Open-source alternatives guide · Updated 2026
Compare the best free and open-source alternatives to OneNote — 13 verified projects with explicit catalog relationships. Inspect licenses, GitHub activity, self-hosting signals, and migration fit before you switch.
Official product reference OneNote↗Only explicit alternative relationships are shown—never inferred competitor claims.
This guide compares 13 verified open-source alternatives to OneNote, including AppFlowy, AFFiNE, Memos, and Joplin.
Projects appear across Productivity, Data & Analytics, and AI & Machine Learning. 5 options include a self-hosting signal — see the self-hosted catalog. Ranking follows public GitHub stars and recorded momentum—not vendor marketing. Compare projects side by side, then confirm license fit, migration effort, and operational ownership before adopting any option.
Users leaving OneNote for portable notes and self-hosted notebooks.
Migration tip: Expect imperfect import from OneNote’s proprietary format. Start with active notebooks and accept some manual cleanup.
Strongest repository-activity signal: AppFlowy · Jump to ranking · 73.8K stars · self-hostable
OneNote is Microsoft’s freeform notebook. Open alternatives emphasize hierarchical notes, Markdown, or self-hosted wikis for personal and team knowledge.
Visit OneNoteCompare capabilities, licensing, and ownership model. Stars help with discovery; they are not a security or product-fit guarantee.
Bring projects, wikis, and teams together with AI. AppFlowy is the AI collaborative workspace where you achieve more without losing control of your data. The leading open source Notion alternative.
Bring projects, wikis, and teams together with AI. AppFlowy is the AI collaborative workspace where you achieve more without losing control of your data. The leading open source No
Open-source alternative to OneNote
There can be more than Notion and Miro. AFFiNE(pronounced [ə‘fain]) is a next-gen knowledge base that brings planning, sorting and creating all together. Privacy first, open-source, customizable and ready to use.
There can be more than Notion and Miro. AFFiNE(pronounced [ə‘fain]) is a next-gen knowledge base that brings planning, sorting and creating all together. Privacy first, open-source
Open-source alternative to OneNote
Open-source, self-hosted note-taking tool built for quick capture. Markdown-native, lightweight, and fully yours.
Open-source, self-hosted note-taking tool built for quick capture. Markdown-native, lightweight, and fully yours. Review the official repository, license, release activity, and dep
Joplin - the privacy-focused note taking app with sync capabilities for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS.
Joplin - the privacy-focused note taking app with sync capabilities for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. Review the official repository, license, release activity, and deplo
Open-source alternative to OneNote
A privacy-first, self-hosted, fully open source personal knowledge management software, written in typescript and golang.
A privacy-first, self-hosted, fully open source personal knowledge management software, written in typescript and golang. Review the official repository, license, release activity,
Open-source alternative to OneNote
Desktop app to manage markdown knowledge bases
Desktop app to manage markdown knowledge bases Review the official repository, license, release activity, and deployment documentation before production adoption.
Open-source alternative to OneNote
A fully open source & end-to-end encrypted note taking alternative to Evernote.
A fully open source & end-to-end encrypted note taking alternative to Evernote. Review the official repository, license, release activity, and deployment documentation before produ
Think fearlessly with end-to-end encrypted notes and files. For issues, visit https://standardnotes.com/forum or https://standardnotes.com/help.
Think fearlessly with end-to-end encrypted notes and files. For issues, visit https://standardnotes.com/forum or https://standardnotes.com/help. Review the official repository, lic
Open-source alternative to OneNote
Open-source notes that live where you choose: your device, your server, or ours.
Open-source notes that live where you choose: your device, your server, or ours. Review the official repository, license, release activity, and deployment documentation before prod
Open-source alternative to OneNote
Selfhosted notes app. Single golang binary, notes stored as markdown within SQLite, full-text search, very low resource usage
Selfhosted notes app. Single golang binary, notes stored as markdown within SQLite, full-text search, very low resource usage Review the official repository, license, release activ
Open-source alternative to OneNote
Notes as it should have been. Built for people who just want to write, without nonsense.
Notes as it should have been. Built for people who just want to write, without nonsense. Review the official repository, license, release activity, and deployment documentation bef
Open-source alternative to OneNote
A Simple, Lightweight, Cross-Platform Personal Note-Taking Application.
A Simple, Lightweight, Cross-Platform Personal Note-Taking Application. Review the official repository, license, release activity, and deployment documentation before production ad
Open-source alternative to OneNote
A simple, fast, privacy-focused note-taking app that you can use easily, take notes rapidly, and, importantly, truly own your account and data.
A simple, fast, privacy-focused note-taking app that you can use easily, take notes rapidly, and, importantly, truly own your account and data. Review the official repository, lice
Map must-have capabilitiesList the workflows in OneNote you cannot drop during migration.
Verify the licenseConfirm it fits your use, distribution, and compliance model. Browse license briefs.
Run a proof of conceptTest real data, integrations, clients, and failure modes. Use Compare for side-by-side checks.
Plan ownershipAssess upgrades, backups, support, and an exit path. Read when self-hosting is worth it.
Narrow the same alternatives by search, license, tags, or self-hosting signals when you need a tighter shortlist.
United StatesAGPL-3.0Bring projects, wikis, and teams together with AI. AppFlowy is the AI collaborative workspace where you achieve more without losing control of your data. The leading open source Notion alternative.
