Self-Hosted Microsoft OneNote Alternatives

Microsoft OneNote is not available as a self-hosted solution but there are plenty of alternatives for power users and business that want to host a solution on-premise. The best Self-Hosted alternative is Joplin, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Microsoft OneNote and 17 are available as a self-hosted solution so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Self-Hosted alternatives to Microsoft OneNote are Logseq, Standard Notes, AppFlowy and Turtl.

filter to find the best alternatives

Microsoft OneNote alternatives are mainly Note-taking Tools, but if you're looking for Todo List Managers or Task Management Tools you can filter on that. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to 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 8, 2025
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  1. Joplin icon

    Joplin

     830 likes
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    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.

    83 Joplin alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • FR flagFrance
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

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

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  Cloud Sync
    3.  End-to-End Encryption
    4.  Web Clipper
    5.  Works Offline
    6.  Local Storage
    7.  File Sync
    8.  Tagging
    9.  Ad-free
    10. Android icon  Android Sync
    11.  Encrypted Notes
    12.  WebDAV Support

    Joplin VS Microsoft OneNote

     
    Comments about Joplin as an Alternative to Microsoft OneNote
    Comment summary: Critics of Joplin note limitations such as lack of features compared to OneNote, like pen input support and drawing capabilities. However, Joplin's advocates highlight its strengths in privacy, open-source nature, and compatibility with Linux. Joplin supports markdown editing and allows users to store data on personal servers with encryption. While some praise its clean interface and cross-platform sync, others consider OneNote more feature-rich, especially for writing and organizing notes.
    Top Positive Comment
    dasonic
    Mar 7, 2020
    13

    Same structure as Onenote, supports images, looks modern.

    Doesn't have all the same features (like drawing on the screen) but also has its own unique features Onenote doesn't have.

    Also runs on Linux, which is the biggest plus for me.

    Top Negative Comment
    Martin Ligabue
    Oct 15, 2021
    6

    it doesn't have pen input support

    Most Recent Comment
    Nuncio Bitis
    Negative Jul 17, 2024
    0

    it doesn't do diagrams, and the plain text files it creates are given obscure names so you can't find them.

    Show more comments
    3 of 13 comments
    Microsoft OneNote Icon
    Joplin icon

    • Most users think Joplin is a great Microsoft OneNote alternative.

    • Joplin is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to Microsoft OneNote.

    • Joplin is Freemium and Open SourceMicrosoft OneNote is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Joplin is Privacy focusedMicrosoft OneNote is not according to our users
  2. Logseq icon

    Logseq

     293 likes
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    Local-first, privacy-focused notebook supporting Markdown and Emacs Org mode. Offers offline use, encrypted backups, plugin extensibility, LaTeX support, real-time collaboration, and hierarchical organization for personal knowledge management.

    137 Logseq alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • F-Droid
    • Flathub
    Logseq screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Bidirectional links
    2.  Graph view
    3.  Local Storage
    4.  Outliner
    5.  Backlinks
    6.  Knowledge base
    7.  Knowledge Management
    8.  Support for MarkDown
    9.  Works Offline
    10.  Ad-free
    11.  Note organization
    12.  Full-Text Search

    Logseq VS Microsoft OneNote

     
  4. Standard Notes icon

    Standard Notes

     658 likes
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    Standard Notes is a simple and private notes app. It allows you to write and sync your notes across all your devices, iOS, Android, Linux, Windows, MacOS, and web browser.

    94 Standard Notes alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • CH flagSwitzerland

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • F-Droid
    Standard Notes screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Clean design
    3.  Security-focused
    4.  Minimalistic
    5.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  End-to-End Encryption
    2.  Cloud Sync
    3.  Encrypted Notes
    4.  Support for MarkDown
    5.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    6.  Works Offline
    7.  Encrypted Backup
    8.  AES Encryption
    9.  Sync on many devices
    10.  Ad-free
    11.  Mobile friendly
    12.  Client side encryption

    Standard Notes VS Microsoft OneNote

     
    Comments about Standard Notes as an Alternative to Microsoft OneNote
    Top Positive Comment
    Guest
    Sep 8, 2017
    1

    Encrypted, very lightweight and not owned by Microsoft.

