Open Source CherryTree Alternatives for Windows

Alternatives list

1. 

   

   Joplin

    904 likes

   Open source app for managing notes and to-dos with Markdown support. Syncs seamlessly across devices using services like Dropbox and OneDrive. Offers end-to-end encrypted synchronicity, offline access, rich import/export options, and a Web Clipper for browsers.

   147 Joplin alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Freemium
   • Open Source

   Application types

   • Note-taking
   • Todo List Manager

   Origin

   • France
   • EU

   Platforms

   • Mac
   • Windows
   • Linux
   • Online
   • Android
   • iPhone
   • Android Tablet
   • iPad
   • Self-Hosted
   • AppImageHub
   • Snapcraft
   • Google Chrome
   • Flathub
   • PortableApps.com
   • F-Droid
   • Cloudron
   • Homebrew
   • Chocolatey
   • Termux
   • Mozilla Firefox

   

   

   

   +7

   

   More about Joplin  

   

   Is Joplin a good alternative to CherryTree?

    

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   3comments

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   Joplin vs CherryTree Comments

    

   TBayAreaPat

   Negative comment•Aug 19, 2023

   0

   Wasn't impressed w/Joplin first time, but now that I have CherryTree, I reinstalled Joplin to compare. I quickly notice that I can't import webpages like with CherryTree complete html import. Then when I paste an article clipping into Joplin, it doesn't show the imported clickable links like CherryTree and Obsidian do. Uninstalling again.

   distantkay

   Negative comment•Dec 11, 2019

   3

   It is not hierarchical note

   a a

   Positive comment•Mar 11, 2022

   1

   It supports hierarchical note

   

   

   • Joplin is Freemium and Open SourceCherryTree is Free and Open Source
   • Joplin is Lightweight, Minimalistic and DecentralizedCherryTree is not according to our users
2. 

   

   Zim

    514 likes

   Zim brings the concept of a wiki to your desktop. Store information, link pages and edit with WYSISYG markup or directly typing some lightweight markup syntax and see it previewed as-you-type. Creating a new page is easy by either clicking on the "Create new note"...

   339 Zim alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Open Source (GPL-2.0)

   Application types

   • Note-taking
   • Task Management

   Origin

   • Netherlands
   • EU

   Platforms

   • Mac
   • Windows
   • Linux
   • BSD
   • Flathub
   • Flatpak

   

   

   

   +1

   

   More about Zim  

   

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   7comments

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   Zim vs CherryTree Comments

    

   Top Positive Comment

   LordMax

   Sep 28, 2017

   4

   Very similar, simplest and use txt files

   miramanee

   Comment•Aug 18, 2025

   0

   I chose Cherytree as an alternative to ZIM. And since I'm now looking for an alternative to Cherrytree, ZIM cannot be the answer. Both have significant shortcomings, especially ZIM.

   Sam Lander

   Positive comment•Jul 26, 2023

   0

   Similar.

   I prefer Zim because it is clean, can portable, and saves to .txt.

   Show more comments

   3 of 7 comments

   

   

   • Zim is Free and Open SourceCherryTree is also Free and Open Source
   • Zim is LightweightCherryTree is not according to our users
4. 

   

   AppFlowy

    206 likes

   Open-source workspace offering complete data control, deep customization via themes, plugins, and templates, native multi-platform support using Flutter and Rust, offline access, privacy features, collaborative tools, and easy extensibility for all users.

   118 AppFlowy alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Freemium
   • Open Source (AGPL-3.0)

   Application types

   • Note-taking
   • Todo List Manager

   Origin

   • Singapore

   Platforms

   • Mac
   • Windows
   • Linux
   • Android
   • iPhone
   • Self-Hosted
   • Snapcraft
   • Rust
   • Flathub

   

   

   

   +2

   

   More about AppFlowy  

   

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5. Ad

   

   

   Daino Notes

   Offers fast, distraction-free note-taking via a high-performance editor with real-time Markdown, local-first storage, image support, Kanban task boards, intuitive drag-and-drop, keyboard shortcuts, configurable themes, fast searc...

   https://www.get-notes.com

   Learn More
6. 

   

   Simplenote

    606 likes

   Cloud-based, open-source note-taking app supporting plain text notes, lists, and ideas with real-time sync, multi-device support, version history, markdown, tagging, collaborative editing, no ads, and free registration required for all cloud features.

   148 Simplenote alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Open Source (GPL-2.0)

   Application types

   • Note-taking
   • Todo List Manager

   Origin

   • United States

   Alerts

   • Discontinued

   Platforms

   • Mac
   • Windows
   • Linux
   • Online
   • Android
   • iPhone
   • Android Tablet
   • iPad

   

   

   

   +3

   

   More about Simplenote  

   

   Is Simplenote a good alternative to CherryTree?

    

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   5comments

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   Simplenote vs CherryTree Comments

    

   Top Positive Comment

   Guest

   Mar 20, 2018

   2

   It is not the equal of cherry notes. It is a great note ap for all three. I have been using cherry tree for several years and it is great. I will use the android version when it comes out. I use simple note with cherry notes and I will continue as it is a good lite weight application and easy to use and quick.

