Alternatives / Google Keep
Fourteen options span quick-capture apps, encrypted note platforms, personal knowledge management, and broader workspaces. Not every project is a direct Keep replacement: the comparison calls out tools focused on tracking or structured knowledge instead.
Written by Maxime DERAME
Last updated:
Google Keep is a capture tool for quick thoughts, checklists, reminders, images, labels, and short notes. Memos and itsnotes stay closest to that workflow. Joplin, Notesnook, and Standard Notes add a more traditional notebook structure. Logseq, Tolaria, Anytype, and AppFlowy are larger knowledge-management systems with a steeper learning curve.
Memos replaces folders with a chronological timeline. itsnotes keeps the visual card model and adds folders, list views, timeline markers, and Google Keep import. Joplin and Notesnook use more conventional notebooks and tags for people who need stronger organization.
Notesnook and Standard Notes make end-to-end encrypted sync central. Anytype is local-first, peer-to-peer, and encrypted, but its current client license is source available. Logseq and Tolaria keep notes in local files. Memos and itsnotes can run on your own infrastructure. OpenNotas is listed with an unverified license, so confirm its terms before adopting it.
Memos and itsnotes are the closest capture-focused options; Joplin, Notesnook, and Standard Notes are general note applications. Logseq, Tolaria, Anytype, and AppFlowy are more structured knowledge platforms. Ryot tracks media and fitness information rather than general notes, so treat it as an adjacent personal tracker rather than a Keep replacement.
Google Keep is built for quick capture: short notes, checklists, reminders, labels, images, and synchronization across devices. Alternatives range from similarly lightweight sticky-note tools to encrypted notebooks and personal knowledge systems. Decide whether you need a direct capture replacement, local files, self-hosted sync, end-to-end encryption, or a broader workspace.
| Tool | Stars | License | Self-hosted | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AppFlowy | 76.9K | AGPL-3.0 | Yes | Open-source self-hosted application; hosted and AI services may have separate plans. |
| Memos | 63K | MIT | Yes | Free and open source; self-hosted. |
| Logseq | 45K | AGPL-3.0 | Local-first | Open-source, local-first app; sync options may be separate. |
| Tolaria | 19.7K | AGPL-3.0-or-later | Local-first | Open-source local-first desktop application. |
| Notesnook | 14.6K | GPL-3.0 clients / AGPL-3.0 sync server | Yes | Free app with some hosted features on paid plans; sync server can be self-hosted. |
| Anytype | 8.8K | Any Source Available License 1.0 | Local-first | Local-first app; review source-available terms and commercial restrictions. |
| Standard Notes | 6.6K | AGPL-3.0 app / GPL-3.0 server | Yes | Free core with some advanced paid features; server can be self-hosted. |
| Ryot | 3.6K | GPL-3.0 (Pro features separate) | Yes | Self-hosted open-source core with separately available Pro functionality. |
| itsnotes | 31 | MIT | Yes | Free and open source; self-hosted. |
| Joplin | — | AGPL-3.0-or-later | Yes | Free app with multiple sync choices; optional hosted services are available. |
| Zen | — | AGPL-3.0 | Yes | Open-source self-hosted project. |
| Darkwrite | — | AGPL-3.0 | Local-first | Open-source local-first application. |
| OpenNotas | — | Unverified | Local-first | Verify the current license and project terms before adoption. |
| Justnote | — | GPL-2.0 | Encrypted sync | Open-source project; verify current sync and hosting options. |
Want the closest lightweight quick-note experience
Memos keeps capture fast with short Markdown notes in a searchable chronological timeline; itsnotes offers a more direct sticky-note card interface.
Want Google Keep-style cards you can self-host
itsnotes preserves a card-based capture workflow and supports Google Keep imports, but it is a very young project.
Want a mature all-purpose notes app
Joplin combines notebooks, checklists, tags, attachments, Markdown, offline use, plugins, and multiple sync options.
Want end-to-end encrypted notes and sync
Notesnook centers on encrypted synchronization and includes reminders, checklists, attachments, and a self-hostable sync server.
Want a minimalist encrypted notes platform
Standard Notes focuses on encrypted cross-platform notes, offline access, Markdown, files, and self-hosting.
Want local Markdown files and backlinks
Logseq stores notes locally as plain text and adds backlinks, block references, queries, flashcards, and whiteboards.
Want a Markdown vault with Git history
Tolaria treats a folder of Markdown files as the source of truth and includes Git workflows and AI integrations.
Want a larger notes and project workspace
AppFlowy adds documents, databases, project management, wikis, and AI; it is broader and heavier than Keep.
Want local-first encrypted structured knowledge
Anytype combines local data, peer-to-peer sync, and end-to-end encryption, but its current client license is source available.
Want personal media and fitness tracking
Ryot tracks media and fitness data; it is adjacent to notes, not a general-purpose note-taking replacement.
Want offline notes on one device
Darkwrite focuses on local writing and export without requiring a cloud account.
Want a note app after checking its license
OpenNotas emphasizes offline use and encryption, but the supplied information does not establish a clear software license.