Zim Alternatives for Android

Zim is not available for Android but there are plenty of alternatives with similar functionality. The best Android alternative is Obsidian, which is free. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Zim and loads of them are available for Android so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Android alternatives to Zim are Joplin, Notion, Anytype and Notesnook.

filter to find the best alternatives

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

  1. Obsidian icon

    Obsidian

     1090 likes

    Privacy-oriented note-taking app for non-linear thinking, blending knowledge graph creation with wiki-style linking. Supports Markdown, end-to-end encryption, and plugins for customization. Offers distraction-free mode, tags, themes, syntax highlighting, and operates offline without tracking.

    171 Obsidian alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Snapcraft
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Google Chrome
    • Flathub
    • Safari
    • Mozilla Firefox
    Obsidian screenshot 1
     
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    3
    Comments about Obsidian as an Alternative to Zim
    Sam Lander
    1

    Zim is more lightweight. Obsidian has better UI and more community plugins.

    Zim saves to .txt and has built in folder notes. Obsidian users rely on too many community plugins, making Obsidian inherently less secure.

    Marco Bartoli
    2

    Proprietary, meaning: Do you ultimately trust the vendor with your (potentially) most personal information. If not, stick with Zim.

    john1030
    Positive
    0

    I like obsidian because of the ease of organization with the bookmark plugin . but Zim is great for noting
    "bits and bytes" since Omnivore is shutting down.

    Obsidian icon
    Obsidian icon
    • Obsidian is Freemium and ProprietaryZim is Free and Open Source
  2. 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.

    109 Joplin alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Application type

    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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    4
    13
    Comments about Joplin as an Alternative to Zim
    Marco Bartoli
    1

    Sadly, Joplin's Notes are proprietary: You cannot easily access your files with a third party tool (like a text editor). Zim (and other tools) keep your files readable and writeable in plaintext.

    andgregorik
    Positive
    3

    Joplin caters to a somewhat different user base: more simplistic, quicker, requires way less IT/wiki savvy just to operate daily. It also has pitch perfect syncing which is not Zim's cup of tea. Still, the moving parts are similar, and it can work as an alternative.

    LordMax
    Positive
    2

    IT's not so similar to Zim Desktop, it's really near to evernote/nixnote It can be a good replacement too

    3 of 4 comments
    Joplin icon
    Joplin icon

    • Most users think Joplin is a great Zim alternative.

    • Joplin is Freemium and Open SourceZim is Free and Open Source
    • Joplin is MinimalisticZim is not according to our users
  4. Notion icon

    Notion

     647 likes

    Enhance team collaboration and content organization with Notion. Experience real-time access, intuitive drag-and-drop functionalities, and visually simple interfaces designed for productivity in managing tasks, notes, and databases effectively. Ideal for teams of every size.

    162 Notion alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    Notion screenshot 1
     
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    2
    9
    Comments about Notion as an Alternative to Zim
    Guest
    Positive
    -1

    Android Client, Markdown, Built-in trello-like board

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Dima Neiaglov
    Positive
    1

    Notion is also a wiki and also cross-platform in the sense that it is a web application. It has some features that Zim doesn't, e.g. multi-column layouts.

    Notion icon
    Notion icon

    • Most users think Notion is a great Zim alternative.

    • Notion is Freemium and ProprietaryZim is Free and Open Source
    • Notion is CustomizableZim is not according to our users
  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    Workflowy icon
    Workflowy

    Offers limitless nested lists for outlining, instant sync on web and mobile, real-time collaboration, file and photo uploads, kanban boards, tagging, offline editing, hoisting for branch focus, content sharing, text highlighting,...

    https://workflowy.com
    Learn More
  6. Anytype icon

    Anytype

     277 likes

    Manage notes, tasks, and projects offline with Markdown support. Enjoy encrypted storage, P2P syncing, and powerful dynamic collections across all devices, while allowing redistribution and modification for non-commercial uses.

    140 Anytype alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Google Chrome
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Movie Database
     
  7. 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.

    297 Notesnook alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

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

    Microsoft OneNote

     1138 likes

    Comprehensive digital notebook offering organizers, shared notes, multi-device syncing, and optical character recognition, plus cloud-based data management for efficient information handling and accessibility.

    141 Microsoft OneNote alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Windows Phone
    • iPad
    • Apple Watch
    • Android Wear
    • Kindle Fire
    Microsoft OneNote screenshot 1
     
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    4
    14
    Comments about Microsoft OneNote as an Alternative to Zim
    Sam Lander
    Negative
    1

    Microsoft OneNote can be used for similar functions, but I wouldn't call it a replacement.

    OneNote is very bulky. It uses up a lot of space and resources, and doesn't automatically save to a format practically any device can use. Your data is not secure, as it's a Microsoft program.

    Marco Bartoli
    2

    More functional and user-friendly than Zim. However: Privacy. Ask yourself if you trust Microsoft with your data. If yes, that's ok. Personally however, I'd recommend using open source, self-hosted alternatives like Zim.

    Guest
    Positive
    2

    It supports both internal and external links and has good structure. It's also WYSIWYG.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    3 of 4 comments
    Microsoft OneNote icon
    Microsoft OneNote icon

    • Some users think Microsoft OneNote is a great Zim alternative, some don't.

    • Microsoft OneNote is Freemium and ProprietaryZim is Free and Open Source
  11. Simplenote icon

    Simplenote

     604 likes

    Made by the company behind WordPress, Simplenote enables users to take notes, lists, and ideas. These notes are stored on the cloud and are accessible across multiple devices.

    114 Simplenote alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Simplenote screenshot 1
     
    |
    2
    10
    Comments about Simplenote as an Alternative to Zim
    John Fastman
    Negative
    26

    Simplenote is much less functional than Zim (no rich-text, no attachment to notes) and although it does work on mobile, it syncs your data via web-facing servers on which your info is held unencrypted. In that respect your information is much more vulnerable to hackers and govt agencies than if you used Zim, stored the data locally and maybe - if you need - sync it with an end-to-end encrypted service like Spideroak, Tresorit or Seafile (Seafile encrypts file content, not metadata).

    Guest
    Positive
    -8

    Free and free of problems. Just simple.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Simplenote icon
    Simplenote icon

    • Some users think Simplenote is a great Zim alternative, some don't.

    • Simplenote is Free and Open SourceZim is also Free and Open Source
    • Simplenote is MinimalisticZim is not according to our users
  12. AFFiNE icon

    AFFiNE

     107 likes

    Open-source, privacy-focused workspace combining note-taking, project and task management, Kanban board, interactive whiteboard, Pomodoro timer, Markdown support, offline access, real-time team collaboration with @mentions, goal tracking, subtasks, and customizable features.

    135 AFFiNE alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Self-Hosted
    AFFiNE screenshot 1
     
  13. Workflowy icon

    Workflowy

     315 likes

    Offers limitless nested lists for outlining, instant sync on web and mobile, real-time collaboration, file and photo uploads, kanban boards, tagging, offline editing, hoisting for branch focus, content sharing, text highlighting, and Dropbox auto-backup.

    351 Workflowy alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Workflowy screenshot 1
     
  14. 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.

    75 SiYuan alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

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

    Markor

     92 likes

    Markor is a TextEditor for Android, versatile, flexible, and lightweight. Markor utilizes simple markup formats like Markdown and todo.txt for note-taking and list management. It is versatile at working with text; it can also be used for keeping bookmarks, copying to clipboard...

    154 Markor alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • F-Droid
    Markor screenshot 1
     
12 of 72 Zim alternatives