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Note-taking

Capture, organize and search notes on one device or synced across many.

Open one to see every alternative, ranked.

Free note-taking tools

Every free tool in this category, by name.

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7 alternatives

  • Anytype

    Local-first, end-to-end encrypted workspace built on typed objects, sets and relations, with optional paid sync storage.

    License: Source-available
    • Windows
    • macOS
    • Linux
    • iOS
    • Android
    Status: Active
    • MD: opens and saves, partial fidelity. Import single files or a ZIP of Markdown; links between pages may not carry over
    • HTML: opens only, partial fidelity. Import only
    • CSV: opens only, partial fidelity. Import only; columns map to properties

    This replaces Notion

  • Joplin

    Open-source note-taking app with Markdown notes, notebooks and end-to-end encrypted sync on desktop, mobile and terminal.

    License: Open source
    • Windows
    • macOS
    • Linux
    • iOS
    • Android
    • Command line
    Status: Active
    • ENEX: opens only, partial fidelity. Imports ENEX with notebooks, tags and attachments; ENEX export is not listed in the docs
    • HTML: opens and saves, partial fidelity. HTML export works; HTML import is the fallback when ENEX loses formatting

    This replaces Evernote

  • Logseq

    Open-source outliner for linked notes and daily journals, with local Markdown graphs and a new database version in beta.

    License: Open source
    • Windows
    • macOS
    • Linux
    • Web
    • iOS
    • Android
    Status: Active
    • MD: opens and saves, partial fidelity. Pages are Markdown files with Logseq block syntax; export strips block properties
    • HTML: saves only, partial fidelity. Export only

    This replaces Notion

  • Microsoft OneNote

    Free digital notebook from Microsoft with sections, pages and ink, synced through a Microsoft account.

    License: Freeware
    • Windows
    • macOS
    • Web
    • iOS
    • Android
    Status: Verified

    This replaces Evernote

  • Notesnook

    End-to-end encrypted note-taking app with a free plan and open-source clients and sync server.

    License: Open source
    • Windows
    • macOS
    • Linux
    • Web
    • iOS
    • Android
    • Self-hosted
    Status: Active
    • ENEX: opens only, partial fidelity. Import keeps attachments, web clips, tags and notebooks; task items lose their metadata
    • HTML: opens and saves, full fidelity

    This replaces Evernote

  • Obsidian

    Markdown note-taking app that keeps notes as local files, with backlinks, a graph view and community plug-ins.

    License: Freeware
    • Windows
    • macOS
    • Linux
    • iOS
    • Android
    Status: Verified
    • ENEX: opens only, partial fidelity. Imports ENEX through the Importer plug-in and converts notes to Markdown; no ENEX export
    • HTML: opens only, partial fidelity. Importer plug-in converts HTML to Markdown; notes are not stored as HTML
    • MD: opens and saves, full fidelity. Notes are plain Markdown files
    • CSV: opens only, partial fidelity. Importer plug-in turns CSV rows into notes; no CSV export

    This replaces Evernote and Notion

  • Standard Notes

    End-to-end encrypted notes app with a free plain-text plan and paid plans for rich editors, folders and file storage.

    License: Open source
    • Windows
    • macOS
    • Linux
    • Web
    • iOS
    • Android
    • Self-hosted
    Status: Active
    • ENEX: opens only, partial fidelity. Built-in importer keeps note text; attachments are not transferred and formatting can be lost

    This replaces Evernote