QOwnNotes

A plain-text Markdown notepad and to-do manager for Linux, macOS and Windows that syncs with Nextcloud Notes and ownCloud.

5.9k stars, 498 forks C++ On GitHub since December 2014

Visit website View on GitHub How to run it

What is QOwnNotes?

QOwnNotes is a fast desktop app, written in C++ with Qt, that stores notes as Markdown files in a folder. It works together with Nextcloud and ownCloud, so you can sync notes and use Nextcloud Notes on the web or your phone, and it manages Nextcloud tasks as well. Scripting, encryption of single notes, a web companion browser extension and many settings let you shape it to your workflow. The interface is translated into more than 50 languages.

Good fit if

  • You use Nextcloud and want a native desktop client for your notes.
  • You want a fast app that works directly on Markdown files.

Look elsewhere if

  • You do not use Nextcloud and want built-in sync: Joplin.
  • You want a cleaner interface with fewer options: MarkText.

Before you adopt it

QOwnNotes is GPL-2.0 and free. It has been developed since 2014 almost entirely by its creator, Patrizio Bekerle, who writes nearly every commit.

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

QOwnNotes health: is it still maintained?

79 of 100, actively developed

  • Activity
    419 commits in the last 90 days, the latest on 1 November 2026.
    30 / 30
  • Contributors
    4 people wrote the latest 100 commits; the most active wrote 96% of them.
    6 / 20
  • Releases
    14 releases in the last 12 months; the latest, v26.11.1, on 31 October 2026.
    19 / 20
  • Replies to issues
    Maintainers answered 100% of recent issues, with a median first reply after 1 hour.
    20 / 20
  • Security practices
    OpenSSF Scorecard 3.7 of 10.
    4 / 10

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

QOwnNotes license: is it open source?

QOwnNotes uses GPL-2.0, an open-source license approved by the OSI.

  1. December 2014First published on GitHub.
  2. TodayGPL-2.0.

How to run QOwnNotes yourself

Docker
Dockerfile or compose file in the repository
Compose file
build-systems/docker-compose.yml: 1 service
Setup effort
1 of 5, judged from the compose file
Kubernetes
No Helm chart in the repository
Desktop and mobile
Builds for Linux, macOS, Windows in GitHub releases
Interface languages
57 languages

Install instructions: qownnotes.org or the README on GitHub.

Alternatives to QOwnNotes

  • Trilium NotesBuild your personal knowledge base with Trilium Notes 80 health · AGPL-3.0 · 38.6k stars
  • LogseqA privacy-first, open-source platform for knowledge management and collaboration. Download link:… 69 health · AGPL-3.0 · 45.4k stars
  • FSNotesFast Markdown note-taking app for Mac and iPhone 66 health · MIT · 7.6k stars
  • flatnotesA self-hosted, database-less note taking web app that utilises a flat folder of markdown files for storage. 41 health · MIT · 3.3k stars
  • JoplinJoplin - the privacy-focused note taking app with sync capabilities for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and… 87 health · AGPL-3.0 · 57k stars

All 34 projects in Notes & knowledge bases

Questions about QOwnNotes

Is QOwnNotes open source?

Yes. QOwnNotes is published under GPL-2.0, an OSI-approved open-source license.

Is QOwnNotes still maintained?

Its health score is 79 of 100 (actively developed). It had 419 commits in the last 90 days, the latest on 1 November 2026, and its latest release came out on 31 October 2026.

How do I run QOwnNotes?

You can run it with Docker, as an app for Linux, macOS, Windows. The README on GitHub has the exact steps.

What are the alternatives to QOwnNotes?

Close alternatives in the Notes & knowledge bases category include Trilium Notes, Logseq, FSNotes.