Alternatives / Tana
Looking for an open source Tana alternative? We compared 12 open source note-taking and knowledge tools by license, outliner support, encryption, sync, and maintenance. Logseq is the closest in outliner style, while AppFlowy, Anytype, and Outline cover broader workspaces.
Written by Maxime DERAME
Last updated:
| Alternative | Best for | License |
|---|---|---|
| AppFlowy | Notes, databases, and local AI | AGPL-3.0 app / infrastructure terms vary |
| Joplin | Encrypted Markdown notes with plugins | AGPL-3.0-or-later (apps) + Joplin Server Personal Use License |
| Logseq | Local-first outliner with backlinks | AGPL-3.0 |
| Outline | Team wiki with real-time editing | BSL-1.1 |
| Docs | Collaborative documents with version control | MIT |
| Notesnook | Zero-knowledge encrypted notes | GPL-3.0 |
| Blinko | AI-assisted card notes | GPL-3.0 |
| Anytype | Local-first encrypted workspace | Any Source Available License 1.0 |
| Standard Notes | Encrypted notes with extensions | AGPL-3.0 app |
| Darkwrite | Offline-first editor with HTML export | AGPL-3.0 |
| OpenNotas | Encrypted notes, sync needs configuration | AGPL-3.0-or-later |
| Justnote | Encrypted notes on the Stacks blockchain (tiny) | GPL-2.0 |
We looked for open-source tools that overlap with Tana's networked notes: outlines, links between notes, structured data, and AI features. We verified each project's license, recent activity, stars, and self-hosting in its repository. None reproduces Tana's supertags exactly. See our methodology for the full criteria.
Logseq is a local-first outliner with bidirectional links and plain-file storage, closest to Tana's block-based thinking. AppFlowy combines notes, databases, and AI with self-hosting and local AI models. Anytype is a local-first encrypted workspace with objects, relations, and a graph view.
Joplin offers end-to-end encryption, Markdown, and plugins, with Joplin Cloud as a paid sync add-on. Notesnook and Standard Notes focus on encrypted notes with sync, and Blinko is a self-hosted AI-assisted card note app.
Outline and Docs are team knowledge bases with real-time editing, aimed at shared wikis. Darkwrite is an offline editor, OpenNotas is an encrypted note app whose sync needs adapter configuration, and Justnote is a small encrypted notes app that relies on the Stacks blockchain.
Outline uses the Business Source License 1.1, and Anytype uses the Any Source Available License 1.0, so neither is open source in the usual sense. Joplin Cloud and Notesnook sync are paid, and Anytype has a business tier.
Logseq, AppFlowy, Joplin, Standard Notes app, Darkwrite, and OpenNotas are AGPL-3.0. Notesnook, Blinko, and Justnote are GPL, and Docs is MIT.
Most had commits within days of this update. Blinko's last commit was in August 2026, and Justnote is tiny with about 68 stars.
Tana is a proprietary cloud workspace whose notes and graph live on its servers, with AI features tied to its plans. Open-source tools store notes as files or in databases you control, offer end-to-end encryption, and avoid subscription pricing, but their structured-data features are less advanced.
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.
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.
Blinko is a self-hosted AI-powered note-taking and personal knowledge management application for quickly capturing ideas and organizing information while keeping control of the deployment.
Pricing: Free and open source under GPL-3.0; self-hosted deployment is 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.
Darkwrite is an AGPL-3.0 offline-first note editor focused on local writing, formatting, lists, images, customization, and export across desktop platforms.
Pricing: Free and open source under AGPL-3.0 with a local-first workflow.
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 | Notion-style workspace |
| Joplin | Note app | AGPL-3.0+ | Sync via cloud or own server | Personal notes |
| Logseq | Outliner | AGPL-3.0 | Local files | Closest to Tana |
| Outline | Team wiki | BSL 1.1 | Yes | Shared knowledge |
| Docs | Documents | MIT | Yes | Team documents |
| Notesnook | Note app | GPL-3.0 | Sync server self-hostable | Privacy |
| Blinko | Card notes | GPL-3.0 | Yes | Quick capture |
| Anytype | Workspace | Any Source Available License 1.0 | Optional backup node | Structured notes |
| Standard Notes | Note app | AGPL-3.0 (app) | Yes | Simple private notes |
| Darkwrite | Editor | AGPL-3.0 | Local | Simple local notes |
| OpenNotas | Note app | AGPL-3.0+ | Needs adapters | Technical users |
| Justnote | Note app | GPL-2.0 | Blockchain storage | Stacks users |
Want an outliner with backlinks
Logseq stores plain Markdown files with bidirectional links and plugins.
Want a Notion-style workspace with local AI
AppFlowy combines notes, databases, and AI with self-hosting and offline mode.
Want structured objects with encryption
Anytype is a local-first encrypted workspace with relations and a graph view, under a source-available license.
Want encrypted note sync
Notesnook is GPL-3.0 with zero-knowledge sync and a self-hostable sync server.