[category: notes and knowledge][verified alternatives][no votes, no pay-to-list]
Free and open source alternatives for Notes and knowledge
28 free or open source projects taken from the pages of 24 paid apps in this category. For each one: how many it replaces, how much subscription it cancels, what it costs to run.
- free alternatives
- 28
- $/month replaceable
- 147
- already self-hosted
- 25
- apps covered
- 24
28 alternatives
No alternative matches these filters. Try dropping the set or the category.
The value is the sum of the prices of the apps that project replaces — including outside this category, because a good alternative rarely serves only one.
78 $ /mese
SiYuan open source ★ 45,6k active [1-click] self-hosted · macOS · Windows · Linux · iOS · Android · extension
Blocks, databases and relations with local storage and considerably more exposed wiring.
the 7 apps it replaces · 78 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (78 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
61 $ /mese
AFFiNE free ★ 71,3k active [1-click] web · self-hosted · macOS · Windows · Linux · iOS · Android
Polished documents, links and canvases, with local workspaces and usable exports.
the 14 apps it replaces · 61 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (61 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
42 $ /mese
AppFlowy open source ★ 75k active [1-click] web · self-hosted · macOS · Windows · Linux · iOS · Android
A portable document workspace that trades Craft's sheen for local control.
the 4 apps it replaces · 42 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (42 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
37 $ /mese
Obsidian free [1-click] macOS · Windows · Linux · iOS · Android
Linked documents in ordinary Markdown; beautiful publishing is your own department.
the 6 apps it replaces · 37 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (37 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
verificata il 2026-08-06
34 $ /mese
Logseq open source ★ 44,3k active [1-click] macOS · Windows · Linux · iOS · Android
Roam's block graph, minus the monthly tribute and plus a folder you can inspect.
the 4 apps it replaces · 34 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (34 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
30 $ /mese
Trilium Notes open source ★ 37,3k active [1-click] web · self-hosted · macOS · Windows · Linux · extension
A personal knowledge tree with relations, attributes and a sync server you control.
the 3 apps it replaces · 30 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (30 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
29 $ /mese
Kindling open source ★ 53 active [1-click] macOS · Windows · Linux
A tiny local fiction studio where the outline stays beside the draft; no AI, no cloud, and barely any GitHub fame yet.
the 4 apps it replaces · 29 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (29 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
29 $ /mese
Manuskript open source ★ 2,4k active [1-click] macOS · Windows · Linux
A Scrivener-shaped box of scenes, characters, plots, index cards, and rough edges that cost exactly nothing.
the 4 apps it replaces · 29 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (29 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
29 $ /mese
novelWriter open source ★ 3k active [1-click] macOS · Windows · Linux
A plain-text novel room with scenes, synopses, cross-references, and no cloud account between you and chapter twelve.
the 4 apps it replaces · 29 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (29 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
25 $ /mese
Atomic open source ★ 1,6k active [1-click] web · self-hosted · macOS · Windows · Linux · iOS · extension
A second brain that actually connects notes for you; bring your own model and mind the newness.
the 5 apps it replaces · 25 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (25 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
20 $ /mese
Khoj open source ★ 36,3k active [ops] web · self-hosted · macOS · Windows · Linux · iOS · Android
A personal AI that searches the web and your files; broader than Perplexity, and noticeably heavier to run.
the 2 apps it replaces · 20 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (20 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
18 $ /mese
BookStack open source ★ 19k active [docker] web · self-hosted
A wiki arranged like a bookshelf, which is either charming or compulsory.
the 3 apps it replaces · 18 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (18 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
18 $ /mese
Docmost open source ★ 21,3k active [docker] web · self-hosted
A clean team wiki with a database bill instead of a seat bill.
the 3 apps it replaces · 18 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (18 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
18 $ /mese
Wiki.js open source ★ 28,7k active [docker] web · self-hosted
A polished wiki, provided you are willing to become its part-time sysadmin.
the 3 apps it replaces · 18 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (18 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
18 $ /mese
Joplin open source ★ 55,8k active [1-click] CLI · macOS · Windows · Linux · iOS · Android · extension
Tagged Markdown notes with real sync choices and rather less Apple polish.
the 2 apps it replaces · 18 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (18 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
17 $ /mese
Karakeep open source ★ 28,2k active [docker] web · self-hosted · CLI · iOS · Android · extension
A bookmark junk drawer that labels itself and keeps the contents.
the 6 apps it replaces · 17 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (17 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-09
16 $ /mese
Syncthing open source ★ 87,3k active [1-click] web · CLI · macOS · Windows · Linux
Syncs the vault directly between computers; iPhones remain the awkward relative.
the 2 apps it replaces · 16 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (16 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
15 $ /mese
Notesnook open source ★ 14,4k active [hosted] web · macOS · Windows · Linux · iOS · Android · extension
Evernote with the server blindfolded and the free tier still usable.
the 1 app it replaces · 15 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (15 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
12 $ /mese
Anytype free [1-click] macOS · Windows · Linux · iOS · Android
Capacities with the same object obsession, local data and only 100 MB of free relay storage.
the 1 app it replaces · 12 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (12 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
verificata il 2026-08-06
11 $ /mese
Memos open source ★ 62k active [docker] web · self-hosted · extension
Small Markdown cards, tags and public or private sharing, served from one Docker container.
the 1 app it replaces · 11 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (11 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
5 $ /mese
Nextcloud open source ★ 36,3k active [ops] web · self-hosted · macOS · Windows · Linux · iOS · Android
Your own cloud, complete with the privilege of maintaining your own cloud.
the 2 apps it replaces · 5 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (5 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
5 $ /mese
iCloud Drive free [hosted] web · macOS · Windows · iOS
Five free gigabytes and excellent Apple plumbing; everyone else gets a side door.
the 1 app it replaces · 5 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (5 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
verificata il 2026-08-06
4 $ /mese
Apple Journal free [1-click] macOS · iOS
Day One's Apple-shaped core, free because the hardware already collected the money.
the 2 apps it replaces · 4 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (4 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
verificata il 2026-08-06
4 $ /mese
moodiary open source ★ 1,9k active [1-click] macOS · Windows · Linux · iOS · Android
A real diary app with media, maps and sync, not a notes app wearing a calendar.
the 2 apps it replaces · 4 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (4 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
3 $ /mese
FSNotes open source ★ 7,4k active [1-click] macOS · iOS
Bear's tagged Markdown heart, minus the house style and subscription.
the 1 app it replaces · 3 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (3 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
— price not verified
Open Notebook open source ★ 36,4k active [docker] web · self-hosted
NotebookLM on your own server; bring Docker, a model and realistic expectations about citations.
the 4 apps it replaces
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
— price not verified
Apple Freeform free [1-click] macOS · iOS
A bottomless Apple whiteboard for notes, links and files; databases missed the meeting.
the 1 app it replaces
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
verificata il 2026-08-06
— price not verified
Reedsy Studio free [hosted] web
A browser manuscript studio with cloud backup, one real goal and no invoice.
the 1 app it replaces
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
verificata il 2026-08-06
Checked by hand: no votes, no buyable positions. Prices in dollars.