ColorNote alternatives · Note-Taking
Self-hosted alternatives to ColorNote
The ColorNote listing does not say it can be self-hosted. 20 of the 146 other note-taking apps in this directory can be self-hosted, according to their own sites.
ColorNote has a free plan. Paid plans start at $1.99 - $15.99 per item (in-app purchases; billing basis not shown). All of them are free or have a free plan.
20 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 9, 2026 · Where the facts come from
The 12 closest to ColorNote
- Free
Jotty
Self-hosted notes and checklists stored as Markdown files
- Jotty is free. ColorNote starts at $1.99 - $15.99 per item (in-app purchases; billing basis not shown).
- Only Jotty lists a web app.
- Only ColorNote lists an Android app.
- Jotty is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Free plan · from $1.99/mo
Notesnook
Open source, end-to-end encrypted notes on every platform
- Notesnook starts at $1.99 per month, or $19.99 per year (Essential). ColorNote starts at $1.99 - $15.99 per item (in-app purchases; billing basis not shown).
- Only Notesnook lists a web app.
- Only Notesnook lists Windows, macOS, Linux and iOS apps.
- Only Notesnook lists a browser extension.
- Free plan · from $64 one-time
SiYuan
Open-source, local-first notes built on linked content blocks
- SiYuan starts at $64 one-time payment (PRO Features). ColorNote starts at $1.99 - $15.99 per item (in-app purchases; billing basis not shown).
- Only SiYuan lists a web app.
- Only SiYuan lists Windows, macOS, Linux and iOS apps.
- Only SiYuan lists a browser extension.
- Free
TiddlyWiki
Open-source personal wiki kept in a single HTML file
- TiddlyWiki is free. ColorNote starts at $1.99 - $15.99 per item (in-app purchases; billing basis not shown).
- Only TiddlyWiki lists a web app.
- Only TiddlyWiki lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Only ColorNote lists an Android app.
- Free
Memos
Open-source, self-hosted timeline of short Markdown notes
- Memos is free. ColorNote starts at $1.99 - $15.99 per item (in-app purchases; billing basis not shown).
- Only Memos lists a web app.
- Only Memos lists a browser extension.
- Only ColorNote lists an Android app.
- Free plan · from $50/yr
SilverBullet
Scriptable Markdown knowledge base, self-hosted or on desktop
- SilverBullet starts at $50 per user / year (Desktop Pro, required for work use). ColorNote starts at $1.99 - $15.99 per item (in-app purchases; billing basis not shown).
- Only SilverBullet lists a web app.
- Only SilverBullet lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Only ColorNote lists an Android app.
- Free
flatnotes
Self-hosted notes web app on a flat folder of Markdown files
- flatnotes is free. ColorNote starts at $1.99 - $15.99 per item (in-app purchases; billing basis not shown).
- Only flatnotes lists a web app.
- Only ColorNote lists an Android app.
- flatnotes is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Free
NoteDiscovery
Self-hosted Markdown knowledge base that runs in the browser
- NoteDiscovery is free. ColorNote starts at $1.99 - $15.99 per item (in-app purchases; billing basis not shown).
- Only NoteDiscovery lists a web app.
- Only ColorNote lists an Android app.
- NoteDiscovery is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Free plan · from $4/mo
Anytype
Local-first, end-to-end encrypted workspace for notes and data
- Anytype starts at $4 per month, billed yearly ($5 billed monthly). ColorNote starts at $1.99 - $15.99 per item (in-app purchases; billing basis not shown).
- Only Anytype lists macOS, Windows, Linux and iOS apps.
- Anytype is self-hostable and end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Anytype also covers kanban boards.
- Free plan · from €2.40/mo
Joplin
Open source Markdown notes with sync through a service you choose
- Joplin starts at 2.40€ per month, billed yearly at 28.69€ (Joplin Cloud Basic). ColorNote starts at $1.99 - $15.99 per item (in-app purchases; billing basis not shown).
- Only Joplin lists a web app.
- Only Joplin lists Windows, macOS, Linux and iOS apps.
- Only Joplin lists a browser extension.
- Free plan · from $90/yr
Standard Notes
End-to-end encrypted notes app with open source clients
- Standard Notes starts at $90 per year (Productivity). ColorNote starts at $1.99 - $15.99 per item (in-app purchases; billing basis not shown).
- Only Standard Notes lists a web app.
- Only Standard Notes lists macOS, Windows, Linux and iOS apps.
- Only Standard Notes lists a browser extension.
- Free
Trilium Notes
Free, open-source hierarchical notes for a personal knowledge base
- Trilium Notes is free. ColorNote starts at $1.99 - $15.99 per item (in-app purchases; billing basis not shown).
- Only Trilium Notes lists a web app.
- Only Trilium Notes lists Windows, macOS and Linux apps.
- Only Trilium Notes lists a browser extension.
8 more that can be self-hosted
All 20 in one tableCommon questions
Is there a self-hosted alternative to ColorNote?
Yes. Jotty, Notesnook, SiYuan, TiddlyWiki, Memos, SilverBullet, flatnotes, NoteDiscovery and 12 more can be self-hosted, according to their own sites.
Can ColorNote be self-hosted?
The ColorNote listing does not say it can be self-hosted. The listing was checked on Oct 6, 2026 against the pages it cites.
When was this checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 4, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026. Vendors change prices and plans without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.
This page is built from the listings. A tool is here because its listing says so, and the order is how close each is to ColorNote: the alternatives its listing names first, then the tools that share the most features with it.