Evernote started free. Then it limited free accounts to 2 devices and 60MB uploads per month. Then it raised prices. The current Personal plan is $14.99/month — for a notes app.
Notion is more generous at first, but the team plan is $8/user/month, and the features that make Notion powerful (advanced database views, team wikis, permissions) require paid tiers. For a 10-person team, that's $960/year.
Both tools also hold your notes hostage in proprietary formats. Getting your data out is an export adventure, and neither is truly private — your notes live on their servers, subject to their privacy policies and the risk of a breach.
Open source note-taking apps take a different approach: your notes stay local or on a server you control, in open formats you can read without the app, for a cost that's either free or a one-time fee.
I compared 5 open source note-taking apps that span the range from minimalist offline-first to full team workspaces.
Key Takeaways:
- Best all-around Evernote replacement: Notesnook — end-to-end encrypted, cross-platform, syncs without a server
- Best Notion alternative for teams: AppFlowy — databases, wikis, and documents in a privacy-first workspace
- Best for visual thinkers: AFFiNE — whiteboard + docs hybrid with infinite canvas
- Best for power users who want ownership: SiYuan — local-first with optional sync, Markdown-based, highly extensible
- Best for simple, durable notes: Joplin — Markdown notes with E2E encryption and multiple sync options
Quick Comparison
| Tool | Best For | E2E Encryption | Self-Hosted Sync | Offline | Free |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notesnook | Privacy-first notes | Yes | Yes (Notesnook Sync) | Yes | Free tier (paid sync) |
| AppFlowy | Team workspace | Partial | Yes | Yes | Open source/free |
| AFFiNE | Visual + docs | Partial | Yes | Yes | Open source/free |
| SiYuan | Power users | Yes | Yes (S3/WebDAV) | Yes | Free (sync paid) |
| Joplin | Simple durable notes | Yes | Yes (multiple) | Yes | Fully free |
What to Look For in an Open Source Note-Taking App
Note-taking apps live with you for years. The wrong choice means either migrating eventually or suffering. Here's what to prioritize:
- Local-first — notes should work offline and not require a server to read
- Open format — Markdown or another human-readable format you can use without the app
- Sync options — self-hosted server, S3, WebDAV, or Dropbox — not just their proprietary cloud
- End-to-end encryption — especially for sync, where notes pass through external servers
- Cross-platform — desktop, mobile, web if needed
- Search quality — full-text search across thousands of notes without performance degradation
1. Notesnook — Privacy-First Encrypted Notes
Best for individuals who want Evernote's sync reliability with end-to-end encryption and no privacy compromise.
Notesnook is the most direct Evernote replacement on this list. It has apps for every platform (iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux, Web), syncs across all of them, and does it with end-to-end encryption — meaning even Notesnook's servers can't read your notes.
The interface is clean and focused. You get rich-text editing (not just Markdown), notebooks, tags, reminders, and note sharing. The free tier is generous: unlimited notes, unlimited devices, and basic sync. The premium tier ($4.49/month) adds collaboration and advanced features.
What sets it apart from other encrypted notes apps is the self-hosting option: you can run Notesnook Sync on your own server (open source, MIT license) and point the apps at it. You get the polished apps without trusting their servers.
Key Features
- Zero-knowledge end-to-end encryption for all notes and sync
- Cross-platform apps — iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux, Web
- Rich-text editor with tables, embeds, and attachments
- Notebooks, tags, reminders — full organizational system
- Self-hosted sync server (Notesnook Sync, open source)
- Note sharing via encrypted links
Pros
- Most polished note-taking experience of any open source/private app
- E2E encryption on by default, not an optional setting
- Free tier is genuinely usable with unlimited notes and devices
- Self-host option for teams who need full data sovereignty
Cons
- No offline-first local storage (sync server required for multi-device)
- Database features (tables as databases, relations) not as powerful as Notion
- Premium features require subscription
License: GPL v3 (client) / MIT (sync server)
View Notesnook on Open Source Alternatives
2. AppFlowy — Open Source Notion for Teams
Best for teams who want Notion's workspace structure — docs, databases, wikis — with full data control and privacy.
