Evernote alternatives: 8 open-source picks
Evernote costs $14.99/mo — $179.88 a year. These 8 alternatives replace it for $0, led by Memos, Joplin and SiYuan. All 8 are open source. License, stars and last commit checked by hand on 2026-08-29. No trials, no crippled tiers.
Lightweight, self-hosted memo hub for quick plain-text/markdown note capture
licenseMIT
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
Evernote after removing the rent, the lock-in and some polish.
licenseAGPL-3.0+
runsyour machine or their cloud
installOfficial desktop, mobile, or terminal package; optional Joplin Server via Docker
dataThe app keeps notes and metadata in its local profile database, with Markdown bodies and resource attachments; JEX/raw exports are available, and optional sync copies encrypted items to Joplin Cloud, Dropbox, OneDrive, WebDAV, S3, or Joplin Server
the catch vs EvernoteJoplin is less polished at document scanning, OCR, web clipping, email capture, and search across messy attachments than Evernote.
setupLocal use installs cleanly; dependable multi-device use means choosing and configuring a sync target, then correctly enabling and preserving end-to-end-encryption keys
facts verified 2026-08-10
Capture, search, tasks and databases; free sync means bringing your own server.
licenseAGPL-3.0
runsyour machine or their cloud
installDesktop/mobile package, or Docker image for browser-based self-hosting
enginesBuilt-in AI features connect to OpenAI-compatible APIs using a configured endpoint and key
dataA workspace stores block documents as structured .sy JSON files plus assets on disk; SQLite files hold indexes and auxiliary state; documents can export to Markdown, HTML, PDF, and Word
the catch vs EvernoteSiYuan is stronger at structured knowledge than frictionless capture, and its mobile scanning, web clipping, OCR, and turnkey sync are weaker than Evernote's.
setupThe desktop app installs cleanly, but free cross-device sync is not a turnkey feature: official cloud sync is a paid membership feature and Docker hosting does not transparently become desktop/mobile sync
facts verified 2026-08-10
Hierarchical note-taking app for building large personal knowledge bases
licenseAGPL-3.0
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
Evernote with the server blindfolded and the free tier still usable.
licenseGPL-3.0 (client); AGPL-3.0 (sync server)
runsyour machine or their cloud
installHosted web/desktop/mobile app, or an experimental Docker self-hosted sync stack
dataNotes are encrypted on the device and the hosted or self-hosted sync service stores encrypted per-item data; local app data remains on-device and encrypted .nnbackupz backups can be exported
the catch vs EvernoteNotesnook prioritizes encrypted notes but has a less mature task, calendar, scanning, web-clipping, and integration ecosystem than Evernote.
setupHosted use installs cleanly; self-hosting is explicitly experimental and requires Docker plus MongoDB, MinIO/S3-compatible storage, secrets, backups, and client endpoint configuration
facts verified 2026-08-10
AI-powered workspace with docs, wikis, and kanban boards built in Rust/Flutter
licenseAGPL-3.0
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
Docs, whiteboards, and databases fused into one local-first workspace
licenseMIT (open core)
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
Local-first outliner for networked thought with backlinks and daily journals
licenseAGPL-3.0
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
What each one is, in full: Memos · Joplin · SiYuan · Trilium Notes · Notesnook · AppFlowy
last updated 2026-08-29 · no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real
how to choose a Evernote alternative
Easiest to get running
Memos — a one-click install, no server to maintain.
Most proven
AppFlowy, with 75,000 GitHub stars — the largest community of the 8, which usually means more answers when something breaks.
Works on your phone
Joplin has a mobile app on iOS and Android.
what you give up by leaving Evernote
- web clipper quality
- mobile apps
- OCR/search maturity
- sync
- import/export edge cases
- long-term reliability
None of the picks above covers all of it. The full verdict says which gaps matter.
Evernote alternatives at a glance
| tool | license | running it | platforms | stars | active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memos | MIT | one-click install | self-hosted, web | 62,000 | 2026-08 |
| Joplin | AGPL-3.0+ | one-click install | macos, windows, linux, ios, android, cli, browser-extension | 55,800 | 2026-07 |
| SiYuan | AGPL-3.0 | one-click install | macos, windows, linux, android, self-hosted, browser-extension | 45,647 | 2026-08 |
| Trilium Notes | AGPL-3.0 | one-click install | self-hosted, web | 37,000 | 2026-08 |
| Notesnook | GPL-3.0 (client); AGPL-3.0 (sync server) | they host it | web, macos, windows, linux, ios, android, browser-extension | 14,400 | 2026-08 |
| AppFlowy | AGPL-3.0 | docker to self-host | self-hosted, web | 75,000 | 2026-08 |
| AFFiNE | MIT (open core) | docker to self-host | self-hosted, web | 71,000 | 2026-08 |
| Logseq | AGPL-3.0 | one-click install | self-hosted, web | 44,000 | 2026-08 |
why people still pay for Evernote
They pay because all old notes, attachments, scans, and clipped pages are already there. If none of that applies to you, any pick above saves $179.88 a year.
questions about switching from Evernote
Is there an open-source alternative to Evernote?
Yes: Memos, Joplin, SiYuan and 5 more. Every tool on this page is open source: no trials, no crippled tiers.
Can open source really replace Evernote?
Our verdict is YES. AppFlowy (75k stars), AFFiNE (71k stars), Memos (62k stars) are mature open-source replacements for Evernote — self-host with docker and stop paying $14.99/mo. The full verdict, and what you give up by switching, is at caniopensourceit.online/evernote.
What is the easiest open-source Evernote alternative to set up?
Memos — a one-click install, no server to maintain.
What is the most popular open-source Evernote alternative?
By GitHub stars, AppFlowy (75,000). AFFiNE is next with 71,000.