   Review by a new / low-activity user.

   Top Negative Comment

   Guest

   Jun 29, 2018

   15

   Does not have hierarchical note ability

   Review by a new / low-activity user.

   RemovedUser

   Negative comment•Aug 1, 2021

   1

   I can't add images to the notes

   Review by a new / low-activity user.

   Show more comments

   3 of 5 comments

   

   

   • Simplenote is Free and Open SourceCherryTree is also Free and Open Source
   • Simplenote is Lightweight and MinimalisticCherryTree is not according to our users
7. 

   

   Trilium Notes

    118 likes

   The original trilium is transfered to this repo by its owner and the app continues to develop here as stated here: https://github.com/TriliumNext/Trilium

   403 Trilium Notes alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Open Source (AGPL-3.0)

   Application types

   • Note-taking
   • Todo List Manager

   Platforms

   • Mac
   • Windows
   • Linux
   • Self-Hosted
   • Google Chrome
   • Cloudron
   • Mozilla Firefox

   

   

   

   +9

   

   More about Trilium Notes  

   

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   1comment

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   Trilium Notes vs CherryTree Comments

    

   miramanee

   Negative comment•Aug 18, 2025

   0

   This program has no sense of data protection. Without even asking a question, it simply installed itself in the secure area of user data. That's not acceptable. I want to be asked what is being installed and where. After all, you also ask where the toilet is and don't just relieve yourself across the apartment.

   

   

   • Trilium Notes is Free and Open SourceCherryTree is also Free and Open Source
   • Trilium Notes is LightweightCherryTree is not according to our users
8. 

   

   Beaver Notes

    64 likes

   Your personal note-taking haven for privacy and efficiency.

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Open Source (MIT)

   Application types

   • Note-taking
   • Todo List Manager

   Origin

   • Italy
   • EU

   Platforms

   • Mac
   • Windows
   • Linux
   • Android
   • iPhone
   • Android Tablet
   • iPad
   • Flathub

   

   

   

   +3

   

   More about Beaver Notes  

   

   Is Beaver Notes a good alternative to CherryTree?

    
10. 

    

    QOwnNotes

     100 likes

    Plain text notepad with markdown support and todo list manager for Linux, Mac OS X and Windows, that works together with the notes application of ownCloud.

    294 QOwnNotes alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (GPL-2.0)

    Application types

    • Note-taking
    • Todo List Manager

    Origin

    • Austria
    • EU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Qt

    

    

    

    +3

    

    More about QOwnNotes  

    

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    |

    1comment

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    QOwnNotes vs CherryTree Comments

     

    RemovedUser

    Positive comment•Dec 28, 2021

    1

    Has a good and fast search, code syntax highlighting. The software is pretty fast, like Cherry Tree and has a lot of format features, tags, hierarchical folders. You can change all the panels in dashboard, fully customizable. There is a dark mode.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.

    

    

    • QOwnNotes is Free and Open SourceCherryTree is also Free and Open Source
    • QOwnNotes is LightweightCherryTree is not according to our users
11. 

    

    Turtl

     179 likes

    Whether it's bookmarks or passwords, files or shopping lists...Turtl organizes it all and makes it easy to find later. Sync across your devices. Leave nothing behind.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Application types

    • Note-taking
    • Todo List Manager

    Origin

    • United States

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • Self-Hosted
    • Google Chrome
    • Firefox

    

    

    

    +1

    

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    |

    1comment

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    Turtl vs CherryTree Comments

     

    Guest

    Negative comment•Jun 14, 2018

    0

    Cherrytree has mutch more options (tables, blob-fields) for saving files.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.

    

    

    • Turtl is Freemium and Open SourceCherryTree is Free and Open Source
12. 

    

    Marknote

     25 likes

    Marknote lets you create rich text notes and easily organise them into notebooks. You can personalise your notebooks by choosing an icon and accent color for each one, making it easy to distinguish between them and keep your notes at your fingertips.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (GPL-2.0)

    Application type

    • Note-taking

    Origin

    • Germany
    • EU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    • Snapcraft

    

    

    

    +1

    

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13. 

    

    Reor

     33 likes

    Reor is an AI-powered desktop note-taking app: it automatically links related ideas, answers questions on your notes and provides semantic search. Everything is stored locally and you can edit your notes with an Obsidian-like markdown editor.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (AGPL-3.0)

    Application type

    • Note-taking

    Origin

    • International

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux

    

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14. 

    

    Heynote

     19 likes

    Block-organized, privacy-focused scratchpad for developers with language-specific syntax highlighting and auto-formatting, supporting JavaScript, JSON, Markdown, notes, API responses, and daily planning, all in a persistent local buffer with minimalist interface.

    61 Heynote alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    • Note-taking
    • Todo List Manager

    Origin

    • Sweden
    • EU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    

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15. 

    

    VNote

     40 likes

    A Vim-inspired note-taking application that knows programmers and Markdown better.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (LGPL-3.0)

    Application type

    • Note-taking

    Origin

    • Vietnam

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub

    

    

    

    +5

    

    More about VNote  

    

    Is VNote a good alternative to CherryTree?