Open Source Microsoft OneNote Alternatives

The best open source alternative to Microsoft OneNote is Zim. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to Microsoft OneNote and many of them is open source so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting open source alternatives to Microsoft OneNote are Joplin, Xournal++, Logseq and CherryTree.

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Microsoft OneNote 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 Microsoft OneNote.
Microsoft OneNote iconMicrosoft OneNote
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Microsoft OneNote, part of the Microsoft 365 Copilot, is a digital notebook application that gives people one place to gather notes and information. It also offers shared notebooks,...

More about Microsoft OneNote
More about Microsoft OneNote
Microsoft OneNote alternatives page was last updated Feb 11, 2025
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  1. Rnote icon
    Rnote icon

    Rnote

     24 likes
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    Rnote aims to be a simple but functional note taking application for freehand drawing or annotating pictures or documents. It eventually should be able to import / export various media file formats.

    18 Rnote alternatives
    Rnote screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Rnote screenshot 1
    Rnote screenshot 2
    +4
    Rnote screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Handwritten Notes
    2.  PDF annotation
    3.  Support for styluses
    4.  No registration required
    5.  Dark Mode
    6.  WYSIWYG Support
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  No Tracking
    9.  Pressure Sensitivity
    10.  Ad-free
    11.  Infinite canvas
    12.  Export to SVG
    Rnote iconMicrosoft OneNote Icon

    Rnote VS Microsoft OneNote

    Is Rnote a good alternative to Microsoft OneNote?
     
    Comments about Rnote as an Alternative to Microsoft OneNote
     
    manuke

    It's insanely fast (and written in Rust). Pen support. Pages and Folder support. Open-Source. Saves everything as file and thus can be used in a cloud sync. Has basic Textediting functionality (but not very good for structured Texts, more made for freeform drawing and handwritten notes). PDF insertion (no real annotation though)!

    Positive comment •Jan 5, 2024
    0
    Microsoft OneNote Icon
    Rnote icon
    • Rnote is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft OneNote is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Rnote is Lightweight and Privacy focusedMicrosoft OneNote is not according to our users
  2. Mimiri Notes icon
    Mimiri Notes icon

    Mimiri Notes

     11 likes
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    Secure device-synced notepad using AES-GCM-256 encryption to protect confidential data. Features include a tree-structure for note organization, historical changes tracking, and collaboration options. Supports all major platforms with cloud sync and offline access.

    53 Mimiri Notes alternatives
    Mimiri Notes screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Mimiri Notes screenshot 1
    Mimiri Notes screenshot 2
    +3
    Mimiri Notes screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  End-to-End Encryption
    2.  Dark Mode
    3.  AES-256 Encryption
    4.  Cloud Sync
    5.  File Versioning
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  No Tracking
    8.  Tree structure
    9.  Electron based
    10.  AES Encryption
    11.  Note organization
    12.  Client side encryption
    Mimiri Notes iconMicrosoft OneNote Icon

    Mimiri Notes VS Microsoft OneNote

    Is Mimiri Notes a good alternative to Microsoft OneNote?
     
  4. VNote icon
    VNote icon

    VNote

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

    47 VNote alternatives
    VNote screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    VNote screenshot 1
    VNote screenshot 2
    +5
    VNote screenshot 3

    VNote Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2. LaTeX icon  Support for LaTeX
    3.  Wiki-like interface
    4.  Save Attachments
    5.  Dark Mode
    6.  No registration required
    7.  Hierarchical Structure
    8.  Works Offline
    9.  Tagging
    10.  Plain text file
    VNote iconMicrosoft OneNote Icon

    VNote VS Microsoft OneNote

    Is VNote a good alternative to Microsoft OneNote?
     
  5. NoteKit icon
    NoteKit icon

    NoteKit

     22 likes
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    This program is a structured notetaking application based on GTK+ 3. Write your notes in instantly-formatted Markdown, organise them in a tree of folders that can be instantly navigated from within the program, and add hand-drawn notes by mouse, touchscreen or digitiser.

    29 NoteKit alternatives
    NoteKit screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    NoteKit screenshot 1

    NoteKit Features

    1.  Handwritten Notes
    2.  Hierarchical Structure
    3.  Support for MarkDown
    4. LaTeX icon  Support for LaTeX
    5.  Syntax Highlighting
    6.  Optimized for Touch screen
    7.  Tablet support
    8.  Notebook
    NoteKit iconMicrosoft OneNote Icon

    NoteKit VS Microsoft OneNote

    Is NoteKit a good alternative to Microsoft OneNote?
     
    Comments about NoteKit as an Alternative to Microsoft OneNote
     
    altts1zed

    Superb FOSS notes app that allows you to make drawings, unlike Joplin

    Positive comment •Aug 28, 2022
    0
    Microsoft OneNote Icon
    NoteKit icon
    • NoteKit is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft OneNote is Freemium and Proprietary
  6. Silverbullet icon
    Silverbullet icon

    Silverbullet

     10 likes
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    Silver Bullet is an extensible, open source, personal knowledge management system. Indeed, that’s fancy talk for “a note-taking app with links.” However, Silver Bullet goes a bit beyond just that.

    40 Silverbullet alternatives
    Main page, showing normal text. This is all Markdown, and selecting any text will expose the Markdown syntax.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted
    The 'open page' dialogue, which enables navigation between all pages within a space.

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Distraction-free

    Features

    1.  Works Offline
    2.  Support for MarkDown
    3.  Knowledge Management
    4.  Dark Mode
    5.  No Tracking
    6.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  Full-Text Search
    9.  Portable
    10.  Live Preview
    Silverbullet iconMicrosoft OneNote Icon

    Silverbullet VS Microsoft OneNote

    Is Silverbullet a good alternative to Microsoft OneNote?
     
  7. KDE BasKet icon
    KDE BasKet icon

    KDE BasKet

     81 likes
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    This application provides as many baskets as you wish, and you can drag and drop.

    133 KDE BasKet alternatives
    Welcome page with a black theme.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • KDE Plasma
    Welcome page with a black theme.

    KDE BasKet Features

    1.  Works Offline
    2.  Protected by Password
    3.  Image Preview
    4.  Tagging
    5.  Wiki
    6.  Freeform notes
    7.  Notebook
    8.  Integrated Search
    KDE BasKet iconMicrosoft OneNote Icon

    KDE BasKet VS Microsoft OneNote

    Is KDE BasKet a good alternative to Microsoft OneNote?
     
    Comments about KDE BasKet as an Alternative to Microsoft OneNote
     
    Guest

    It has essentially the same functionality as One Note. I was happy to find it offers password protection of the various baskets.

    Positive comment •Jul 7, 2015
    2
    Guest

    Most of the OneNote functionality

    Positive comment •Dec 17, 2016
    0
    Guest

    more or less the same functionality as one note. each notepad and each note can be tagged with colors and tags of relative importance, and icons. notepads can be sorted hierarcically, notepads can bepassword protected, and so on. you should visit its website and see.

    Positive comment •May 30, 2017
    -1
    Microsoft OneNote Icon
    KDE BasKet icon

    • Almost everyone thinks KDE BasKet is a great Microsoft OneNote alternative.

    • KDE BasKet is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft OneNote is Freemium and Proprietary
  9. 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 iconMicrosoft OneNote Icon

    GitJournal VS Microsoft OneNote

    Is GitJournal a good alternative to Microsoft OneNote?
     
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