Logseq Review

Logseq calls itself a knowledge management and collaboration platform that focuses on privacy, longevity, and user control, offering tools for knowledge management, collaboration, PDF annotation, and task management with multiple file formats, plus a growing ecosystem of plugins and themes and mobile apps. The significant development is the Database version: DB graphs, a new mobile app (iOS now and Android coming soon), and real-time collaboration (RTC). The README states the DB version is in beta, with the mobile app and RTC in alpha, which means data loss is possible, so it recommends automated backups or regular SQLite database backups, and suggests creating a dedicated test graph and choosing one non-critical project. You can try the web version at app.logseq.com, a nightly desktop build, or build from source (a test/db branch for stable releases and master for the latest). Bugs go to a db-test repository and discussions to Discord channels. The code is AGPL-3.0.

Download the latest release from GitHub or the project site and install it like any desktop app; Linux users can use an installer script. To try the Database version, use the web app, the nightly desktop artifact, or a source build. Back up your data first, because the README warns the DB version can lose data. We did not install it.

An outliner where every bullet is a block and pages link to each other, with daily journals as the default entry point, a graph view, PDF annotations, and tasks. People coming from Roam Research will find it familiar. We did not test it.

• Outliner with bidirectional links and a graph view
• PDF annotation and task management
• Plugins and themes
• Mobile apps
• Database version with DB graphs (beta)
• Real-time collaboration in alpha

• Strong privacy and local-first stance
• Large ecosystem of plugins and community content
• Open source with an active repository, about 45,300 stars
• Clear communication of beta status and risk

• The Database version is beta and the mobile and RTC parts are alpha, and the README warns that data loss is possible
• Migrating from file-based graphs requires reading the DB changes page
• Sync and collaboration are still evolving
• The README does not describe sync pricing or hosted options

Logseq is free under AGPL-3.0. The README does not describe paid sync or hosted plans, so check the project website for current sync options.

Roam Research is a hosted, subscription outliner that popularized networked thought. Logseq offers a similar block-based, linked approach that is free, local-first, and open source, with the transition to a database version as the main caveat.

• Researchers and writers who think in linked outlines
• Users who want local files and open source
• Roam users looking for a free alternative

• Users who cannot risk data loss during the DB beta
• Teams needing mature real-time collaboration
• Anyone who prefers page-based documents over outlines