Open Source Note Taking & Knowledge Management Tools
A curated collection of the best open source applications for taking notes and managing personal knowledge..
Markdown docs wired into tasks, email, and agents
Stars
Stars growing quickly over the last 30 days6,152Last commit
5 hours agoLicense
AGPL-3.0
Collaborative markdown documents with real-time CRDT editing, AI agent cursors, mention linking, and built-in properties tied to your tasks, channels, and email.
Open Source Alternative to:
AI workspace for docs, projects, and wikis you control
Stars
78,217Last commit
3 days agoLicense
AGPL-3.0
Open source collaborative workspace combining notes, databases, and AI with full data ownership, offline support, and self-hosting options.
Open Source Alternative to:
Docs, whiteboards, and databases in one privacy-first workspace
Stars
74,231Last commit
22 hours agoLicense
MIT
An open-source, local-first knowledge base that merges structured docs, infinite whiteboards, databases, and AI into a single workspace for teams and creators.
Open Source Alternative to:
Self-hosted timeline for quick notes, logs, and snippets
Stars
64,286Last commit
12 hours agoLicense
MIT
Memos is a self-hosted, open-source note-taking app built around a private timeline. Write in Markdown, skip the folder setup, and keep your data on your own server.
Open Source Alternative to:
Encrypted note-taking that syncs across all your devices
Stars
57,042Last commit
6 hours agoLicense
Unknown
Cross-platform note-taking app with end-to-end encryption, Markdown support, web clipping, and sync via Dropbox, OneDrive, or Joplin Cloud.
Open Source Alternative to:
AI-powered research notebook with full privacy control
Stars
Stars growing over the last 30 days41,602Last commit
2 days agoLicense
MIT
Combines AI summarization, podcast generation, and multi-format content ingestion for researchers and students who want to keep their data private.
Open Source Alternative to:
Privacy-first knowledge management with block-level linking
Stars
47,089Last commit
5 hours agoLicense
AGPL-3.0
Personal knowledge management system with WYSIWYG block editing, bidirectional links, spaced repetition flashcards, a relational database, and end-to-end encrypted sync.
Open Source Alternative to:
Privacy-first knowledge base that connects your notes
Stars
45,481Last commit
6 hours agoLicense
AGPL-3.0
Local-first, open-source knowledge management tool with bidirectional linking, outlines, flashcards, PDF annotations, and whiteboards for building a connected second brain.
Open Source Alternative to:
Fast, collaborative wiki for teams who need organized docs
Stars
41,177Last commit
11 hours agoLicense
BUSL-1.1
Team knowledge base with real-time collaboration, AI-powered search, Slack integration, and self-hosting support for internal docs and wikis.
Open Source Alternative to:
AI second brain for research, automation, and personal agents
Stars
37,998Last commit
3 months agoLicense
AGPL-3.0
Self-hostable AI assistant that connects to your docs and the web, lets you build agents, schedule automations, and run research with verifiable citations.
Open Source Alternative to:
Local-first, Git-native personal knowledge base with AI
Stars
20,461Last commit
11 hours agoLicense
AGPL-3.0
A free, open source note-taking app built on plain Markdown files, Git version control, and direct AI model integration. No account required.
Open Source Alternative to:
Cross-platform, secure password manager
Stars
29,779Last commit
6 hours agoLicense
GPL-3.0
KeePassXC is an open-source password manager that securely stores and manages sensitive information across Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Open Source Alternative to:
Self-hosted wiki with AI, compliance, and real-time editing
Stars
22,227Last commit
12 hours agoLicense
AGPL-3.0
Self-hosted wiki platform for enterprise teams with real-time collaboration, built-in AI, SSO, RBAC permissions, and compliance support for ITAR, FedRAMP, and GDPR.
Open Source Alternative to:
Privacy-first knowledge base with any AI model you choose
Stars
16,786Last commit
7 hours agoLicense
Apache-2.0
Self-hostable NotebookLM alternative that lets teams build searchable knowledge bases from diverse sources, with support for any LLM and no data limits.
Open Source Alternative to:
Zero-knowledge encrypted notes that sync across all devices
Stars
14,887Last commit
6 hours agoLicense
GPL-3.0
End-to-end encrypted note-taking app with zero-knowledge architecture, cross-device sync, web clipper, and a self-hostable sync server.
