The Best Notion AlternativesTop Note-taking Tools & Todo List Managers like Notion

Alternatives list

1. 

   

   

   Official Partner

   PrivacyNotes

   • Freemium
   • Open Source (AGPL-3.0)

   Workspace with end-to-end encryption, zero-knowledge security, rich notes, private journal, encrypted file storage, password management, cross-platform browser access, open-source cryptography, optional Pro features, and no recurring subscription fees.

   • Mac
   • Windows
   • Linux
   • Online
   • Android
   • iPhone
   • iPad
   • Google Chrome
   • Software as a Service (SaaS)
   • United States

   More about PrivacyNotesVisit website
2. 

   

   Obsidian

    1237 likes

   Privacy-oriented note-taking app for non-linear thinking, blending knowledge graph creation with wiki-style linking. Supports Markdown, end-to-end encryption, and plugins for customization. Offers distraction-free mode, tags, themes, syntax highlighting, and operates offline without tracking.

   360 Obsidian alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Freemium
   • Proprietary

   Application typeApplication types

   • Note-taking
   • Todo List Manager

   Origin

   • Canada

   Platforms

   • Mac
   • Windows
   • Linux
   • Android
   • iPhone
   • Android Tablet
   • iPad
   • Snapcraft
   • Microsoft Edge
   • Google Chrome
   • Flathub
   • Safari
   • AppImage
   • Mozilla Firefox

   • Canada

   

   

   

   +6

   

   More about Obsidian  

   

   Good alternative?Is Obsidian a good alternative to Notion?

    

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   13comments

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   Obsidian vs Notion Comments

   Top Positive Comment by Duplicake · Nov 17, 2024

   Just an amazing free note-taking app where you own your data. The only issue is it's not open source.

   Positive comment by NickQuason · Sep 26, 2026

   It's perfect in every way except the ability to publish and share online as a webpage.

   Positive comment by Daniel Calvo · Jun 19, 2026

   I like Obsidian better than Notion cause of the privacy

   3 of 13 comments

   

   

   • Obsidian is Freemium and ProprietaryNotion is also Freemium and Proprietary
   • Obsidian is Privacy focusedNotion is not according to our users
3. 

   

   Joplin

    947 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.

   236 Joplin alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Freemium
   • Open Source (AGPL-3.0)

   Application typeApplication 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

   • France
   • EU

   

   

   

   +7

   

   More about Joplin  

   

   Good alternative?Is Joplin a good alternative to Notion?

    

   |

   3comments

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   Joplin vs Notion Comments

   Negative comment by Johxz · Jul 26, 2020

   Oh come on who added Joplin as alternative to Notion? haha :D Joplin is very far behind what Notion offers. Joplin don't have a tree organization structure, don't have nodes, blocks, properties, custom properties, todo, list, tasks, wiki, calendar, node links, templates, icons, etc. Joplin is just a simple note taken app nothing more. Notion allow you all I mention, you can plan track your projects, life and more.

   Positive comment by Guest · Apr 13, 2019

   If the devs will keep developing this app it could be the biggest competitor for Evernote.

   Negative comment by martinzeman · Oct 1, 2020

   Notion is not just a note taking app, it's also a database mananger, Joplin does not come close.

   3 of 3 comments

   

   

   • Joplin is Freemium and Open SourceNotion is Freemium and Proprietary
   • Joplin is Privacy focused, Lightweight, Minimalistic and DecentralizedNotion is not according to our users
5. 

   

   Microsoft OneNote

    1150 likes

   Comprehensive digital notebook offering organizers, shared notes, multi-device syncing, and optical character recognition, plus cloud-based data management for efficient information handling and accessibility.

   244 Microsoft OneNote alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Freemium
   • Proprietary

   Application typeApplication types

   • Note-taking
   • Todo List Manager

   Origin

   • United States

   Platforms

   • Mac
   • Windows
   • Online
   • Android
   • iPhone
   • Chrome OS
   • Windows Phone
   • iPad
   • Apple Watch
   • Android Wear
   • Kindle Fire

   • United States

   

   

   

   +4

   

   More about Microsoft OneNote  

   

   Good alternative?Is Microsoft OneNote a good alternative to Notion?

    

   |

   2comments

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   Microsoft OneNote vs Notion Comments

   Positive comment by Azazel · May 27, 2025

   More ways to control how note text appears, allowing you to maximize contrast and readability. In Notion you're locked in to just a few washed out swatches. And in Onenote you can change the font-face to any of those installed on your device. Never thought these features would be a luxury before trying Notion and not finding them there.

   Positive comment by Wesley Jensen · Nov 6, 2024

   Not as effortless as a wiki as Notion. More notes focused, with good drawing features. Powerful as a desktop app.

   2 of 2 comments

   

   

   • Microsoft OneNote is Freemium and ProprietaryNotion is also Freemium and Proprietary
6. Ad

   

   

   Workflowy

   Offers limitless nested lists for outlining, instant sync on web and mobile, real-time collaboration, file and photo uploads, kanban boards, tagging, offline editing, hoisting for branch focus, content sharing, text highlighting,...

   https://workflowy.com

   Learn More
7. 