    Top Negative Comment
    Guest
    Aug 18, 2020
    5

    The free version is only plain text editing - can't even paste images or use bold and italics. There simply aren't enough features in the free one to determine whether I like it enough to pay for premium.

    Most Recent Comment
    k71
    Sep 24, 2022
    0

    Good for those options to store online or sync between devices. Devices: Windows app, web-browser, android app...

    I prefer this one than SimpleNote, in any case, to share between devices nowadays i recommend telegram or protectedtext. For text, Onenote. I didnt like turtl, joplin or elephant.

    Show more comments
    3 of 7 comments
    Microsoft OneNote Icon
    Standard Notes icon

    • Most users think Standard Notes is a great Microsoft OneNote alternative.

    • Standard Notes is Freemium and Open SourceMicrosoft OneNote is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Standard Notes is Privacy focused and Security-focusedMicrosoft OneNote is not according to our users
  5. AppFlowy icon

    AppFlowy

     167 likes
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    AppFlowy is an open source alternative to Notion. You are in charge of your data and customizations.

    73 AppFlowy alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Self-Hosted
    • Snapcraft
    • Rust
    • Flathub
    AppFlowy screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight
    3.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Note organization
    2.  Works Offline
    3.  Kanban Board
    4.  Dark Mode
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Support for MarkDown
    7.  Cloud Sync
    8.  WYSIWYG Support
    9.  No Tracking
    10.  Notebook
    11.  Wiki
    12.  Portable

    AppFlowy VS Microsoft OneNote

     
  6. Turtl icon

    Turtl

     173 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.

    176 Turtl alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • Self-Hosted
    • Google Chrome
    • Firefox
    Turtl screenshot 1
    Discontinued

    The last update is from 2019.

    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

    Turtl VS Microsoft OneNote

     
    Comments about Turtl as an Alternative to Microsoft OneNote
    Guest
    Positive Jun 15, 2017
    2

    Encryption, zero-knowledge encryption.

    k71
    Negative Sep 24, 2022
    0

    Windows app. Visually it´s nice, but its movement between "folders" is not intuitive or i didnt like it. I didnt like it that we have to be online to access to it. I didnt like the option to introduce password everytime to access (i dont know if there is the option to remove it). In this case i´d prefer Standardnotes or Simplenote.

    Microsoft OneNote Icon
    Turtl icon

    • Most users think Turtl is a great Microsoft OneNote alternative.

    • Turtl is Freemium and Open SourceMicrosoft OneNote is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Turtl is Privacy focusedMicrosoft OneNote is not according to our users
  7. Docmost icon

    Docmost

     36 likes
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    Docmost is an open-source collaborative wiki and documentation software. It is an open-source alternative to Confluence and Notion.

    73 Docmost alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Docker
    Docmost screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Full-Text Search
    2.  No Tracking
    3.  Real time collaboration
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  File Versioning
    6.  Support for MarkDown
    7.  Knowledge base
    8.  Nested Notes
    9.  Activity history
    10.  Wiki
    11.  Attachments
    12.  Knowledge Management

    Docmost VS Microsoft OneNote

     
  9. Trilium Notes icon

    Trilium Notes

     97 likes
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    Trilium Notes is a hierarchical note taking application.

    351 Trilium Notes alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • International

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted
    • Google Chrome
    • Cloudron
    • Mozilla Firefox
    Trilium Notes screenshot 1
    Discontinued

    Trilium transitions into maintenance mode and don't plan adding any new major functionality. You can take a look at this community fork: https://github.com/TriliumNext

    Properties

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

    Features

    1.  Tree of notes
    2.  Knowledge base
    3.  Note organization
    4.  Dark Mode
    5.  No Tracking
    6.  Encrypted Notes
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  End-to-End Encryption
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  Cloud Sync
    11.  REST API
    12.  Web Clipper

    Trilium Notes VS Microsoft OneNote

     
7 of 17 Microsoft OneNote alternatives