Zim AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Note-taking Tools

The best Note-taking alternative to Zim is Obsidian, which is free. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Zim and loads of them are Note-taking Tools so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Note-taking Tool alternatives to Zim are Joplin, Notion, Anytype and CherryTree.

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Zim 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 Zim.
Zim iconZim
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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...

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Zim alternatives page was last updated Feb 28, 2025
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Alternatives
  1. Obsidian icon

    Obsidian

     965 likes
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    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.

    103 Obsidian alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • CA flagCanada

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Snapcraft
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Google Chrome
    • Flathub
    • Safari
    • Mozilla Firefox
    Obsidian screenshot 1

    Top Obsidian Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  Local Storage
    3.  Works Offline
    4.  Graph view
    5.  Bidirectional links
    6.  Mind Mapping
    7.  No registration required
    8.  Personal Information Manager (PIM)
    9.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    10.  Knowledge Management
    11.  Dark Mode
    12.  Backlink

    Obsidian VS Zim

     
    Comments about Obsidian as an Alternative to Zim
    Most Recent Comment
    Sam Lander
    •Jun 20, 2023
    1

    Zim is more lightweight. Obsidian has better UI and more community plugins.

    Zim saves to .txt and has built in folder notes. Obsidian users rely on too many community plugins, making Obsidian inherently less secure.

    Marco Bartoli
    •Dec 9, 2022
    2

    Proprietary, meaning: Do you ultimately trust the vendor with your (potentially) most personal information. If not, stick with Zim.

    john1030
    Positive •Nov 7, 2024
    0

    I like obsidian because of the ease of organization with the bookmark plugin . but Zim is great for noting
    "bits and bytes" since Omnivore is shutting down.

    Zim Icon
    Obsidian icon

    • Obsidian is the most popular Windows, Android, Mac & iPhone alternative to Zim.

    • Obsidian is the most popular free alternative to Zim.

    • Obsidian is Freemium and ProprietaryZim is Free and Open Source
  2. Joplin icon

    Joplin

     814 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.

    75 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.  Tagging
    8. Android icon  Android Sync
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  File Sync
    11.  Encrypted Notes
    12.  WebDAV Support

    Joplin VS Zim

     
    Comments about Joplin as an Alternative to Zim
    Most Recent Comment
    Marco Bartoli
    •Dec 9, 2022
    1

    Sadly, Joplin's Notes are proprietary: You cannot easily access your files with a third party tool (like a text editor). Zim (and other tools) keep your files readable and writeable in plaintext.

    andgregorik
    Positive •Dec 12, 2019
    3

    Joplin caters to a somewhat different user base: more simplistic, quicker, requires way less IT/wiki savvy just to operate daily. It also has pitch perfect syncing which is not Zim's cup of tea. Still, the moving parts are similar, and it can work as an alternative.

    LordMax
    Positive •Feb 28, 2020
    2

    IT's not so similar to Zim Desktop, it's really near to evernote/nixnote It can be a good replacement too

    Show more comments
    3 of 4 comments
    Zim Icon
    Joplin icon

    • Most users think Joplin is a great Zim alternative.

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

    • Joplin is the most popular Open Source alternative to Zim.

    • Joplin is Freemium and Open SourceZim is Free and Open Source
    • Joplin is Privacy focusedZim is not according to our users
  4. Notion icon

    Notion

     614 likes
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    Enhance team collaboration and content organization with Notion. Experience real-time access, intuitive drag-and-drop functionalities, and visually simple interfaces designed for productivity in managing tasks, notes, and databases effectively. Ideal for teams of every size.

    106 Notion alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    Notion screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Database Management Tool
    2.  Support for MarkDown
    3.  Wiki
    4.  Custom templates
    5.  Team Collaboration
    6.  Visual bookmarks
    7.  Relational Database
    8.  Knowledge Base structuring
    9.  Data export/import
    10.  Kanban Board
    11.  Real time collaboration
    12. LaTeX icon  Support for LaTeX

    Notion VS Zim

     
    Comments about Notion as an Alternative to Zim
    Guest
    Positive •Feb 3, 2019
    -1

    Android Client, Markdown, Built-in trello-like board

    Dima Neiaglov
    Positive •Oct 16, 2018
    1

    Notion is also a wiki and also cross-platform in the sense that it is a web application. It has some features that Zim doesn't, e.g. multi-column layouts.

    Zim Icon
    Notion icon

    • Most users think Notion is a great Zim alternative.

    • Notion is the most popular Web-based & SaaS alternative to Zim.

    • Notion is Freemium and ProprietaryZim is Free and Open Source
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    Zoho Notebook icon
    Zoho Notebook

    Online Notebook application: Zoho Notebook lets you combine text, images, audio, video, RSS feeds, documents and much more. Online Collaboration: You can share a single image or selection of text from a page rather than the whole...

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  6. Anytype icon

    Anytype

     239 likes
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    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.

