Introduction of Best Open Source Note Taking Apps
Many of us now rely on open source note taking apps to capture, organize, and retrieve information while we’re on the go. Note-taking apps are appropriate for anyone, whether you’re a student, professional, or simply someone who wants to organize their thoughts and ideas. With so many note-taking apps available, deciding which one to use can take time and effort. Especially, if you want open source note taking-apps that values privacy and security.
Here is the list of the best open source note-taking apps:
Table of Contents
Joblin

Joblin Summary
- Free, open-source app
- Synchronizes with various cloud services, including Nextcloud and Dropbox
- Support for markdown formatting and encryption
Joblin is a free, open source note taking app built on the Electron framework. It uses the Vue.js JavaScript framework for its user interface. The app allows users to organize notes in a hierarchical structure using notebooks and tags. It also supports rich text formatting and image attachments.
One of the key features of Joblin is its ability to sync notes across devices using a variety of cloud services, including Nextcloud, ownCloud, and Dropbox. Allowing users to access their notes from any device with the app installed enables collaboration among team members.
The app also has a built-in markdown editor and the feature of exporting and importing notes in .md and .txt formats.
Additionally, Joblin is fully customizable through plugins, —allowing users to tailor the app to their specific needs and workflows.
Joblin is open source, with its source code hosted on GitHub under the MIT license, meaning anyone can use, modify, and distribute the code freely.
Overall, Joblin is a feature-rich and flexible note-taking app suitable for individuals and teams looking for a powerful and customizable tool to organize and access their notes across multiple devices.
Download link : joblinapp.org
Standard Notes

Standard Notes Summary
- Free, open-source, encrypted note-taking app
- End-to-end encryption
- Extensible through the use of “extensions”
Standard Notes is a free and open-source secure note-taking app built on security and privacy principles. The app is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android. It also has a web version that users can access from any browser.
One of the key features of Standard Notes is its end-to-end encryption, which means that all notes are encrypted on the client side before they are sent to the server. Only the user has the encryption key to decrypt them.
Standard Notes also supports rich text formatting, allowing users to organize their notes with tags, which can be easily searched and filtered. Additionally, notes can be exported and imported in various formats, including plain text, markdown, and PDF.
The app also has a variety of extensions that users can use to customize the app to the user’s needs, preferences, and workflow by adding additional features, functions, or interfaces.
Standard Notes is completely open-source, meaning anyone can use, modify, and distribute the code freely.
In summary, Standard Notes is a privacy-focused note-taking app designed to protect the users’ notes with end-to-end encryption and offers a variety of features and customization options for a great user experience. It’s a great option for individuals and teams who value security and privacy.
Download link : standardnotes.com
Laverna

Laverna Summary
- Free, open-source note-taking app
- Focuses on privacy and security
- Synchronize with cloud services, such as ownCloud and Cloud
- Support for markdown and encryption
Laverna is a free and open source secure note taking app built with JavaScript. It runs on top of the Electron framework, allowing it to run on multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Like many note-taking apps, Laverna allows users to organize notes with notebooks and tags, supporting rich text formatting and image attachments. It also includes a built-in markdown editor, allowing users to write and format notes using the markdown syntax.
Laverna also focuses on privacy and security. It uses end-to-end encryption, which means that all notes are encrypted on the client side before they are sent to the server. Only the user has the encryption key to decrypt the notes.
The app also allows for the export and import of notes in .md and .txt formats. In addition to syncing with remote storage services like ownCloud, Nextcloud, and Dropbox, it is easy to access notes from multiple devices.
Laverna’s source code is hosted on GitHub under the MIT license, meaning anyone can use, modify, and distribute the code freely. And contributions are welcomed.
Overall, Laverna is a privacy-focused note-taking app with a simple, clean design that users can customize to a user’s preferences via settings and themes. It’s a great option for people who want a powerful and customizable open source note taking app that emphasizes security and privacy.
Download link : laverna.cc
Simplenote

