1y ago

Notes app suggestions?

Hello all!

On my android phone I have basically been using google keep to store my notes. Do yall recommend any FOSS alternatives? Preferably one that has a desktop version that can be synced.

28 comments

Interfacing markdown:
Joplin (pretty popular, haven't used)
Standard Notes (same as above)
Markor (feature-packed, a bit outdated)
BeautyXT (maybe a bit too minimal almost, but gets the job done if you just want text based editing)
Interfacing orgmode:
Orgzly (beautiful simple app that uses a superior syntax when compared to Markdown due to its built-in agenda and to-do structure)
Syncing flat files (might not be compatible with all of the above)
Their own hosted server if available (easy but not private, some provide E2EE)
Syncthing (easy and private)
WebDav or an SFTP server (hard if self-hosted or otherwise easy through some providers)
Termux + a Git server (pain)
- I've never heard of BeautyXT, seems new considering the material 3 design. I've never heard of the Accrescent app store either.

Not FOSS, but I use Obsidian, and is FOSS, SyncThing for syncing.
There are FOSS Markdown editors of course, I just prefer Obsidian.
- Obsidian is awesome
- Same, it's not a light app, but using what feels like a browser to take notes is pretty cool.
- I love and use Obsidian, but a FOSS alternative to it is SilverBullet.md.

I finally got fed up with Evernote's increasingly aggressive paid upgrade requests. It would flash an "upgrade special" every time it opened and a followup, "Are you sure? You won't be able to get back to this offer". Like, please, let me not get back to the offer ever again.
I have been using Joplin with Dropbox sync. The UI is pretty good on Android and windows. Markdown input is easy to manage, it does checklists well (you can check and uncheck the boxes without going in to edit the note). The folder structure for organizing notes is good.
Not being able to share notes with other users is the main limitation. My wife and I have solved this by syncing with one dropbox account on with phones and computers and just having a folder for each or our personal notes plus the shared notes. But really it is all shared. I don't consider this ideal, but it's workable for now.
The dropbox sync is kind of slow / not very good if multiple people are making edits in real time, but I had this problem with Evernote too.
I think you can get more functionality out of the Joplin cloud sync, but I am already paying for Dropbox.
- The ownership and workers (of Evernote) changed somewhat recently, so that's probably what happened.
- You actually can share notes with other users in Joplin, I use this feature a lot.
  
  With dropbox sync? Or do you need their cloud services?

I use Markor on android, plus a self-hosted instance of codeserver for editing online. Synced via syncthing. Sometimes i use Obsidian with the same synced folder.

I use notesnook

If you have a nextcloud instance, and you don't need Keep's collaboration features, Carnet is FOSS and is a decent solution
- Another option is simply Nextcloud Notes, which now does markdown checklists that can be interacted with on both desktop and mobile, so I've finally been able to switch to that.

Together with the other suggestions jtx board is also a new addition Developed from the davx5 team , tasks,calendars,journals and NOTES.
The good: Easy sync of notes with any caldav provider . No extra servers and apps for tasks,cakendars,journals. Mtls support ( davx5 supports it ) for extra security if you selfhost
The bad: No desktop client

Even though it has more a journaling/daybook feel, I use LogSeq for this. Their paid version offers cloud sync which is perfect (and easy enough) for me
- It's wierd on their android app, but I'm still looking forward to making it work for me.

Standard notes or Joplin have apps with versions for both phone and the desktop.
Other options:
Markor (Android) - Syncthing - Zim (desktop)
Orgzly (Android) - Syncthing - Emacs orgmode
If you have a Nextcloud instance, you can use QOwnNotes (desktop) and Nextcloud Notes (Android). You can also access notes on the web.
- Did we both watch the same youtube video from that channel that only has 1 video? ahaha
  
  Haha, don't remember watching anything recent. I have used all the ones I listed for a while and have settled on Markor/Zim, as I like that the most.

I use zettel notes and sync with syncthing. On pc I use neovim with marksman and zk.nvim

Anytype :)
https://doc.anytype.io/anytype-docs/intro/readme
https://github.com/anyproto/anytype-ts
Has a desktop and mobile app. You create an ID which is loads of words stringed together. You can use that ID to decrypt and access your data. If you lose that secret your data is gone.