   

   Super Productivity

    359 likes

   Free, open-source software offering task management and time tracking across Linux, MacOS, and Windows with Jira, GitHub, and GitLab integration, plus a pomodoro timer for breaks and focus. Designed with privacy in mind, it requires no user data collection or registration.

   386 Super Productivity alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Open Source (MIT)

   Application typeApplication types

   • Todo List Manager
   • Task Management

   Origin

   • Germany
   • EU

   Platforms

   • Mac
   • Windows
   • Linux
   • Online
   • Android
   • iPhone
   • Chrome OS
   • Android Tablet
   • iPad
   • Self-Hosted
   • AppImageHub
   • Snapcraft
   • Flathub
   • F-Droid
   • Flatpak
   • AppImage

   • Germany
   • EU

   

   

   

   +3

   

   More about Super Productivity  

   

   Good alternative?Is Super Productivity a good alternative to Notion?

    
8. 

   

   Logseq

    358 likes

   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.

   267 Logseq alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Open Source (AGPL-3.0)

   Application typeApplication types

   • Note-taking
   • Task Management

   Origin

   • United States

   Platforms

   • Mac
   • Windows
   • Linux
   • Android
   • iPhone
   • iPad
   • Self-Hosted
   • Flathub
   • F-Droid

   • United States

   

   

   More about Logseq  

   

   Good alternative?Is Logseq a good alternative to Notion?

    

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   2comments

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   Logseq vs Notion Comments

   Positive comment by isTrick · Dec 7, 2023

   Logseq have some good knowledge management tools out of the box, like graph view, flashcards, whiteboards, etc. It's open-source and privacy focused. But for project management isn't the best alternative.

   Positive comment by AbdulrhmanFawzy · Feb 26, 2026

   Logseq is fully open source, free, privacy-focused and local-first compared to Notion, it's also more customizable

   2 of 2 comments

   

   

   • Logseq is Free and Open SourceNotion is Freemium and Proprietary
   • Logseq is Privacy focused, Decentralized and LightweightNotion is not according to our users
10. 

    

    Anytype

     314 likes

    Manage notes, tasks, and projects offline with Markdown support. Enjoy encrypted storage, P2P syncing, and powerful dynamic collections across all devices, while allowing redistribution and modification for non-commercial uses.

    246 Anytype alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Source Available

    Application typeApplication types

    • Note-taking
    • Todo List Manager

    Origin

    • Switzerland

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Google Chrome
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    • Docker

    • Switzerland

    

    

    

    +6

    

    More about Anytype  

    

    Good alternative?Is Anytype a good alternative to Notion?

     

    |

    13comments

    ExpandCollapse

    Anytype vs Notion Comments

    Top Positive Comment by t_me · Jan 20, 2024

    Anytype has many advantages, but two are fundamentally important to me: 1) Anytype is privacy focused (only you can access your data), 2) Anytype is blazing fast and the workflow is uninterrupted. However, Anytype is still in open beta and lacks Notion's database relations and rollups. But they are on the roadmap and the devs are very active and responding to the communities needs. I have moved my second brain to Anytype and do not regret it.

    Positive comment by Mutant · Feb 9, 2025

    Anytype vs notion, notion wins. Anytype vs obsidian, anytype wins

    Positive comment by suvi967 · Nov 19, 2024

    I love it as a note-taking app. At first, it was a little confusing, but I really like it. My only problem with it, is a bit about the design of the notes, I wish I could change the size and make zoom.

    3 of 13 comments

    

    

    • Anytype is Freemium and Source AvailableNotion is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Anytype is Privacy focused, Decentralized and LightweightNotion is not according to our users
11. 

    

    Notesnook

     225 likes

    Offers open-source, end-to-end encrypted notes with device-based privacy, cross-platform support, private vault, secure sync, offline access, markdown editor, exports to multiple formats, automatic backups, organizational tools, and strong encryption.

    402 Notesnook alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source (GPL-3.0)

    Application typeApplication types

    • Note-taking
    • Task Management

    Origin

    • Pakistan

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Google Chrome
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Flatpak
    • Self-Hosted

    • Pakistan

    

    

    

    +6

    

    More about Notesnook  

    

    Good alternative?Is Notesnook a good alternative to Notion?

     

    |

    1comment

    ExpandCollapse

    Notesnook vs Notion Comments

    Positive comment by Paul · Sep 16, 2023

    Open source and private alternative to Notion. The notes are end to end encrypted, it supports all platform, and the pricing options are not excessive. Great software!

    1 of 1 comments

    

    

    • Notesnook is Freemium and Open SourceNotion is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Notesnook is Privacy focused and LightweightNotion is not according to our users
12. 

    

    Standard Notes

     709 likes

    Secure note-taking app with end-to-end encryption, unlimited syncing across all platforms, offline access, detailed organization through tags, strong passcode and biometric protections, and premium features like encrypted files, themes, web clipper, super note types, and hardware key support.