ProductivityOpen-source projects grouped in this category for discovery and comparison.#
DartProjects tagged with this topic in the verified catalog.
Github ActionsProjects tagged with this topic in the verified catalog.
JavaScriptProjects tagged with this topic in the verified catalog.
Self-hostedThis project carries a self-hosting or local-deployment signal. Verify the official install guide before production use.
OneNoteProprietary note-taking app from Microsoft.There can be more than Notion and Miro. AFFiNE(pronounced [ə‘fain]) is a next-gen knowledge base that brings planning, sorting and creating all together. Privacy first, open-source, customizable and ready to use.
ProductivityOpen-source projects grouped in this category for discovery and comparison.#
TypeScriptProjects tagged with this topic in the verified catalog.Github ActionsProjects tagged with this topic in the verified catalog.JavaScriptProjects tagged with this topic in the verified catalog.OneNoteProprietary note-taking app from Microsoft.Open-source, self-hosted note-taking tool built for quick capture. Markdown-native, lightweight, and fully yours.
Data & AnalyticsOpen-source projects grouped in this category for discovery and comparison.#
GoProjects tagged with this topic in the verified catalog.Github ActionsProjects tagged with this topic in the verified catalog.JavaScriptProjects tagged with this topic in the verified catalog.Self-hostedThis project carries a self-hosting or local-deployment signal. Verify the official install guide before production use.OneNoteProprietary note-taking app from Microsoft.Joplin - the privacy-focused note taking app with sync capabilities for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS.
ProductivityOpen-source projects grouped in this category for discovery and comparison.#TypeScriptProjects tagged with this topic in the verified catalog.Github ActionsProjects tagged with this topic in the verified catalog.JavaScriptProjects tagged with this topic in the verified catalog.OneNoteProprietary note-taking app from Microsoft.A privacy-first, self-hosted, fully open source personal knowledge management software, written in typescript and golang.
AI & Machine LearningOpen-source projects grouped in this category for discovery and comparison.#TypeScriptProjects tagged with this topic in the verified catalog.Github ActionsProjects tagged with this topic in the verified catalog.JavaScriptProjects tagged with this topic in the verified catalog.Self-hostedThis project carries a self-hosting or local-deployment signal. Verify the official install guide before production use.AI-nativeThis project includes AI-native capability signals in the catalog metadata.OneNoteProprietary note-taking app from Microsoft.Desktop app to manage markdown knowledge bases
Content & CollaborationOpen-source projects grouped in this category for discovery and comparison.#TypeScriptProjects tagged with this topic in the verified catalog.Github ActionsProjects tagged with this topic in the verified catalog.JavaScriptProjects tagged with this topic in the verified catalog.OneNoteProprietary note-taking app from Microsoft.A fully open source & end-to-end encrypted note taking alternative to Evernote.
ProductivityOpen-source projects grouped in this category for discovery and comparison.#TypeScriptProjects tagged with this topic in the verified catalog.Github ActionsProjects tagged with this topic in the verified catalog.JavaScriptProjects tagged with this topic in the verified catalog.Self-hostedThis project carries a self-hosting or local-deployment signal. Verify the official install guide before production use.OneNoteProprietary note-taking app from Microsoft.
SwitzerlandAGPL-3.0Think fearlessly with end-to-end encrypted notes and files. For issues, visit https://standardnotes.com/forum or https://standardnotes.com/help.
Security & PrivacyOpen-source projects grouped in this category for discovery and comparison.#TypeScriptProjects tagged with this topic in the verified catalog.Github ActionsProjects tagged with this topic in the verified catalog.JavaScriptProjects tagged with this topic in the verified catalog.OneNoteProprietary note-taking app from Microsoft.Open-source notes that live where you choose: your device, your server, or ours.
Security & PrivacyOpen-source projects grouped in this category for discovery and comparison.#JavaScriptProjects tagged with this topic in the verified catalog.Github ActionsProjects tagged with this topic in the verified catalog.
NodeJSProjects tagged with this topic in the verified catalog.OneNoteProprietary note-taking app from Microsoft.Selfhosted notes app. Single golang binary, notes stored as markdown within SQLite, full-text search, very low resource usage
ProductivityOpen-source projects grouped in this category for discovery and comparison.#JavaScriptProjects tagged with this topic in the verified catalog.Github ActionsProjects tagged with this topic in the verified catalog.
CSSProjects tagged with this topic in the verified catalog.Self-hostedThis project carries a self-hosting or local-deployment signal. Verify the official install guide before production use.OneNoteProprietary note-taking app from Microsoft.Notes as it should have been. Built for people who just want to write, without nonsense.
ProductivityOpen-source projects grouped in this category for discovery and comparison.#TypeScriptProjects tagged with this topic in the verified catalog.Github ActionsProjects tagged with this topic in the verified catalog.JavaScriptProjects tagged with this topic in the verified catalog.OneNoteProprietary note-taking app from Microsoft.A Simple, Lightweight, Cross-Platform Personal Note-Taking Application.
Content & CollaborationOpen-source projects grouped in this category for discovery and comparison.#
VueProjects tagged with this topic in the verified catalog.JavaScriptProjects tagged with this topic in the verified catalog.NodeJSProjects tagged with this topic in the verified catalog.OneNoteProprietary note-taking app from Microsoft.
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