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7 self-hosted options

Open-source alternatives to Evernote

The best open-source alternative to Evernote is Memos (MIT, 64,080 GitHub stars, Docker image). Joplin stands out for the longest track record (since 2017), and SiYuan stands out for AI features named in its own description.

About Evernote: A note-taking app for capturing, organizing and searching notes and clippings.

Updated · data from GitHub, refreshed daily

Top picks

  1. Rank 1:

    Memos

    usememos/memos

    Knowledge base that works with a SQLite db file.

    Active · last commit Oct 26, 2026

    Note-taking & EditorsGoDocker

    Stands out for the most GitHub stars.

  2. Rank 2:

    Joplin

    laurent22/joplin

    Note taking application with markdown editor and encryption support for mobile and desktop platforms. Runs client-side and syncs through a self hosted Nextcloud instance or similar (alternative to…

    Active · last commit Oct 25, 2026

    Note-taking & EditorsTypeScript

    Stands out for the longest track record (since 2017).

  3. Rank 3:

    SiYuan

    siyuan-note/siyuan

    A privacy-first personal knowledge management software, written in typescript and golang.

    Active · last commit Oct 26, 2026

    Wikis & Knowledge BasesTypeScriptDocker

    Stands out for AI features named in its own description.

At a glance

Evernote alternatives compared

Open-source apps come first, then source-available ones and apps whose license appsgit could not verify; within each group, projects with at least 12 commits in the last 12 months come before less active or archived ones, then by GitHub stars.

Evernote alternatives compared, data as of 2026-10-26
AppStands out forLicenseGitHub starsCommits (12 mo)Last commitDocker image
Memosthe most GitHub starsMIT64,0801,012Oct 26, 2026Yes
Joplinthe longest track record (since 2017)AGPL-3.056,8762,161Oct 25, 2026No
SiYuanAI features named in its own descriptionAGPL-3.046,93810,181Oct 26, 2026Yes
TriliumNext Notesthe most commits in the last 12 months (20,717)AGPL-3.038,56620,717Oct 26, 2026Yes
Blinkothe newest codebase (created October 2024)GPL-3.011,118217Aug 27, 2026Yes
HedgeDoc–AGPL-3.07,492593Oct 25, 2026Yes
Standard Notes–AGPL-3.06,681259Oct 23, 2026No

Full list

All 7 Evernote alternatives

Open any app for live stats, license details and a deploy option.

  1. 1

    Memos

    Knowledge base that works with a SQLite db file.

    Stands out for the most GitHub stars. Memos has 64,080 GitHub stars, uses the MIT license, ships a Docker image and had 1,012 commits in the last year.

  2. 2

    Joplin

    Note taking application with markdown editor and encryption support for mobile and desktop platforms. Runs client-side and syncs through a self hosted Nextcloud instance or similar (alternative to…

    Stands out for the longest track record (since 2017). Joplin has 56,876 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license and had 2,161 commits in the last year.

  3. 3

    SiYuan

    A privacy-first personal knowledge management software, written in typescript and golang.

    AI-nativeStands out for AI features named in its own description. SiYuan has 46,938 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 10,181 commits in the last year.

  4. 4

    TriliumNext Notes

    Cross-platform hierarchical note taking application with focus on building large personal knowledge bases (fork of Trilium Notes).

    Stands out for the most commits in the last 12 months (20,717). TriliumNext Notes has 38,566 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 20,717 commits in the last year.

  5. 5

    Blinko

    A personal note tool with AI features.

    AI-nativeStands out for the newest codebase (created October 2024). Blinko has 11,118 GitHub stars, uses the GPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 217 commits in the last year.

  6. 6

    HedgeDoc

    Realtime collaborative markdown notes on all platforms, formerly known as CodiMD and HackMD CE.

    HedgeDoc has 7,492 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 593 commits in the last year.

  7. 7

    Standard Notes

    Simple and private notes app. Protect your privacy while getting more done. That's Standard Notes.

    Standard Notes has 6,681 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license and had 259 commits in the last year.

FAQ

Evernote alternatives: FAQ

Still curious? Email info@appsgit.com.

Is there a free alternative to Evernote?

Yes. All 7 apps on this page are open source and free to self-host, so you can replace Evernote without per-user fees. You pay only for the server.

Can I self-host an alternative to Evernote with Docker?

Yes. 5 of the 7 apps here publish a Docker image, including Memos, SiYuan and TriliumNext Notes, so you can run them on a home server or VPS with Docker Compose.

Which Evernote alternative is the most actively developed?

TriliumNext Notes (AGPL-3.0), with 20,717 commits in the last 12 months. Activity is a good sign that bugs and security issues get fixed.

How is this list ranked?

Open-source apps come first, then source-available ones and apps whose license appsgit could not verify; within each group, projects with at least 12 commits in the last 12 months come before less active or archived ones, then by GitHub stars.