    224 Standard Notes alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source (AGPL-3.0)

    Application typeApplication types

    • Note-taking
    • Todo List Manager

    Origin

    • United States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • F-Droid
    • OpenAPK

    • United States

    

    

    

    +1

    

    More about Standard Notes  

    

    Good alternative?Is Standard Notes a good alternative to Notion?

     

    |

    2comments

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    Standard Notes vs Notion Comments

    Negative comment by LordMax · May 7, 2021

    It's a really good note app but not similar to notion

    Positive comment by Mario Mazzoli · Jul 31, 2022

    Good for notes, fantastic for spreadsheets, but Notion is still superior for table content.

    2 of 2 comments

    

    

    • Standard Notes is Freemium and Open SourceNotion is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Standard Notes is Privacy focused, Minimalistic and Security-focusedNotion is not according to our users
13. 

    

    AppFlowy

     214 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.

    161 AppFlowy alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source (AGPL-3.0)

    Application typeApplication types

    • Note-taking
    • Todo List Manager

    Origin

    • Singapore

    Platforms

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

    • Singapore

    

    

    

    +2

    

    More about AppFlowy  

    

    Good alternative?Is AppFlowy a good alternative to Notion?

     

    |

    8comments

    ExpandCollapse

    AppFlowy vs Notion Comments

    Top Positive Comment by Baptiste THIVEND · Sep 5, 2023

    Simple to install and efficient. In heavy development, as of Q3 2023 there's still for improvement to reach all Notion's possibility, however at the rythm of a release every month, it should be rapidly do the job for a small team.

    Top Negative Comment by Guest · May 10, 2022

    It's still in development. Only functions to take notes at this time.

    Comment by Christoph · Aug 14, 2025

    It has that Notion feel (blocks, collaborative real-time editing etc.) but some functions still need more debugging. Publishing pages is blocked for some users, you have to contact support and support is not responsive. However, it is under steady development and looks promising.

    3 of 8 comments

    

    

    • AppFlowy is Freemium and Open SourceNotion is Freemium and Proprietary
    • AppFlowy is Privacy focused and LightweightNotion is not according to our users
14. 

    

    AFFiNE

     127 likes

    Open-source, privacy-focused workspace combining note-taking, project and task management, Kanban board, interactive whiteboard, Pomodoro timer, Markdown support, offline access, real-time team collaboration with @mentions, goal tracking, subtasks, and customizable features.

    222 AFFiNE alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application typeApplication types

    • Note-taking
    • Todo List Manager

    Origin

    • Singapore

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Self-Hosted

    • Singapore

    

    

    

    +3

    

    More about AFFiNE  

    

    Good alternative?Is AFFiNE a good alternative to Notion?

     

    |

    2comments

    ExpandCollapse

    AFFiNE vs Notion Comments

    Positive comment by adri66 · Dec 3, 2025

    Notion like but open source

    Positive comment by sergey27564 · Feb 8, 2024

    The whiteboard functional is great and helps to manage tasks and projects better

    2 of 2 comments

    

    

    • AFFiNE is Freemium and ProprietaryNotion is also Freemium and Proprietary
    • AFFiNE is Privacy focused and LightweightNotion is not according to our users
15. 

    

    Simplenote

     612 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.

    197 Simplenote alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (GPL-2.0)

    Application typeApplication types

    • Note-taking
    • Todo List Manager

    Origin

    • United States

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

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

    • United States

    

    

    

    +3

    

    More about Simplenote  

    

    Good alternative?Is Simplenote a good alternative to Notion?

     

    |

    3comments

    ExpandCollapse

    Discontinued

    Automattic ends Simplenote active development, only basic maintenance continues

    Simplenote vs Notion Comments

    Negative comment by Serely Lalla · Oct 23, 2019

    Notion is wiki-styled, you can make databases, custom templates, making tables. Simple notes is just a plain notebook software.

    Negative comment by Wesley Jensen · Nov 6, 2024

    Simplenote is, well, much simpler and note-focused.

    Negative comment by martinzeman · Oct 1, 2020

    Simplenote is a trivial note taking app with limited Markdown support that cannot compete with Notion's feature set by any stretch of the imagination.

    3 of 3 comments

    

    

    • Simplenote is Free and Open SourceNotion is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Simplenote is Lightweight and MinimalisticNotion is not according to our users
16. 

    

    Todoist

     454 likes

    Organizes tasks efficiently with quick add scheduling, 60+ tool integrations, advanced language recognition for recurring tasks, and platform compatibility. It offers project templates, visual task priorities, and personalized productivity insights.

    342 Todoist alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application typeApplication types

    • Todo List Manager
    • Task Management

    Origin

    • United States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • AppImageHub
    • Apple Watch
    • Snapcraft
    • Google Chrome
    • Flathub
    • Microsoft Outlook
    • Android Wear
    • Safari
    • Gmail
    • Mozilla Firefox

    • United States

    

    

    

    +4

    

    More about Todoist  

    

    Good alternative?Is Todoist a good alternative to Notion?