Notes Foss AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Note-taking Tools

The best Note-taking alternative to Notes Foss is Zim, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to Notes Foss and loads of them are Note-taking Tools so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Note-taking Tool alternatives to Notes Foss are CherryTree, Cryptee, Turtl and Dendron.

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Notes Foss alternatives are mainly Note-taking Tools but may also be Todo List Managers or Task Management Tools.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Notes Foss.
Notes Foss iconNotes Foss
  6
  • ...

Notes is an open source and cross-platform note-taking app that is both beautiful and powerful.

More about Notes Foss
More about Notes Foss
Notes Foss alternatives page was last updated Feb 25, 2025
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  1. Zim icon
    Zim icon

    Zim

     493 likes
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    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"...

    294 Zim alternatives
    Zim screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Graphviz graph using Diagram plugin
    Formatting options available
    +1
    Hiding all toolbars and statusbar for maximum screen space

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Works Offline
    2.  Plain text file
    3.  Wiki-like interface
    4.  Hierarchical Structure
    5.  Cross-Platform
    6.  Note organization
    7.  WYSIWYG Support
    8.  Outliner
    9.  Text formatting
    10.  Portable
    11.  Ad-free
    12.  Notebook
    Zim iconNotes Foss Icon

    Zim VS Notes Foss

    Is Zim a good alternative to Notes Foss?
     

    • Zim is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Notes Foss.

    • Zim is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Notes Foss.

    • Zim is Free and Open SourceNotes Foss is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Zim is LightweightNotes Foss is not according to our users
  2. CherryTree icon
    CherryTree icon

    CherryTree

     310 likes
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    A hierarchical note taking application, featuring rich text and syntax highlighting, storing data in a single xml or sqlite file.

    69 CherryTree alternatives
    CherryTree screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Flatpak
    CherryTree screenshot 1
    CherryTree screenshot 2
    +3
    CherryTree screenshot 3

    Top CherryTree Features

    1.  Hierarchical Structure
    2.  Tree structure
    3.  Infinite hierarchical depth
    4.  Includes images in notes
    5.  Outliner
    6.  Tree view
    7.  Tree Style Tabs
    8.  Syntax Highlighting
    9.  Portable
    10.  Works Offline
    11.  No registration required
    12.  Ad-free
    CherryTree iconNotes Foss Icon

    CherryTree VS Notes Foss

    Is CherryTree a good alternative to Notes Foss?
     
  4. Cryptee icon
    Cryptee icon

    Cryptee

     91 likes
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    Cryptee is a safety and privacy focused, encrypted and cross-platform personal data storage service. You can write personal documents, notes, journals, store photos (including raw photos from DSLR cameras) and all sorts of other files.

    43 Cryptee alternatives
    Cryptee screenshot 1

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    Cryptee screenshot 1
    Cryptee screenshot 2
    +9
    Cryptee screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  End-to-End Encryption
    2.  Encrypted Notes
    3.  Encrypted Photo Storage
    4.  Rich text editing
    5.  Support for MarkDown
    6.  Cloud Hosting
    7.  Dark Mode
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  No Tracking
    10.  File Storage
    11.  Cloud Sync
    12.  WYSIWYG Support
    Cryptee iconNotes Foss Icon

    Cryptee VS Notes Foss

    Is Cryptee a good alternative to Notes Foss?
     

    • Cryptee is the most popular Web-based & SaaS alternative to Notes Foss.

    • Cryptee is Freemium and Open SourceNotes Foss is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Cryptee is Privacy focusedNotes Foss is not according to our users
  5. Turtl icon
    Turtl icon

    Turtl

     171 likes
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    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.

    166 Turtl alternatives
    Turtl screenshot 1

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • Self-Hosted
    • Google Chrome
    • Firefox
    Turtl screenshot 1
    Turtl screenshot 2
    +1
    Turtl screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Encrypted Notes
    2.  End-to-End Encryption
    3.  Support for MarkDown
    4.  Sync on many devices
    5.  Data portability
    6.  Cloud Sync
    7.  Real time collaboration
    8.  To do lists
    9.  Notebook
    10.  List management
    11.  Client side encryption
    12.  Password encryption
    Discontinued

    The last update is from 2019.

    Turtl iconNotes Foss Icon

    Turtl VS Notes Foss

    Is Turtl a good alternative to Notes Foss?
     

    • Turtl is the most popular Android, Android Tablet & Self-Hosted alternative to Notes Foss.

    • Turtl is Freemium and Open SourceNotes Foss is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Turtl is Privacy focusedNotes Foss is not according to our users
  6. Dendron icon
    Dendron icon

    Dendron

     64 likes
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    Dendron is an open-source, local-first, markdown-based, note-taking tool built on top of VSCode. It supports all the usual features you would expect like tagging, backlinks, a graph view, split panes, and so forth.

    188 Dendron alternatives
    Dendron screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Visual Studio Code
    Dendron screenshot 1
    Dendron screenshot 2

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Local Storage
    2.  Support for MarkDown
    3.  Hierarchical Structure
    4.  Block reference
    5.  Graph view
    6.  VSCode
    7.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    8.  Backlinks
    9.  Quick reference lookup
    10.  Publishing
    11.  Tagging
    12.  Bidirectional links
    Dendron iconNotes Foss Icon

    Dendron VS Notes Foss

    Is Dendron a good alternative to Notes Foss?
     
