NoteTaking

`NoteTaking`

Tools for organizing thoughts.

Open-source knowledge management tool integrated with VS Code
Hierarchical note organization with schemas and templates
Lightning fast and scalable for large knowledge bases
Supports daily journals, scratch notes, digital gardens
Pros
- Developer-focused workflow within familiar VSCode environment
- Hierarchical organization superior to flat structures
- Active community of 30,000+ users
- Excellent for restructuring knowledge over time
Cons
- Requires VSCode, limiting non-developer adoption
- Steeper learning curve for non-technical users
- Less visual than dedicated note-taking apps

Private, local-first note-taking with bidirectional linking
Interactive graph view of note connections
Canvas feature for visual brainstorming
Thousands of community plugins and themes
Cross-platform with optional encrypted sync
Pros
- Free core app without usage limits
- Notes stored locally in markdown (no vendor lock-in)
- Highly customizable via plugins
- Strong community ecosystem
- Publish feature converts notes to websites
Cons
- Sync and publish features require paid subscriptions
- Not fully open source (proprietary core)
- Can become overwhelming with plugin options
- Mobile apps less feature-complete

Open-source, privacy-first knowledge management platform
Supports markdown and org-mode formats
Whiteboard feature for visual organization
Outliner-based approach with bidirectional links
AGPL-3.0 licensed
Pros
- Fully open source (can self-host and audit)
- Free across all platforms
- Excellent for daily journaling workflow
- Active community development
- Local-first with optional sync
Cons
- Outliner paradigm different from traditional notes
- Less polished UI than commercial alternatives
- Performance issues with large graphs
- Mobile apps still maturing

Open-source cross-platform note-taking app
Supports multimedia notes (images, videos, PDFs, audio)
Web clipper for saving pages and screenshots
End-to-end encryption (E2EE)
Syncs with Dropbox, OneDrive, Joplin Cloud
Pros
- Completely open source with open format
- Works on desktop, mobile, and terminal
- Strong privacy focus (based in EU)
- Extensive sync options
- Plugin and theme support
Cons
- UI less modern than competitors
- No native bidirectional linking
- Collaboration features limited without Joplin Cloud
- Graph view not built-in

Privacy-first personal knowledge management system
Block-level editing with bidirectional links
Built-in database with relations and rollup
Spaced repetition flashcards
AI integration with OpenAI
Pros
- Block-level granularity superior for organization
- Completely local with offline support
- End-to-end encrypted sync
- Advanced database features
- Mobile and Docker deployment options
Cons
- Smaller community than major alternatives
- Documentation primarily in Chinese
- Steeper learning curve for block-based workflow
- AI features require external API keys

Open-source, local-first note-taking application
Object-based note-taking with templates
Local on-device encryption with P2P sharing
Graph visualization of connections
No-code customization
Pros
- Works fully offline
- Object-based approach highly structured
- No technical knowledge required
- Cross-platform (Linux, Windows, Mac, iOS, Android)
- Shared workspaces for team collaboration
Cons
- Relatively new with smaller ecosystem
- Object paradigm has learning curve
- Limited third-party integrations
- Sync features still in development

Open-source, zero-knowledge encrypted note-taking
End-to-end encryption before leaving device
Bidirectional linking and rich editing
Web clipper and password-protected sharing
Cross-platform with app lock
Pros
- Strongest privacy model (zero-knowledge)
- Fully open source including sync server
- Can self-host entire infrastructure
- Free tier available
- Straightforward interface
Cons
- Premium features require subscription
- Smaller plugin ecosystem
- No local-only mode (requires account)
- Fewer power-user features than alternatives