Open Source Zettlr AlternativesTop Note-taking Tools & Text Editors like Zettlr

The best open source alternative to Zettlr is Joplin. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Zettlr and loads of them is open source so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting open source alternatives to Zettlr are Logseq, Notesnook, AppFlowy and Zim.

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Zettlr alternatives are mainly Note-taking Tools, but if you're looking for Todo List Managers or Text Editors you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Open Source. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Zettlr.
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Alternatives list

  1. Joplin icon

    Joplin

     875 likes

    Open source app for managing notes and to-dos with Markdown support. Syncs seamlessly across devices using services like Dropbox and OneDrive. Offers end-to-end encrypted synchronicity, offline access, rich import/export options, and a Web Clipper for browsers.

    108 Joplin alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • AppImageHub
    • Snapcraft
    • Google Chrome
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • F-Droid
    • Cloudron
    • Homebrew
    • Chocolatey
    • Termux
    • Mozilla Firefox
    Desktop and mobile apps
     
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    2
    14
    Comments about Joplin as an Alternative to Zettlr
    Dyewall
    0

    For me, it's more pleasant to write in Zettlr, but other than that Joplin has it's own pros.

    Rand Natret
    Positive
    1

    Incredible app well polished, though with some slight flaws.

    Zettlr Icon
    Joplin icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Joplin is a great Zettlr alternative.

    • Joplin is the most popular Web-based & Self-Hosted alternative to Zettlr.

    • Joplin is the most popular Open Source alternative to Zettlr.

    • Joplin is Freemium and Open SourceZettlr is Free and Open Source
    • Joplin is MinimalisticZettlr is not according to our users
  2. Logseq icon

    Logseq

     317 likes

    Local-first, privacy-focused notebook supporting Markdown and Emacs Org mode. Offers offline use, encrypted backups, plugin extensibility, LaTeX support, real-time collaboration, and hierarchical organization for personal knowledge management.

    167 Logseq alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • F-Droid
    • Flathub
    Logseq screenshot 1
     
  4. Notesnook icon

    Notesnook

     175 likes

    Notesnook is a simple and cross-platform private notes app that keeps your notes organized and synced on your phone, tablet and computer. Take notes, capture ideas, create to-do lists, keep a journal, write your assignments and manage projects, we have got you covered.

    296 Notesnook alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Open Source (GPL-3.0)

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Google Chrome
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Flatpak
    Notesnook screenshot 1
     

    • Notesnook is the most popular SaaS alternative to Zettlr.

    • Notesnook is Freemium and Open SourceZettlr is Free and Open Source
  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    Daino Notes icon
    Daino Notes

    Offers fast, distraction-free note-taking via a high-performance editor with real-time Markdown, local-first storage, image support, Kanban task boards, intuitive drag-and-drop, keyboard shortcuts, configurable themes, fast searc...

    https://www.get-notes.com
    Learn More
  7. Zim icon

    Zim

     511 likes

    Zim brings the concept of a wiki to your desktop. Store information, link pages and edit with WYSISYG markup or directly typing some lightweight markup syntax and see it previewed as-you-type. Creating a new page is easy by either clicking on the "Create new note"...

    318 Zim alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Zim screenshot 1
     
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    2
    6
    Comments about Zim as an Alternative to Zettlr
    Marco Bartoli
    Positive
    1

    Zim is not an electron app. So it's a lot faster and arguably easier to use. I'd use it any day over Zettlr - IF it would support markdown natively. Instead, your notes are stored as "Zim text files" (containing wiki markup not supported by other editors). So, with a heavy heart, I ditched it in favor of a more portable option in Zettlr (and markdown in general).

    elzinus
    Positive
    0

    BIG PLUS: speed. Zim is very lightweight, simple but highly customizable. Writing is not in markdown, but can be exported in this format. (Zimwiki syntax is also compatible with pandoc, this makes life easy.)

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Zettlr Icon
    Zim icon

    • Most users think Zim is a great Zettlr alternative.

    • Zim is Free and Open SourceZettlr is also Free and Open Source
  10. CherryTree icon

    CherryTree

     322 likes

    Hierarchical note-taking software that is free, open-source, cross-platform. Features include rich text, syntax highlighting, multi-level lists, embedded files, customizable interface, code execution, PDF export, spell check, images & tables, and comprehensive project management support.

    101 CherryTree alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Flatpak
    CherryTree screenshot 1
     
  11. SiYuan icon

    SiYuan

     77 likes

    SiYuan is a desktop Markdown Block-Reference and Bidirectional-Link note-taking application. Support fine-grained block-level reference and Markdown WYSIWYG.

    74 SiYuan alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Pay once)
    • Open Source (AGPL-3.0)

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Google Chrome
    • Flathub
    • Docker
    • Docker Hub
    • F-Droid
    SiYuan screenshot 1
     
  13. Manuskript icon

    Manuskript

     169 likes

    Open-source software offering a hierarchical outliner, distraction-free editor, character management, plot tools, Snowflake method support, section multi-organization, customizable writing workflows, cross-platform availability, and export to standard formats.

    121 Manuskript alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Manuskript screenshot 1
     
  15. ghostwriter icon

    ghostwriter

     109 likes

    ghostwriter is a feature-rich text editor using Markdown syntax which makes it suitable for note-taking, document redaction, simple HTML website creation and much more.

    139 ghostwriter alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • Haiku
    ghostwriter screenshot 1
     
12 of 94 Zettlr alternatives