# Notes App Tier List - Drew's Grades & Notes ## S Tier - Can't Live Without It ### Obsidian **Grade: S** The king of local-first markdown note-taking. Uses a vault of plain .md files on your filesystem so you always own your data. The plugin ecosystem is absurd - there are plugins for basically everything (kanban boards, calendars, dataview queries, graph views, etc.). The graph view showing connections between notes is genuinely useful for knowledge management. Sync is paid ($4/mo) but you can use Syncthing or Git to self-sync for free. No account required. Works on Linux, Windows, Mac, iOS, Android. The learning curve is moderate - it can be as simple or as complex as you want it. Not open source (the app itself is proprietary, but your data is plain text), which is the only real knock against it. - Local-first, plain markdown files - Massive plugin ecosystem - Graph view for linked notes - Free to use, paid sync ($4/mo) or use Syncthing/Git - Apps on every platform - Not open source (but your data is) ### Org-mode (Emacs) **Grade: S** If you already live in Emacs, org-mode is unmatched. It's a note-taking system, task manager, spreadsheet, literate programming environment, and publishing tool all in one. Plain text files (.org) that you own forever. The agenda system for TODO management is best-in-class. The catch is obvious: you need to use Emacs. The learning curve is a cliff. But for those who climb it, nothing else comes close in terms of raw power and flexibility. Syncing is whatever you want (Git, Syncthing, etc.). Mobile options exist (Orgzly on Android, beorg on iOS) but they're limited compared to the desktop experience. - Unmatched power and flexibility - Plain text files you own - Best TODO/agenda system available - Requires Emacs (massive learning curve) - Mobile apps exist but are limited - Completely free and open source --- ## A Tier - Great, Would Recommend ### Joplin **Grade: A** Solid open-source note app with real sync capabilities. Supports markdown, has a web clipper, E2E encryption, and apps on every platform (Linux AppImage, Windows, Mac, iOS, Android). The self-hosted Joplin Server supports multi-user which is great for families or small teams. Setup is reasonable - docker-compose with a Postgres database. The UI is functional but not beautiful. It can feel a bit clunky compared to Obsidian. Notes are stored in a database, not plain files, which some people dislike. But as a full-featured self-hosted note solution with real mobile apps, it's hard to beat. - Open source, E2E encryption - Apps on every platform with real sync - Self-hosted server supports multi-user - Web clipper for saving articles - UI is functional but not the prettiest - Notes in database, not plain files ### Logseq **Grade: A** Outliner-style note app that's fully open source. If you like bullet-point/block-based thinking (like Roam Research), Logseq is the FOSS answer. Uses plain markdown/org-mode files locally. Has a graph view, daily journals, flashcards, and PDF annotation. The block-based approach is either exactly what you want or completely wrong for how your brain works. No middle ground. Sync is available through their cloud or you can use Git/Syncthing. Desktop apps on all platforms, mobile apps exist but are still catching up. - Open source outliner-style notes - Plain markdown or org files on disk - Graph view, daily journals, flashcards - Block-based - love it or hate it - Mobile apps improving but not great yet - Community plugins available ### Notesnook **Grade: A-** End-to-end encrypted note-taking with a real focus on privacy. This is the app you recommend to someone who says "I want encrypted notes that aren't Google." Has desktop and mobile apps, rich text editor, and the encryption is solid. Self-hosting is where it gets rough though - you need 6 containers, 4 subdomains, MongoDB replica set, and MinIO. Took 3-4 hours to get running. No web UI either, apps only. As a hosted service it's excellent. As a self-hosted solution, the complexity knocks it down. The encryption is the real selling point. - E2E encrypted, privacy-focused - Desktop and mobile apps - Self-hosting is complex (6 containers, 4 subdomains) - No web UI - apps only - Great as a hosted service - Self-hosting difficulty is the main drawback --- ## B Tier - Solid, Has Its Place ### Nextcloud Notes **Grade: B+** If you already run Nextcloud, this is a no-brainer add-on. It's just a notes app inside your existing Nextcloud instance. Markdown support, folder organization, and it syncs through Nextcloud's existing sync infrastructure. There are decent mobile apps (Nextcloud Notes on Android). The editor is basic compared to Obsidian/Joplin but it works. The real value is that there's zero additional setup if you already have Nextcloud. If you don't run Nextcloud, setting it up just for notes would be overkill. - Zero extra setup if you already run Nextcloud - Syncs through existing Nextcloud infrastructure - Markdown support, basic editor - Android app available - Not worth setting up Nextcloud just for this - Basic compared to dedicated note apps ### Trilium Notes **Grade: B+** A hierarchical note-taking app that's like a personal wiki. It's powerful with features like note cloning (same note in multiple places), relation maps, scripting with JS, and a built-in web clipper. Single-user only. Self-hosting is straightforward - single Docker container. The UI is dense and takes getting used