AppFlowy is built as a direct Notion alternative, and it's the most feature-complete option for team use. The core workflow mirrors Notion: you create pages, databases, calendars, and kanban boards, then organize them in a sidebar hierarchy.
The key differentiator is the local-first architecture. AppFlowy stores your data locally by default. Sync is opt-in via AppFlowy Cloud (their hosted option) or via self-hosted AppFlowy Cloud (open source). Your data doesn't go anywhere you don't explicitly send it.
Key Features
- Grid, calendar, kanban, and gallery database views
- Rich document editor with markdown support
- AI features — summarize, generate, and translate content (via your own OpenAI key)
- Local-first — all data stored locally, sync optional
- Self-hosted cloud via AppFlowy Cloud (open source)
- Cross-platform — macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
Pros
- Closest open source equivalent to Notion's workspace structure
- Local-first design means it works without internet
- Active development with frequent feature additions
- Free to self-host, AppFlowy Cloud has a free tier
Cons
- Database features still maturing compared to Notion
- Mobile apps less polished than desktop
- Self-hosted cloud setup requires technical knowledge
- Plugin ecosystem not yet as mature as Notion's
License: AGPL v3
View AppFlowy on Open Source Alternatives
3. AFFiNE — Docs + Whiteboard in One
Best for visual thinkers who want to mix written notes with freehand drawing, mind maps, and visual diagrams.
AFFiNE solves a problem no other tool on this list addresses: what if you want to write text notes and draw diagrams on an infinite canvas in the same tool? It combines a document editor with an Excalidraw-style whiteboard — seamlessly switching between structured text and freeform visual thinking.
The "edgeless" canvas mode lets you arrange blocks, draw connections, embed documents in diagrams, and think spatially. The "page" mode is a structured document editor. Both modes work on the same data, so you can start a document and continue it visually.
Key Features
- Dual-mode editing — page (structured docs) and edgeless (infinite canvas)
- Whiteboard features — freehand drawing, shapes, arrows, mind maps
- Rich document blocks — text, images, code, tables, embeds
- Local-first with optional self-hosted or AFFiNE Cloud sync
- Database views — table, kanban, and list (growing feature)
- Export to PDF, Markdown, images
Pros
- Unique whiteboard + docs combination in a single tool
- Genuinely beautiful interface — best visual design of any open source notes app
- Local-first with no mandatory cloud account
- Rapidly developing with active GitHub community
Cons
- Less mature than Notesnook or Joplin for pure note-taking workflows
- Mobile apps still in development
- Database features less complete than AppFlowy
- Can feel overwhelming for simple note-taking needs
License: MIT
View AFFiNE on Open Source Alternatives
4. SiYuan — Power User Local-First Notes
Best for developers and power users who want a feature-rich local-first system with block-level content addresses and extensible customization.
SiYuan is the most opinionated tool on this list — in the best way. It's designed for serious personal knowledge management (PKM) workflows. Every block has a unique ID you can reference from anywhere. Bi-directional links, block references, and a graph view let you build a true knowledge network, not just a folder of notes.
The storage format is human-readable Markdown with JSON metadata. You own every file. Sync works via S3, WebDAV, or Resilio Sync — no proprietary sync server required (though SiYuan has a paid sync service for convenience).
Key Features
- Block-level references — link to any paragraph, heading, or list item
- Bi-directional links and graph view for PKM workflows
- Local file storage in open Markdown format
- Multiple sync options — S3, WebDAV, self-hosted, or SiYuan Sync
- End-to-end encryption for synced data
- Extensible via plugins and themes (large community)
- Full-text search with regex support
Pros
- Best PKM workflow of any open source note-taking app
- True local-first — no cloud required, ever
- Open storage format (Markdown files) survives app abandonment
- Strong plugin ecosystem for power users
Cons
- Steeper learning curve than Notesnook or Joplin
- Advanced features require understanding the block/reference model
- Mobile apps exist but less polished than desktop
- Self-hosted sync server is a Docker setup, not a one-click install
License: AGPL v3 (client) / custom (sync server)
View SiYuan on Open Source Alternatives
5. Joplin — Simple, Durable Markdown Notes
Best for users who want reliable Markdown notes with solid sync options and no complexity overhead.