  7. UpNote icon
    UpNote icon

    UpNote

     36 likes
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    UpNote is an elegant and powerful note app that works seamlessly across platforms: iOS, Android, Mac and Windows.

    308 UpNote alternatives
    UpNote screenshot 1

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    UpNote screenshot 1
    UpNote screenshot 2
    +3
    UpNote screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Distraction-free

    Features

    1.  Note organization
    2.  Nested Folders
    3.  Support for MarkDown
    4.  Notebook
    5.  Multiplatform
    6.  Cloud Sync
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  No registration required
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  Ad-free
    11.  No Coding Required
    12.  Markdown preview
    UpNote iconNotes Foss Icon

    UpNote VS Notes Foss

    Is UpNote a good alternative to Notes Foss?
     

    • UpNote is the most popular iPhone & iPad alternative to Notes Foss.

    • UpNote is Freemium and ProprietaryNotes Foss is also Freemium and Proprietary
    • UpNote is LightweightNotes Foss is not according to our users
  9. Bear icon
    Bear icon

    Bear

     93 likes
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    Bear is a beautiful and flexible writing app for note-taking and prose, both on the go for iOS devices and for the Mac OS desktop.

    225 Bear alternatives
    Bear screenshot 1

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    Bear screenshot 1
    Bear screenshot 2
    +5
    Bear screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  Cloud Sync
    3.  Syntax Highlighting
    4.  Distraction-free Writing
    5.  Nested tags
    6.  Search by tags
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  Works Offline
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  Web Clipper
    11.  No registration required
    12.  WYSIWYG Support
    Bear iconNotes Foss Icon

    Bear VS Notes Foss

    Is Bear a good alternative to Notes Foss?
     
  10. FSNotes icon
    FSNotes icon

    FSNotes

     22 likes
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    A modern notes manager on steroids for macOS and iOS.

    62 FSNotes alternatives
    FSNotes screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    FSNotes screenshot 1
    FSNotes screenshot 2
    +8
    FSNotes screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Local Storage
    2.  Wiki-like local linking
    3.  Support for MarkDown
    4.  Syntax Highlighting
    5.  Full-Text Search
    6.  Works Offline
    7.  No Tracking
    8.  Hierarchical Structure
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  Dark Mode
    11.  No registration required
    12. LaTeX icon  Support for LaTeX
    FSNotes iconNotes Foss Icon

    FSNotes VS Notes Foss

    Is FSNotes a good alternative to Notes Foss?
     
  11. Notes icon
    Notes icon

    Notes

     37 likes
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    Use Notes to capture a quick thought, create checklists, sketch ideas, and more. And with iCloud, you can keep your notes up to date across all your devices.

    120 Notes alternatives
    Notes screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Online
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    Notes screenshot 1
    Notes screenshot 2
    +2
    Notes screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Distraction-free

    Features

    1.  Dark Mode
    2.  Real time collaboration
    3.  No registration required
    4.  Cloud Sync
    5.  Full-Text Search
    6.  Sync with iCloud
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  Handwritten Notes
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  Spell Checking
    11.  WYSIWYG Support
    12.  Tagging
    Notes iconNotes Foss Icon

    Notes VS Notes Foss

    Is Notes a good alternative to Notes Foss?
     
  12. GitJournal icon
    GitJournal icon

    GitJournal

     25 likes
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    Manage your Notes from any Git Repo.

    246 GitJournal alternatives
    GitJournal screenshot 1
    GitJournal screenshot 2
    +3
    GitJournal screenshot 3

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2. Git icon  Git integration
    3. Android icon  Android Sync
    4.  Works Offline
    5. GitLab icon  Gitlab integration
    6. GitHub icon  GitHub Integration
    7. Git icon  Git Support
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  Real time collaboration
    11.  Command line interface
    12.  No Tracking
    GitJournal iconNotes Foss Icon

    GitJournal VS Notes Foss

    Is GitJournal a good alternative to Notes Foss?
     
  13. Notational Velocity icon
    Notational Velocity icon

    Notational Velocity

     86 likes
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    Notational Velocity is a mouseless application for storing and retrieving notes.

    218 Notational Velocity alternatives
    Note in Vertical Layout

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Note in Horizontal Layout With Tags
    Note Storage Settings
    Discontinued

    The program is no longer updated. Last version, 2.0 ß5, released in March 2011, can be still downloaded from the official website

    Notational Velocity iconNotes Foss Icon

    Notational Velocity VS Notes Foss

    Is Notational Velocity a good alternative to Notes Foss?
     
  14. Indigrid icon
    Indigrid icon

    Indigrid

     27 likes
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    A new medium for your ideas—augment your thinking with a text editor designed for structuring lists. Side-by-side views allow 3 modes of thinking.

    235 Indigrid alternatives
    Indigrid screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Indigrid screenshot 1
    Indigrid screenshot 2

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Outliner
    2.  Works Offline
    3.  Brainstorming
    4.  Sidebar
    5.  Portable
    6.  Outline organization
    7.  Kanban Board
    8.  Full-Text Search
    9.  Outline folding
    10.  Tree structure
    11.  Outline mode
    12.  Side-by-Side View
    Discontinued

    The last version is from 2020.

    Indigrid iconNotes Foss Icon

    Indigrid VS Notes Foss

    Is Indigrid a good alternative to Notes Foss?
     
12 of 54 Notes Foss alternatives