to. TriliumNext is the community fork that's actively maintained since the original developer stepped back. Great for people who want to build a knowledge base. Not great for quick capture or mobile use. - Hierarchical personal wiki - Powerful features (cloning, scripting, relations) - Single-user only, no sync server by default - Single Docker container, easy to self-host - Dense UI, learning curve - TriliumNext is the active community fork ### Zettlr **Grade: B** Academic-focused markdown editor built for researchers and writers. Supports Zettelkasten method, citations (BibTeX/CSL), and can export to PDF/DOCX/HTML via Pandoc. If you write papers or do research, this is worth a look. For general note-taking it's a bit heavy-handed. Open source, local files, Linux/Windows/Mac. No mobile apps. No sync built in (use Git/Syncthing). The citation management alone makes it valuable for its target audience. - Academic/research focused - Zettelkasten method support - Citation management (BibTeX/CSL) - Export via Pandoc - Desktop only, no mobile - Overkill for simple note-taking ### QOwnNotes **Grade: B** Open source plain-text markdown note app that optionally integrates with Nextcloud. Stores notes as .md files. Has a scripting engine, TODO list integration, and versioning through Nextcloud. The UI feels a bit dated. It's like a middle ground between a simple text editor and a full note management system. If you want plain markdown files with Nextcloud sync and don't need anything fancy, it works well. Desktop only (Linux, Windows, Mac). - Plain markdown files - Nextcloud integration for sync - Scripting engine - UI feels dated - Desktop only - Good middle-ground option ### Memos **Grade: B** Think of it as a self-hosted Twitter/Microblog for your thoughts. Quick capture, timeline-based, tags, and sharing. Multi-user support works well. Docker setup is simple. This is not a traditional note app - it's for short-form thoughts, quick captures, and journaling. If that's what you need, it's excellent. If you need long-form notes, document organization, or markdown files, look elsewhere. The simplicity is both its strength and limitation. - Self-hosted microblog/quick capture - Timeline-based, tags, sharing - Multi-user support - Simple Docker setup - Not for long-form notes or document organization - Great for what it is, limited scope ### Docmost **Grade: B** A self-hosted wiki/documentation platform, basically a Notion/Confluence alternative. Collaborative editing, workspaces, page trees. If you need a team wiki or documentation site, this fits well. It's newer and still maturing. More of a wiki/docs tool than a personal note app, so it depends on your use case. Open source, Docker deployment. - Self-hosted Notion/Confluence alternative - Collaborative editing, workspaces - Better as a team wiki than personal notes - Still relatively new/maturing - Open source, Docker deployment - Wrong tool if you just want personal notes --- ## C Tier - Usable But Meh ### Simplenote **Grade: C+** Made by Automattic (WordPress folks). It's... simple. Plain text notes with tags, synced across devices. That's it. No markdown rendering (just plain text), no folders, no attachments. Open source. Apps on everything. Free. If you literally just want plain text synced everywhere with zero friction, this works. But there are better options for basically every use case. No self-hosting option. - Dead simple, plain text only - Syncs across all platforms for free - No markdown rendering, no folders, no attachments - Open source - No self-hosting option - Too basic for most people ### Cherrytree **Grade: C+** Hierarchical note-taking with rich text. Been around forever on Linux. Stores notes in XML or SQLite. Has code highlighting, tables, images. It feels like a 2010-era app and the UI shows it. No sync, no mobile apps, no web access. It's a solid desktop-only note app for people who don't need any of the modern features. If it works for you, great, but it's hard to recommend to new users in 2026. - Hierarchical rich text notes - Code highlighting, tables, images - Feels dated, 2010-era UI - No sync, no mobile, no web - Stores in XML or SQLite - Fine if it's already your workflow ### Flatnotes **Grade: C+** Dead simple self-hosted markdown notes. Single Docker container, no database, notes stored as .md files on disk. Set it up in 5 minutes. That simplicity is both the appeal and the limitation. Single user, no mobile apps, no collaboration, basic features. It's the "I just need a web-based place to write markdown notes" option. Good for that specific use case but nothing else. - Stupidly simple to self-host (5 minutes) - Single container, no database - Notes as .md files on disk - Single user, web only - Very basic features - Perfect for minimal needs, nothing more ### Google Keep **Grade: C** Sticky-note style quick capture. Color-coded notes, checklists, reminders, image notes. Syncs through Google. The problem is obvious: it's Google. Your notes are in Google's ecosystem with no real export path. No markdown, no organization beyond labels, no long-form support. It's fine for grocery lists and quick reminders. Using it as your actual note system is asking for trouble. - Quick capture, sticky-note style - Checklists, reminders, image notes - Locked into Google ecosystem - No markdown, no real organization - No export, no self-hosting - Fine for grocery lists, bad for real notes ### Many Notes **Grade: C** Simple