Best open source note taking apps
Note apps whose source code is published under an open source license. Some popular apps are free but not open source (Obsidian, for example), so they are not on this list.
4 apps. 4 free or with a free plan, 4 open source, 2 store notes as Markdown files. Facts checked on vendor sites between 2026-11-12 and the latest update in 2026.
Quick picks by need
- Free and open source on every platform: Joplin, open source apps for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android and the terminal, sync through Dropbox, OneDrive or Joplin Cloud.
- Outliner and daily journal: Logseq, open source (AGPL-3.0), local Markdown or Org-mode files.
- Open source Notion-style workspace: AppFlowy, AGPL-3.0, can be self-hosted, free personal plan.
- Academic writing with citations: Zettlr, open source (GPL-3.0), Markdown files on disk, free.
Compare all 4
| App | Price | Free option | License | Platforms | Notes stored as |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Logseq | Free | The app is free; the vendor describes it as privacy-first and open source | Open source (AGPL-3.0) | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | Local Markdown or Org-mode files (outline format) |
| Joplin | Free app, optional Joplin Cloud from 2.99 EUR per month | The apps are free; sync works with Dropbox, OneDrive and other services as well as Joplin Cloud | Open source | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Terminal | Local notes in an open format, synced to a service of your choice |
| Zettlr | Free | Free to download and use | Open source (GPL-3.0) | Windows, macOS, Linux | Markdown files on disk |
| AppFlowy | Free personal plan, Pro from $12 per member per month billed annually | Personal plan: $0, 100 MB storage, 7 MB per file, 7 days of version history | AGPL-3.0 (per the GitHub repository) | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Web | Workspace data in AppFlowy Cloud or on your own self-hosted server |
Each app in one paragraph
Logseq
Open source outliner for linked notes and daily journals, with local storage. Price: Free.
Good: Open source with a public codebase you can read. Outliner first: every bullet can be linked and referenced.
Watch out: Outline format means exported Markdown is a nested bullet list.
Joplin
Open source note app with Markdown or rich text editing and end-to-end encrypted sync. Price: Free app, optional Joplin Cloud from 2.99 EUR per month.
Good: End-to-end encryption. Web clipper for Chrome and Firefox.
Watch out: Interface is more utilitarian than Obsidian or Bear.
Zettlr
Open source Markdown editor aimed at academic writing, citations and note linking. Price: Free.
Good: Citation and reference manager support for academic work. Open source with a public codebase.
Watch out: Desktop only, no iOS or Android app.
AppFlowy
Self-hostable AI workspace for projects, wikis and teams, positioned as a Notion alternative. Price: Free personal plan, Pro from $12 per member per month billed annually.
Good: Self-hosting is documented, including in your own cloud. Notion-style pages, databases and boards in one workspace.
Watch out: The vendor pages do not describe Markdown import or export, so check before relying on it for plain-file workflows.
What is the best open source note taking app?
It depends on what you need. Free and open source on every platform: Joplin (open source apps for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android and the terminal, sync through Dropbox, OneDrive or Joplin Cloud). Outliner and daily journal: Logseq (open source (AGPL-3.0), local Markdown or Org-mode files). Open source Notion-style workspace: AppFlowy (AGPL-3.0, can be self-hosted, free personal plan). Academic writing with citations: Zettlr (open source (GPL-3.0), Markdown files on disk, free).
Which of these note apps are free?
Logseq, Joplin, Zettlr and AppFlowy can be used at no cost, either as a free app or on a free plan.
Which of these note apps are open source?
Logseq, Joplin, Zettlr and AppFlowy are open source. The others are not open source, even when they are free to use.
Which note apps store notes as Markdown files?
Logseq and Zettlr keep notes as Markdown or plain text files on disk, so other editors can open them.
How this list is made
Every price, license and platform here comes from the vendor's own website, its app store listing or its source repository, and each profile shows the date it was checked. We do not take payment for placement, and the order of the table is not a ranking. Apps that only import or export Markdown are not counted as storing Markdown files. For the storage question in more depth, read which notes apps keep your notes as Markdown files.
Markdown Tools is not affiliated with any app on this page. 16 apps are tracked in the directory.