-3.0 license.
Can I really self-host these note apps for free?
Yes, for most of them. AppFlowy and SiYuan ship official Docker Compose setups so you run the full stack, including sync, on your own server at no license cost. Joplin, Notesnook, and Standard Notes all publish self-hostable sync servers too. The only real cost is your own VPS, typically $5 to $10 a month.
Which open-source note app has the best encryption?
Standard Notes and Notesnook both encrypt every note end-to-end by default, not as an add-on. Standard Notes has the longer track record, over 10 years with regular third-party security audits, while Notesnook's free plan adds 50MB of monthly attachment storage on top of unlimited encrypted notes and a free private vault.
What is the difference between open-source and source-available note apps?
Open-source apps like Joplin, AppFlowy, and Zettlr ship under licenses, AGPL-3.0 or GPL-3.0, that guarantee anyone can read, modify, and redistribute the code, including running their own server. Anytype is source-available: its full code is published and its sync protocol is MIT licensed, but the client apps use a more restrictive license that limits redistribution, so it sits between a closed app like Obsidian and a fully open project like Logseq.
Related Guides
Ready to Choose?
Compare features, read reviews, and find the right tool.