    105 Anytype alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • CH flagSwitzerland

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Google Chrome
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Movie Database

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Works Offline
    2.  End-to-End Encryption
    3.  Synchronization
    4.  Decentralized
    5.  Visual Organization
    6.  Knowledge Management
    7.  Support for MarkDown
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  Local Storage
    10.  Wiki
    11.  Team Collaboration
    12.  Cross-Platform

    Anytype VS Zim

     
  7. CherryTree icon

    CherryTree

     311 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.

    75 CherryTree alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

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

    Properties

    1.  Customizable

    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.  Works Offline
    10.  Portable
    11.  Ad-free
    12.  No registration required

    CherryTree VS Zim

     
    Comments about CherryTree as an Alternative to Zim
    John Fastman
    Positive •Mar 26, 2017
    11

    If Zim isn't to your liking, CherryTree might be: open-source, stores data locally, supports instant search, interprets code blocks, and has more text editing features. The only thing it's not good at (yet) is attaching things by drag-n-drop. But that is in development, I hear.

    bekir celik
    Positive •Nov 26, 2019
    2

    wysiwyg , bug free, easy-to use and versatile interface, encrypted and un-encrypted mode, can import/export data from/to zim keynote html etc . Code box with syntax highlighting feature is nice. Also can import files image etc . Strictly hierarchical. More likely an outlining software.

    Zim Icon
    CherryTree icon

    • Most users think CherryTree is a great Zim alternative.

    • CherryTree is Free and Open SourceZim is also Free and Open Source
  8. Microsoft OneNote icon

    Microsoft OneNote

     1138 likes
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    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.

    97 Microsoft OneNote alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Windows Phone
    • iPad
    • Apple Watch
    • Android Wear
    • Kindle Fire
    Microsoft OneNote screenshot 1

    Top Microsoft OneNote Features

    1.  Handwritten Notes
    2.  Web Clipper
    3.  Visual Organization
    4.  Hierarchical Structure
    5.  Text formatting
    6.  Insert images
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  Cloud Sync
    9.  Support for styluses
    10.  Dark Mode
    11.  Pressure Sensitivity
    12.  Multiple Account support

    Microsoft OneNote VS Zim

     
    Comments about Microsoft OneNote as an Alternative to Zim
    Most Recent Comment
    Sam Lander
    Negative •Jun 20, 2023
    1

    Microsoft OneNote can be used for similar functions, but I wouldn't call it a replacement.

    OneNote is very bulky. It uses up a lot of space and resources, and doesn't automatically save to a format practically any device can use. Your data is not secure, as it's a Microsoft program.

    Marco Bartoli
    •Dec 9, 2022
    2

    More functional and user-friendly than Zim. However: Privacy. Ask yourself if you trust Microsoft with your data. If yes, that's ok. Personally however, I'd recommend using open source, self-hosted alternatives like Zim.

    Guest
    Positive •Jul 23, 2019
    2

    It supports both internal and external links and has good structure. It's also WYSIWYG.

    Show more comments
    3 of 4 comments
    Zim Icon
    Microsoft OneNote icon

    • Some users think Microsoft OneNote is a great Zim alternative, some don't.

    • Microsoft OneNote is Freemium and ProprietaryZim is Free and Open Source
  10. Zettlr icon

    Zettlr

     222 likes
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    From idea to publication in one app: Zettlr accompanies you while writing your blog post, newspaper article, term paper, thesis, or entire book.

    163 Zettlr alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    Zettlr Main Window (dark mode)

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  Zettelkasten note method
    3.  File Tagging
    4.  Multiple export options
    5. Zotero icon  Zotero integration
    6.  Note organization
    7.  Link files
    8.  Built-in themes
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  Export to LaTeX
    11.  Works Offline
    12.  Write files in markdown

    Zettlr VS Zim

     
    Comments about Zettlr as an Alternative to Zim
    Marco Bartoli
    Positive •Dec 9, 2022
    -1

    Native markdown editor. My new choice after retiring Zim. Good features, even clunkier interface than Zim, yet easy to learn and master.

    Zim Icon
    Zettlr icon

    • Most users think Zettlr is a great Zim alternative.

    • Zettlr is Free and Open SourceZim is also Free and Open Source
    • Zettlr is Privacy focusedZim is not according to our users
  11. AppFlowy icon

    AppFlowy

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

    66 AppFlowy alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application types

    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 Zim

     
  12. Notesnook icon

    Notesnook

     134 likes
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    Notesnook is a simple and cross-platform private notes app that keeps your notes organized and synced on your phone, tablet and computer. Take notes, capture ideas, create to-do lists, keep a journal, write your assignments and manage projects, we have got you covered.

    250 Notesnook alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Google Chrome
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Flatpak
    Notesnook screenshot 1

    Properties

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

    Features

    1.  Encrypted Notes
    2.  Private notes
    3.  Works Offline
    4.  Note organization
    5.  End-to-End Encryption
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  Support for MarkDown
    9.  No Tracking
    10.  Cloud Sync
    11.  Web Clipper
    12.  Reminders

    Notesnook VS Zim

     
9 of 243 Zim alternatives