Joplin has been around since 2017 and has earned a reputation for reliability. It's not flashy, but it does exactly what a notes app should do: stores Markdown notes, syncs them reliably across devices, and encrypts them end-to-end. That's it.
The note list is hierarchical (notebooks and sub-notebooks), tags work well, and full-text search is fast. The built-in web clipper saves articles from browsers. Sync works with Dropbox, OneDrive, Nextcloud, WebDAV, S3, or a self-hosted Joplin Server.
If Notesnook is the Evernote replacement and AppFlowy is the Notion replacement, Joplin is the simple, durable, decade-stable notes app for people who just want their notes to work.
Key Features
- Markdown notes with live preview
- End-to-end encryption for sync
- Multiple sync options — Dropbox, OneDrive, Nextcloud, WebDAV, S3, Joplin Server
- Web clipper extension for Firefox and Chrome
- Plugins — Joplin has a plugin ecosystem for power users
- Desktop, mobile, and terminal clients
Pros
- Most battle-tested and stable option on this list
- Works with any WebDAV/S3 storage — maximum sync flexibility
- Completely free with no premium tier (sync services you use may cost money)
- Simple enough for non-technical users, flexible enough for power users
Cons
- UI looks dated compared to Notesnook or AFFiNE
- No native database/table features
- Real-time collaboration not supported
- Less active development pace than newer tools
License: MIT
View Joplin on Open Source Alternatives
Which Note-Taking App Should You Choose?
| Use Case | Best Choice |
|---|---|
| Privacy-focused personal notes | Notesnook |
| Team workspace replacing Notion | AppFlowy |
| Visual notes + whiteboards | AFFiNE |
| Personal knowledge management | SiYuan |
| Simple reliable Markdown notes | Joplin |
| Maximum data sovereignty | SiYuan or Joplin |
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best Evernote replacement that's open source?
Notesnook is the most direct Evernote replacement — it has similar cross-platform apps, sync, and organizational features, but with end-to-end encryption and an open source sync server. Joplin is a strong second choice for simpler needs.
Can I self-host the sync for these apps?
Yes, all five offer self-hosted sync options. Notesnook has Notesnook Sync (Docker), AppFlowy has AppFlowy Cloud (Docker), AFFiNE supports self-hosting, SiYuan supports WebDAV/S3, and Joplin supports WebDAV and a self-hosted Joplin Server.
Are my notes truly private with these apps?
Notesnook, SiYuan, and Joplin all offer end-to-end encryption where your data is encrypted on your device before sync. AppFlowy and AFFiNE store locally first, with cloud sync options that have varying encryption. For maximum privacy, combine local-first storage with your own sync server.
Which apps work offline?
All five work offline as local-first applications. Notes are available without an internet connection, and sync happens when connectivity is restored.
Can I import from Evernote or Notion?
Joplin has a built-in Evernote importer. AppFlowy can import Notion-exported markdown. Notesnook imports plain text and basic formats. Migration quality varies — complex Notion databases don't always import cleanly.
Is there a free option that doesn't require self-hosting?
Joplin is completely free with no subscription — you just pair it with a free Dropbox or OneDrive account for sync. AppFlowy Cloud and AFFiNE Cloud have free tiers. Notesnook has a generous free tier with limited sync.
Do these apps support collaboration?
AppFlowy and AFFiNE are the best options for real-time collaboration. Notesnook supports note sharing via encrypted links. Joplin and SiYuan are primarily single-user apps, though SiYuan notes can be shared via the self-hosted server.
What format do these apps store notes in?
Joplin, SiYuan, and AFFiNE use Markdown as the base format. AppFlowy uses a custom JSON format but exports to Markdown. Notesnook uses an internal format with export to Markdown/HTML/PDF. For long-term durability, Markdown-native tools are most future-proof.