Free and Open Source Software

On a desktop/laptop (or really anywhere I can run CLI apps and use a proper keyboard) it's mostly plain text files in Vim or Emacs. On my phone I recently switched from Standard Notes to Notesnook. Standard Notes is pretty powerful, uses end-to-end encryption by default, and can be self-hosted. The premium subscription is pretty expensive though. (Yes, it also requires a license when self-hosting. It's cheaper, but still kinda expensive). Last year, there was also some controversy about the licensing. They recently got acquired by Proton.

Notesnook is fully FOSS, but they still haven't released a self-hostable sync server. They are working on it though. It's currently my go-to option.

• Mastodon: @[email protected]

I just discovered a new app called Beaver Notes that I'm very excited to try out.

• Mastodon: @[email protected]
• GitHub: https://github.com/Beaver-Notes/

Joplin is another great option, it's available on all platforms and even has a CLI, it also supports E2EE, but it has to be enabled manually. Can be self-hosted: https://github.com/etechonomy/joplin-server. I think I will switch to self-hosted, end-to-end encrypted Joplin in the long term, so I can have all my notes unified in one app. The CLI app is really useful for me, as I already use the Terminal to take notes when using a desktop/laptop.

Orgzly Revived on Android, if you're into emacs org mode. Can sync over git, webdav and dropbox. Probably syncthing too. Samba over Android file protocol with Material Design sadly doesn't work.

On PC just edit the same org mode notes as in Orgzly, but with Emacs.

https://github.com/orgzly-revived/orgzly-android-revived

ed

yes, I am completely serious (much faster to use on mobile too compared to a visual editor)

I've tried them all. I use Quillpad for Google Keep replacement (shopping/packing lists, etc) but have been using and loving Obsidian. I know it's closed source, but the hierarchy of simple text files is fantastic and I haven't found a FOSS alternative I like as much.

QuillPad on Android and I don't have a favorite on desktop yet

Notepad++, local files

I use logseq with nextcloud, works even on Android, 0 issues so far.

If you have nextcloud and use linux: Iotas

It is really simple but suits my needs! Also looks great on the GNOME desktop.

Believe it or not... Vimwiki (&& syncthing for synchronisation across my machines)

it's rather no nonsense idk. I'm not even a vim wizard, I just know the bare basics

I like Org Mode, but that's sort of… Begrudgingly. I like any FOSS notes app better than any closed source notes app. That's not even me having strong feeling about FOSS (which I do), it's more about… I am very picky about note apps. Org Mode (with org-roam) does the best job of getting out of my way and letting me write and resurface notes.

At work I use VNote because it uses Git as its back-end. I regularly push my notes up to our in-house Git server to back them up as well as share them with everybody else at work. At home I use Bookstack for note-taking.

Zim

QOwnNotes for me. Also such a catchy name. Seriously though, ignore the stupid name, just give it a try.

I migrated from Logseq to Trilium (on maintainance mode) because of the sync feature on server, so I access locally to notes on all my devices. The new project Trilium Next just released a beta version for testing, same UI but lot of changes on backend. It does not have a big plugin ecosystem but it's powerful on itself.

I’d recommend Anytype if they’d ever add a pure black theme — the low contrast gray text on gray background hurts my eyes and I won’t be able to use it until they make some color changes.

@clark I used Notally at first, but I wanted cross-device syncing at some point. So I discovered this app by a developer called Bill The Farmer, which this is insanely small (just a few KB). I keep my notes in pCloud. I'm not sure how private it is, but I am thinking of storing them inside a veracrypt container, synced with pCloud instead, and I am also keeping an eye on other options that have the ability of storing notes as Markdown files.

I'm keeping an eye for now on Quillpad ver. 1.5 but I'm open to other options as well. 😁

I like Notesnook and Standard Notes. Joplin is another pretty good option, but you have to manually enable E2EE in the settings.

Notesnook. There's quite a lot of private, secure, foss note taking apps, take your pick. Just check what features they have, eg some of them have no encryption at rest

Fossify notes

I just use whatever text editor I have and make MD files synced with Syncthing. On mobile I use Markor.

I've tried several different methods, and as much as I try to be organised, I feel pretty good with my folder of files.

Just to add to the noise.. I'm shocked that Obsidian is not the number one app that people are talking about. Didn't even know there were so many other great options, to be honest.

Edit: it's because it's not open source. The plugins all have to be open source, and it is free as in beer. I'm keeping this comment up.

I tried most of what people have mentioned, but eventually found that MD files just worked best for me. So Nextcloud Notes became my default.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=it.niedermann.owncloud.notes

Markor on Android, MarkText on desktop. I sort notes in category folders and use Syncthing to keep devices... well, synced.

org-roam

NeutriNote CE. It can save and sync to local folders, probably with some external app you can configure it to sync to cloud. It has auto mirror/backup features.

What I like is the way you can navigate through notes and its powerful search function. It also has some extra features which I don't use. It also has a very detailed manual if you need any help.

Cherrytree, no question. You can make hierarchical lists/notes, hyperlink to files, folders, websites and other nodes (lists). You can also insert tables and images in your entries and format text. The whole thing is saved as a single file and you can choose for it to be encrypted if you want. I sync it between devices using Syncthing. Both are FOSS, private and secure. Cherrytree's UI doesn't look especially modern but is very effective and you can make your own themes for it in the preferences if you want to glam it up a bit. You can pretty much use it as a wiki for your entire life. In fact, if I could only have one application on my computer it would be this!

I’m a huge fan of Joplin. It runs on everything and syncs to either your or their cloud. Been using it for a few years now.