Open Source Alternative to:
Collect, organize, cite, and share research in one place
Stars
15,855Last commit
13 hours agoLicense
Unknown
Reference manager that captures sources from the web, organizes them with tags and collections, and generates citations in 9,000+ styles for Word, LibreOffice, and Google Docs.
Open Source Alternative to:
AI-Powered Note Taking App
Stars
11,163Last commit
7 hours agoLicense
GPL-3.0
The next generation of open-source AI-powered card notes designed to help you quickly capture and organize inspiration so that ideas never run out.
Open Source Alternative to:
Private meeting notes, no bots, files you own
Stars
Stars growing over the last 30 days9,773Last commit
6 hours agoLicense
MIT
Records system audio without joining your call, then turns rough notes into editable summaries. Audio, transcripts, and notes stay as local files.
Open Source Alternative to:
Private workspace for notes, tasks, and databases
Stars
9,049Last commit
2 days agoLicense
Unknown
A local-first, encrypted workspace for notes, tasks, databases, and chats. Your data stays on your device, syncs peer-to-peer, and never passes through a central server.
Open Source Alternative to:
Programmable notes with queries, Lua scripting, and wiki links
Stars
Stars growing over the last 30 days6,460Last commit
16 hours agoLicense
MIT
A self-hosted, browser-based note-taking system that turns plain Markdown pages into a queryable, scriptable knowledge base you control.
Open Source Alternative to:
Secure, encrypted notes for your digital life
Stars
6,698Last commit
1 day agoLicense
AGPL-3.0
Cross-platform note-taking app with end-to-end encryption, offline access, and powerful organization features for privacy-conscious users.
Open Source Alternative to:
Browser and notebook combined with local-first AI
Stars
3,619Last commit
2 months agoLicense
Apache-2.0
A browser that doubles as a personal notebook, letting you research, summarize, and take notes on web pages, PDFs, and videos without switching apps.
Open Source Alternative to:
Collaborative content creation for technical teams
Stars
2,005Last commit
3 days agoLicense
AGPL-3.0
A powerful platform for technical writing, offering real-time collaboration, version control, and seamless integrations.
Open Source Alternative to:
Open-source knowledge management and collaboration platform
Stars
1,331Last commit
17 hours agoLicense
LGPL-2.1
XWiki is a flexible, feature-rich wiki software that helps organizations structure and share knowledge efficiently.
Open Source Alternative to:
Local-first notes app with no cloud, no AI, no tracking
Stars
1,365Last commit
19 days agoLicense
MIT
A privacy-focused, offline-first note-taking app that stores everything on your device, with Markdown, note linking, file attachments, LaTeX math, and bring-your-own sync.
Open Source Alternative to:
Clean, distraction-free note-taking with local storage
Stars
1,193Last commit
11 days agoLicense
AGPL-3.0
Minimal note-taking app storing Markdown notes in local SQLite database. Features instant search, flexible tagging, keyboard shortcuts, and offline access.
Open Source Alternative to:
Distraction-free note-taking with powerful features
Stars
320Last commit
21 days agoLicense
AGPL-3.0
A customizable, offline-first note editor that lets you format text, create lists, add images, and export to HTML - all while maintaining your privacy.
Open Source Alternative to:
Fast, secure, and free personal note-taking app
Stars
179Last commit
3 months agoLicense
Unknown
OpenNotas is a multi-platform, end-to-end encrypted note-taking app that offers simplicity, synchronization, and offline functionality.
Open Source Alternative to:
Self-hosted sticky notes with better organization
Stars
44Last commit
6 days agoLicense
MIT
A self-hosted, open-source note-taking app that keeps the Google Keep sticky-note feel while adding folders, timelines, list views, and import support.
Open Source Alternative to:
Privacy-focused note-taking made simple and fast
Stars
67Last commit
9 months agoLicense
GPL-2.0
Justnote is a secure note-taking app that lets you easily create and sync notes across devices while maintaining full control of your data.
Open Source Alternative to:
Local-first workspace that runs AI agents on your documents
Stars
33Last commit
6 hours agoLicense
MPL-2.0
Write, organize, and run AI agents in a private workspace that stores everything locally, syncs peer-to-peer, and works offline on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Open Source Alternative to:
Sent – Messaging Infrastructure for Developers. One API for SMS, WhatsApp, and RCS across 190+ countries.
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Openlane
Bright Data