flatnotes

A self-hosted, database-less notes web app that stores everything as a flat folder of Markdown files, with a clean editor and fast search.

3.3k stars, 220 forks Vue On GitHub since August 2021

View on GitHub How to run it

What is flatnotes?

flatnotes puts note content first: a clean, distraction-free interface with a Markdown editor, quick full-text search from anywhere with a keyboard shortcut, and tags. There is no database; notes are just Markdown files in one folder, and the only thing it caches is the search index. That makes notes easy to back up, sync or edit with other tools. It runs as a single Docker container with optional authentication.

Good fit if

  • You want a minimal web notes app on your home server.
  • You want notes you can open in any editor without exporting.

Look elsewhere if

Before you adopt it

flatnotes is MIT-licensed and free. One developer writes all the code, and only a handful of commits landed in the last three months.

Drafted with AI from the project's README and repository data, then checked against that data on 30 October 2026. Report a correction

flatnotes health: is it still maintained?

41 of 100, actively developed

  • Activity
    1 commit in the last 90 days, the latest on 29 August 2026.
    4 / 30
  • Contributors
    1 person wrote the 1 commit of the last 90 days; the most active wrote 100% of them.
    2 / 20
  • Releases
    1 release in the last 12 months; the latest, v5.5.5, on 29 August 2026.
    14 / 20
  • Replies to issues
    Maintainers answered 53% of recent issues, with a median first reply after 16 hours.
    16 / 20
  • Security practices
    No OpenSSF Scorecard for this repository yet, so this part gets a neutral score.
    5 / 10

Read from GitHub on 1 November 2026. How the score works

flatnotes license: is it open source?

flatnotes uses MIT, an open-source license approved by the OSI.

  1. August 2021First published on GitHub.
  2. TodayMIT.

How to run flatnotes yourself

Docker
Dockerfile or compose file in the repository
Compose file
None in the repository
Setup effort
Not rated: no compose file to judge from
Kubernetes
No Helm chart in the repository
Desktop and mobile
No app builds in GitHub releases
Interface languages
English only

Install instructions: the README on GitHub.

Alternatives to flatnotes

  • Trilium NotesBuild your personal knowledge base with Trilium Notes 80 health · AGPL-3.0 · 38.6k stars
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  • QOwnNotesQOwnNotes is a plain-text file notepad and todo-list manager with Markdown support and Nextcloud / ownCloud… 79 health · GPL-2.0 · 5.9k stars
  • FSNotesFast Markdown note-taking app for Mac and iPhone 66 health · MIT · 7.6k stars
  • Standard NotesThink fearlessly with end-to-end encrypted notes and files. For issues, visit… 62 health · AGPL-3.0 · 6.7k stars

All 34 projects in Notes & knowledge bases

Questions about flatnotes

Is flatnotes open source?

Yes. flatnotes is published under MIT, an OSI-approved open-source license.

Is flatnotes still maintained?

Its health score is 41 of 100 (actively developed). It had 1 commit in the last 90 days, the latest on 29 August 2026, and its latest release came out on 29 August 2026.

How do I run flatnotes?

You can run it with Docker. The README on GitHub has the exact steps.

What are the alternatives to flatnotes?

Close alternatives in the Notes & knowledge bases category include Trilium Notes, Notesnook, QOwnNotes.