Simplenote Summary
- Free, open-source note-taking app
- Focuses on simplicity and speed
- Supports tagging and version history
- Can be accessed from multiple devices.
Simplenote is a free, open source secure note-taking app for multiple platforms, including iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, and the web. The app is known for its simplicity and focus on a minimalistic user interface.
Simplenote allows users to take notes in a basic text format with no rich text formatting or image attachments. However, it does support markdown formatting. Notes can be tagged and searched easily. It also has a revision history feature to access previous versions of your notes.
Simplenote also has a built-in syncing that automatically saves notes and updates them across all the platforms; this allows you to access your notes from any device.
Simplenote is open-source, and its source code is available on GitHub under the GPL v2.0 license, which means anyone can use, modify, and distribute the code freely.
In summary, Simplenote is a lightweight and simple open source note taking app focusing on minimalism and ease of use. It’s great for users looking for a basic open source note taking app with syncing feature across multiple devices without needing advanced formatting or media attachment options.
Download link : simplenote.com
Turtl

Turtl Summary
- Free, open-source, encrypted note-taking app
- Can also be used to store and organize bookmarks, passwords, and other sensitive information.
- Has apps available for Android, Windows, and Linux.
Turtl is a free and open source note taking app that strongly emphasizes security and privacy. Users can install it on a user’s server, allowing them full control over their data. It is available for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android.
One of the key features of Turtl is its end-to-end encryption, which means that all notes are encrypted on the client side before they are sent to the server. Only the user has the encryption key to decrypt them.
Turtl allows users to organize their notes into notebooks and tags and supports rich text formatting, image attachments, and file attachments. The app also supports markdown formatting for notes.
Turtl’s source code is hosted on GitHub, meaning anyone can use, modify, and distribute the code freely; its community also welcomes contributions.
In conclusion, Turtl is a secure and privacy-focused open source note taking app with a wide feature set and a high degree of control over the user’s data. Making it an excellent choice for users who are particularly worried about the security and privacy of their notes.
Download link : turtlapp.com
Conclusion
In conclusion, open source note taking apps are a valuable tool for organizing and retrieving information on the go. With the many options available, it can be overwhelming to know which app to choose. The apps introduced in this article are all open-source and available for Android. Providing users with various features such as cloud synchronization, markdown formatting, encryption, tagging, version history, and extensions.
Check out more articles about open source apps in our website androidfoss.com
Is Simplenote open source?
Simplenote is open-source, and its source code is available on GitHub under the GPL v2.0 license, which means anyone can use, modify, and distribute the code freely.
Is Simplenote completely free?
Simplenote is a free, open source note taking app for multiple platforms, including iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, and the web. The app is known for its simplicity and focus on a minimalistic user interface.
Is Joblin open source?
Joblin is open source, with its source code hosted on GitHub under the MIT license, meaning anyone can use, modify, and distribute the code freely.
What are the best open source note taking apps?
Joblin: A cost-free, open-source note-taking as well as to-do application that can synchronize with numerous cloud solutions, consisting of Nextcloud as well as Dropbox. It additionally has support for markdown formatting as well as security.
Standard Notes: A complimentary, open-source, encrypted note-taking app that can be used on numerous systems, including Android. It offers end-to-end security as well as the capacity to prolong its performance through “expansions.”.
Laverna: A cost-free, open-source note-taking application concentrating on personal privacy and safety. It can integrate with cloud services, such as ownCloud as well as Cloud. It also has markdown support and security for notes.
Simplenote: A free, open-source note-taking application that focuses on simpleness as well as rate. It sustains labeling and variation history as well as can be accessed from multiple devices.
Turtl: A cost-free, open-source, encrypted note-taking application that can additionally be made use of to shop and arrange book markings, passwords, as well as other sensitive info. It has applications offered for Android, Windows, and also Linux.