Alternatives / Apple Notes
Looking for an open source Apple Notes alternative? We compared 10 open source note-taking apps by license, encryption, sync, platforms, and self-hosting. They range from self-hosted timelines and encrypted notes to local-first workspaces and plain Markdown knowledge bases.
Written by Maxime DERAME
Last updated:
| Alternative | Best for | License |
|---|---|---|
| Memos | Self-hosted private timeline of notes | MIT |
| Joplin | Encrypted notes with many sync options (server is source available) | AGPL-3.0-or-later (apps) + Joplin Server Personal Use License |
| Tolaria | Markdown knowledge base with Git | AGPL-3.0 |
| Notesnook | End-to-end encrypted notes with a self-hostable server | GPL-3.0 |
| Anytype | Local-first workspace (source available) | Any Source Available License 1.0 |
| Standard Notes | Encrypted, long-lived notes | AGPL-3.0 |
| Beaver Notes | Offline-first notes with linking | MIT |
| Darkwrite | Offline editor with HTML export | AGPL-3.0 |
| OpenNotas | Encrypted cross-platform notes (young project) | AGPL-3.0-or-later |
| Justnote | Decentralized notes on Stacks | GPL-2.0 |
We looked for open-source tools that overlap with Apple Notes' core: quick, searchable notes that sync across devices. We verified each project's license, recent activity, stars, and sync options in its repository. Apple Notes is a simple app tied to iCloud, so we separate easy notes apps from heavier workspaces, and we flag source-available licenses and projects with slow development. See our methodology for the full criteria.
Anytype uses the Any Source Available License 1.0, which is not an OSI open-source license. Joplin's apps are AGPL-3.0-or-later, but its Joplin Server is under a Personal Use License that restricts commercial use. Check these terms before using them in a business.
Joplin, Notesnook, and Standard Notes are the closest in everyday use: fast notes on every platform with sync and end-to-end encryption. Memos is closer to a private microblog timeline you host yourself, and Tolaria and Anytype are heavier knowledge workspaces than a simple notes app.
Joplin, Notesnook, Standard Notes, and OpenNotas offer end-to-end encryption, and Anytype syncs peer to peer without a central server. Beaver Notes and Darkwrite are local-first or offline-first, so sync is limited or manual. Notesnook's sync server is self-hostable.
Memos and Beaver Notes are MIT. Joplin apps, Tolaria, Standard Notes, Darkwrite, and OpenNotas are AGPL-3.0 or AGPL-3.0-or-later. Notesnook clients are GPL-3.0 with an AGPL-3.0 sync server, and Justnote is GPL-2.0.
Memos, Joplin, Tolaria, Notesnook, Anytype, Standard Notes, Beaver Notes, and Darkwrite were updated within weeks of this update. OpenNotas's last commit was in August 2026 and Justnote's in February 2026, so they are slower and smaller.
Apple Notes is a proprietary app that syncs through iCloud and works best on Apple devices, with no real Windows or Linux apps, and limited export and organization options. Open-source alternatives work on all platforms, give you open formats such as Markdown, add end-to-end encryption, and let you choose where notes are stored, at the cost of less seamless Apple integration.
| Alternative | Type | License | Self-hosted | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memos | Notes timeline | MIT | Yes | Quick private notes |
| Joplin | Notes app | AGPL-3.0-or-later + Server Personal Use | Yes | Encrypted sync |
| Tolaria | Knowledge base | AGPL-3.0 | Local files | Markdown and Git |
| Notesnook | Encrypted notes | GPL-3.0 clients / AGPL-3.0 server | Yes | Private notes |
| Anytype | Local-first workspace | Any Source Available License 1.0 | Peer to peer | Local-first workspaces |
| Standard Notes | Encrypted notes | AGPL-3.0 | Yes | Long-lived notes |
| Beaver Notes | Offline notes | MIT | Local | Linked notes |
| Darkwrite | Offline editor | AGPL-3.0 | Local | HTML export |
| OpenNotas | Encrypted notes | AGPL-3.0-or-later | Unclear | Cross-platform notes |
| Justnote | Decentralized notes | GPL-2.0 | Decentralized | Stacks users |
Want a private, self-hosted notes timeline
Memos is MIT-licensed with Markdown, a simple timeline, and easy self-hosting.
Want encrypted notes that sync everywhere
Joplin offers end-to-end encryption, Markdown, web clipping, and many sync options, though Joplin Server has a Personal Use License.
Want encrypted notes with a self-hostable server
Notesnook offers end-to-end encryption and a self-hostable sync server, with GPL-3.0 clients.
Want long-lived encrypted notes
Standard Notes offers AES-256 encryption, offline access, and extensions across platforms.
Want plain Markdown files with Git
Tolaria stores notes as Markdown files with Git integration and AI connectivity under AGPL-3.0.
Want a local-first workspace without a central server
Anytype syncs peer to peer with encryption, but its Any Source Available License is not open source.
Want offline notes with linking
Beaver Notes stores data locally, with Markdown, note linking, and attachments under MIT.