Alternatives / Craft
Looking for an open source Craft alternative? We compared 11 open source note-taking and knowledge tools by license, encryption, self-hosting, and collaboration. They range from Notion-style workspaces to encrypted notes apps and team wikis, and some use source-available licenses.
Written by Maxime DERAME
Last updated:
| Alternative | Best for | License |
|---|---|---|
| AppFlowy | Closest self-hostable workspace for notes, databases, and AI | AGPL-3.0 app / infrastructure terms vary |
| Joplin | Encrypted notes with many sync options (server is source available) | AGPL-3.0-or-later (apps) + Joplin Server Personal Use License |
| Logseq | Local-first linked notes | AGPL-3.0 |
| Outline | Team knowledge base (Business Source License) | BSL-1.1 |
| Docmost | Self-hosted wiki for regulated teams | AGPL-3.0 core |
| Docs | Collaborative documents with real-time editing | MIT |
| Notesnook | End-to-end encrypted notes | GPL-3.0 |
| Anytype | Local-first workspace (source available) | Any Source Available License 1.0 |
| Standard Notes | Encrypted, long-lived notes | AGPL-3.0 |
| OpenNotas | Encrypted notes (young project) | AGPL-3.0-or-later |
| Justnote | Notes on Stacks (small project) | GPL-2.0 |
We looked for open-source tools that overlap with Craft's core: writing structured documents and notes with a clean editor and syncing across devices. We verified each project's license, recent activity, stars, and self-hosting in its repository. Craft is a polished native app, so we note which alternatives are workspaces, wikis, or plain notes apps, and flag source-available licenses. See our methodology for the full criteria.
Outline uses the Business Source License 1.1, and Anytype uses the Any Source Available License 1.0, so both are source available rather than OSI open source. Joplin's apps are AGPL-3.0-or-later, but Joplin Server has a Personal Use License. AppFlowy, Logseq, Standard Notes, and Docmost are AGPL-3.0 (Docmost with enterprise features), Notesnook is GPL-3.0, and Docs is MIT.
AppFlowy is the closest as a self-hostable workspace combining notes, databases, and AI, with local models supported. Docs offers real-time collaborative documents, Outline and Docmost are team knowledge bases and wikis, and Joplin, Notesnook, Standard Notes, and OpenNotas are encrypted notes apps.
Notesnook, Standard Notes, Joplin, and OpenNotas offer end-to-end encryption, and Anytype syncs peer to peer. Joplin Cloud sync is a paid add-on, though Dropbox or OneDrive sync works without paying, and Anytype and Notesnook have paid tiers for larger needs.
Most projects had commits within days of this update. OpenNotas's last commit was in August 2026 and Justnote's in February 2026, so they are smaller and slower.
Craft is a proprietary app with a subscription for sync and collaboration, and its best experience is on Apple devices. Open-source alternatives run on more platforms, keep your notes in open formats or on your own server, add end-to-end encryption, and avoid a subscription, at the cost of less native polish.
AGPL-3.0 main application combining documents, nested pages, wikis, databases, Kanban, calendars, project management, AI, desktop and mobile apps, offline support, real-time collaboration, and self-hosting. Cloud and infrastructure components have evolved toward open-core/commercial licensing, so review terms per component.
Pricing: Open-source application with hosted and self-hosting offerings; some team infrastructure capabilities are commercial.
Joplin is a cross-platform note-taking app with end-to-end encryption, Markdown support, web clipping, attachments, and sync through Joplin Cloud, Dropbox, OneDrive, WebDAV, or Nextcloud. The apps are AGPL-3.0-or-later, while the self-hostable Joplin Server is under a Personal Use License, which is source available rather than open source.
Pricing: Free and open source; optional hosted synchronization is available.
Logseq is an AGPL-3.0 local-first knowledge management application centered around outlines, blocks, backlinks, queries, flashcards, whiteboards, and connected Markdown documents.
Pricing: Free and open source under AGPL-3.0; the core workflow is local-first and file-based.
Team knowledge base with nested documents, collections, real-time editing, comments, search, integrations, permissions, public sharing, and AI-powered search. Current versions use Business Source License 1.1, which is source available rather than OSI-approved open source.
Pricing: Self-hostable under BSL-1.1 terms; managed service and commercial offerings are available.
AGPL-3.0-core wiki with spaces, hierarchical pages, real-time editing, permissions, comments, page history, diagrams, embeds, search, file attachments, AI assistant, MCP support, and Confluence import. Enterprise functionality is licensed separately.
Pricing: Self-hosted open-source core; Enterprise features are separate.
Docs is an MIT-licensed browser-based collaborative document platform focused on real-time editing, permissions, version history, comments, annotations, and secure sharing.
Pricing: Free and self-hostable under MIT; hosting and deployment costs may apply.
Notesnook is a GPL-3.0 privacy-focused note-taking application with end-to-end encryption, cross-platform clients, note linking, a web clipper, rich editing, offline support, and self-hostable synchronization.
Pricing: Open source under GPL-3.0 with self-hostable sync; hosted services may be available.
Anytype is a local-first encrypted knowledge workspace with documents, tasks, databases, wikis, Kanban and gallery views, graph relationships, and peer-to-peer synchronization. Its source is public under the Any Source Available License 1.0, which is source available rather than OSI-approved open source.
Pricing: Source available under Any Source Available License 1.0; local-first clients and self-hosted infrastructure options are available, with commercial-use restrictions.
Standard Notes is an AGPL-3.0 encrypted note-taking application focused on privacy, longevity, secure synchronization, offline access, and a self-hosted server option.
Pricing: Open-source main app with self-hosting; some advanced hosted features require a subscription.
OpenNotas is a cross-platform note-taking application focused on simplicity, offline usage, synchronization, and end-to-end encryption. It is open source under AGPL-3.0-or-later.
Pricing: Free and open source under AGPL-3.0-or-later.
Justnote is a GPL-2.0 private note-taking application with synchronization and end-to-end encrypted data, focused on simple cross-device notes rather than complex personal knowledge management.
Pricing: Free and open source under GPL-2.0; verify current project availability.
| Alternative | Type | License | Self-hosted | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AppFlowy | Workspace | AGPL-3.0 | Yes | Notes, databases, and AI |
| Joplin | Notes app | AGPL-3.0-or-later + Server Personal Use | Yes | Encrypted sync |
| Logseq | Outliner | AGPL-3.0 | Local-first | Linked notes |
| Outline | Team wiki | Business Source License 1.1 | Yes | Knowledge bases |
| Docmost | Wiki | AGPL-3.0 core | Yes | Regulated teams |
| Docs | Collaborative documents | MIT | Yes | Real-time editing |
| 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 | Workspaces |
| Standard Notes | Encrypted notes | AGPL-3.0 | Yes | Long-lived notes |
| OpenNotas | Encrypted notes | AGPL-3.0-or-later | Unclear | Personal notes |
| Justnote | Decentralized notes | GPL-2.0 | Decentralized | Stacks users |
Want a self-hostable all-in-one workspace
AppFlowy combines notes, databases, and AI, with local models supported, under AGPL-3.0.
Want real-time collaborative documents
Docs is an MIT document collaboration platform with real-time editing and version control.
Want a team wiki
Docmost is a self-hosted wiki for teams and regulated industries, with enterprise features under a separate license.
Want end-to-end encrypted notes
Notesnook offers end-to-end encryption with a self-hostable sync server and GPL-3.0 clients.
Want linked notes stored locally
Logseq is a local-first outliner with linked notes, flashcards, and PDF annotation under AGPL-3.0.