markdown note-taking web app. Multi-user with open registration. Notes stored as .md files on the filesystem which is nice for backups. That's about it. It works, the UI is clean enough, but there's nothing that makes it stand out. If you want multi-user web-based markdown notes with file-based storage and don't need anything else, it's fine. Just... fine. - Simple web-based markdown notes - Multi-user, open registration - .md files on filesystem - Clean but basic - Nothing standout - Functional but unremarkable ### Gnome Notes (Bijiben) **Grade: C** The default GNOME note app. It exists. Simple notes with basic formatting. Integrates with GNOME Online Accounts for sync. If you use GNOME and want something that just lives in your desktop environment, it's there. But it's extremely basic and hasn't seen much love development-wise. Most GNOME users would be better served by literally any other app on this list. - Default GNOME note app - Very basic formatting - GNOME Online Accounts sync - Barely maintained - Too basic for most use cases - It exists, that's about it ### Iotas **Grade: C** A newer GNOME-focused note app meant to be a modern replacement for Gnome Notes. Markdown support, clean GTK4/libadwaita UI. Still early days. Looks nice and fits the GNOME aesthetic well. Limited features compared to more mature apps. If you're a GNOME purist who wants a native-feeling markdown note app, worth watching. Not ready to be a primary notes solution yet. - Modern GNOME note app (GTK4/libadwaita) - Markdown support - Clean, native GNOME feel - Still early, limited features - Worth watching for GNOME users - Not ready as a primary solution --- ## D Tier - Hard to Recommend ### Notion **Grade: D+** Powerful all-in-one workspace, but proprietary, cloud-only, no self-hosting, no offline mode (or barely functional offline), and your data is locked in their format. The block-based editor is nice. The templates are nice. The databases are powerful. But you own nothing. If Notion goes down or changes pricing, you're scrambling. The free tier has limitations. No Linux desktop app (Electron wrapper exists unofficially). For a podcast about Linux, this is a tough sell. It's genuinely good software trapped in a terrible model. - Powerful block-based editor and databases - Proprietary, cloud-only, no self-hosting - No real offline mode - Data lock-in, poor export - No official Linux app - Great software, terrible ownership model ### Evernote **Grade: D** The OG note app that peaked in 2015 and has been declining since. Used to be the standard. Now it's bloated, expensive, and constantly changing ownership/direction. Free tier is severely limited. The web clipper is still good. But the pricing, the restrictions, the uncertainty about the company's future - it's hard to recommend. If you're still on Evernote, it's time to migrate. - Former king, now in decline - Bloated and expensive - Free tier severely limited - Company direction uncertain - Web clipper still decent - Time to migrate if you're still here ### KaraKeep **Grade: D** This is a bookmark manager, not a note app. AI-based tagging, full text search, browser extensions, Floccus support. As a bookmark manager it's actually decent. But it's on a note app tier list and it's just not that. Self-hosting is straightforward. Multi-user. If you need a self-hosted bookmark manager, look at it. For notes, look elsewhere. - Bookmark manager, not a note app - AI-based tagging, full text search - Browser extensions, Floccus support - Easy to self-host, multi-user - Decent at what it actually is - Wrong category for this list ### NoteDiscovery **Grade: D** Single-user note app with weirdly no built-in authentication. You need to put Cloudflare or another auth proxy in front of it to even secure it. Can run on PikaPods. It's a niche tool that doesn't do enough to justify the awkward auth situation. Unless you have a very specific reason to use this, there are better options everywhere you look. - Single-user, no built-in authentication - Need external auth (Cloudflare, etc.) - Available on PikaPods - Not enough features to stand out - Awkward security model - Hard to justify over alternatives ### Journiv **Grade: D** A journaling-focused app. If journaling is specifically what you want, it might work, but the feature set is thin and there are better journaling-specific tools out there. Limited information and community around it. Not widely adopted enough to have confidence in its longevity. - Journaling focused - Thin feature set - Limited community/adoption - Longevity concerns - Better journaling tools exist - Not enough to recommend --- ## F Tier - Avoid ### Standard Notes **Grade: F** The self-hosting experience is an absolute disaster. Backend API runs but there's no web UI included. The desktop app can't connect to self-hosted servers properly. The architecture is absurdly complex (API gateway, auth, files, revisions, syncing-server, MySQL, Redis, LocalStack). 2+ hours wasted and couldn't get a working client connection. As a hosted service it might be fine, but for self-hosting this is broken. The documentation for self-hosted client connectivity is poor to nonexistent. Avoid for self-hosting. - Self-hosting is broken/impractical - No web UI, app can't connect to self-hosted server - Absurdly complex architecture - 2+ hours wasted, never got it working - Poor self-hosting documentation - Hosted service might be fine, self-hosting is F-tier