I Tried 6 Open-Source Note-Taking Apps So You Don’t Have To

If you’re anything like me, your brain is overflowing with thoughts, to-dos, quotes you don’t want to lose, and random ideas that pop up at the most inconvenient times. Finding a note-taking app that actually fits your workflow can feel like a full-time job. I’ve been there—bouncing between apps, importing/exporting notes, trying to find “the one.”

Instead of letting you burn hours doing the same, I tested six of the most popular open-source note-taking apps. Each of them has its strengths, quirks, and perfect use cases. This guide is here to help you skip the trial-and-error and jump straight into the right app for your needs.

Why Open Source?

Before diving in, let’s answer the big “why.”

Open-source apps give you:

• Transparency—you can see how the app works under the hood.

• Control—often offline-first, with the option to self-host or choose your sync service.

• Privacy—many support end-to-end encryption.

• Longevity—even if the original developers leave, the code can live on.

If you’ve ever been burned by a proprietary app shutting down or locking your notes behind a paywall, you’ll appreciate the open-source difference.

The Six Contenders

1. Joplin—The Powerhouse

Think of Joplin as the “Swiss Army knife” of note-taking. It’s Markdown-based, supports attachments, has a web clipper, and lets you sync via Dropbox, Nextcloud, or even your own server.

Use cases:

• Students organizing lecture notes and attaching PDFs.

• Freelancers clipping web articles into research notebooks.

• Writers drafting in Markdown for easy export to HTML or PDF.

• Privacy-minded folks syncing notes via their own Nextcloud.

When to choose it:If you want versatility, offline capability, and don’t mind a slightly busier interface, Joplin is a fantastic all-rounder.

2. Anytype—The Builder’s Playground

Anytype isn’t just a note-taking app—it’s a whole framework. Instead of plain notes, you build “objects” and link them together. It feels like Notion, but with local storage and encryption.

Use cases:

• Project managers building linked databases of tasks, notes, and resources.

• Creatives mapping out workflows with interconnected notes.

• Teams who need a flexible, visual space for brainstorming.

When to choose it:If you think in systems, love structure, and want your notes to evolve into a personal knowledge base, Anytype is a great fit.

3. Standard Notes—The Privacy Guardian

Minimal, distraction-free, and laser-focused on privacy. Standard Notes encrypts everything, so even they can’t peek at your data. The free tier is basic, but extensions unlock richer editing tools.

Use cases:

• Journalers who want absolute privacy.

• Professionals handling sensitive information (researchers, lawyers, therapists).

• Anyone who values simplicity over bells and whistles.

When to choose it:If security and minimalism are your top priorities, you won’t find better peace of mind than Standard Notes.

4. Simplenote—The Quick Jotter

As the name suggests, Simplenote keeps things simple. No attachments, no fancy formatting, just fast syncing and easy tagging.

Use cases:

• Writers capturing ideas on the fly.

• Students jotting down quick reminders.

• Anyone who wants cross-device notes without a learning curve.

When to choose it:If you want something lightweight, distraction-free, and instant, Simplenote does the job beautifully.

5. Notesnook—The Balanced Middle Ground

Notesnook tries to give you the best of both worlds: privacy (end-to-end encryption) and richer features than the bare-bones apps. You can add media and code blocks and organize notes in vaults.

Use cases:

• Developers keep snippets and documentation.

• Knowledge workers organizing meeting notes and attachments.

• People who like Joplin’s features but prefer a sleeker interface.

When to choose it:If you want something more powerful than Simplenote but less “heavy” than Joplin or Anytype, Notesnook is worth a try.

6. AFFiNE—The All-in-One Workspace

AFFiNE wants to be your everything app: notes, whiteboards, databases, and project management. It’s ambitious, modern, and very visual.

Use cases:

• Teams brainstorming with whiteboards and text in the same space.

• Designers or creatives sketching ideas alongside notes.

• Startups that want one tool to replace three.

When to choose it:If you like the idea of Notion and Miro mashed together in an open-source wrapper, AFFiNE might become your favorite.

Which One Should You Pick?

• For all-round flexibility → Joplin

• For structured workflows → Anytype

• For maximum privacy → Standard Notes

• For speed and simplicity → Simplenote

• For balanced features → Notesnook

• For visual brainstorming → AFFiNE

My Honest Take

After trying them all, I still keep Joplin as my daily driver—it’s just hard to beat the combination of Markdown, encryption, and reliable syncing. But if I were advising:

• I’d send a journalist or therapist straight to Standard Notes.

• I’d nudge a designer toward AFFiNE.

• And I’d tell a student to grab Simplenote for day-to-day and then archive long-term in Joplin.

There’s no one perfect app, but the beauty of open-source is you can test, export, and switch without being locked in.

No matter which of these six apps you pick, you’ll be in control of your notes, your data, and your workflow. That alone makes the switch worth it.