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Alternatives · Note-Taking

Marknote alternatives

Marknote compared with 5 alternatives: QOwnNotes, Joplin, VNote, Zim and Obsidian.

Marknote is free to use. All 5 alternatives are free or have a free plan.

5 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 9, 2026 · Where the facts come from

At a glance

ToolPriceFree planRuns on
MarknoteThis toolFreeFreemacOS, Windows, Linux
QOwnNotesFreeFreemacOS, Windows, Linux, Android, Browser extension
JoplinFree plan · from €2.40/moYesWeb, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension
VNoteFreeFreemacOS, Windows, Linux
ZimFreeFreemacOS, Windows, Linux
ObsidianFree plan · from $4/moYesmacOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension

How each one differs from Marknote

  1. QOwnNotes

    Open-source Markdown notes app with Nextcloud and ownCloud support

    • QOwnNotes is free. Marknote is free.
    • Only QOwnNotes lists an Android app.
    • Only QOwnNotes lists a browser extension.
    • QOwnNotes also covers web clipper.

    Suits: Nextcloud or ownCloud users who want a desktop Markdown notes app

    QOwnNotes vs MarknoteQOwnNotes pricing and details

  2. 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). Marknote is free.
    • Only Joplin lists a web app.
    • Only Joplin lists iOS and Android apps.
    • Only Joplin lists a browser extension.
    • Joplin is self-hostable and end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.

    Suits: People who want open source notes synced through their own storage

    Joplin vs MarknoteJoplin pricing and details

  3. VNote

    Free desktop Markdown note-taking app with plain-file notebooks

    • VNote is free. Marknote is free.
    • VNote also covers templates and mind mapping.
    • Marknote also covers linked notes.

    Suits: People who want Markdown notes as plain files with no account

    VNote vs MarknoteVNote pricing and details

  4. Zim

    Desktop wiki that keeps linked pages as plain text files

    • Zim is free. Marknote is free.
    • Zim also covers wiki, daily notes and tasks.
    • Marknote also covers Markdown.

    Suits: A personal wiki or scratch book kept as files on your own disk

    Zim vs MarknoteZim pricing and details

  5. Obsidian

    Markdown note-taking app that keeps your files on your device

    • Obsidian starts at $4 per user / month, billed annually (Sync Standard add-on). Marknote is free.
    • Only Obsidian lists iOS and Android apps.
    • Only Obsidian lists a browser extension.
    • Obsidian is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
    • Marknote is open source, according to its own site.

    Suits: People who want their notes as plain Markdown files they control

    Obsidian vs MarknoteObsidian pricing and details

Limits worth knowing in Marknote

  • Stable packages are for Linux; the Windows and macOS builds on the KDE page are nightly installers described as unstable and meant for testing.
  • The KDE app page lists Linux, Windows and macOS only, and mentions no Android or iOS app and no built-in sync between devices.
  • Subfolders, added in version 1.6.0, cannot yet be created inside Marknote; they have to be made in a file manager.
  • The Snap Store's stable channel shows version 1.3.0, last updated in April 2025, while Flathub carries 1.6.0.
Marknote pricing and details

Common questions

What are the alternatives to Marknote?

The alternatives to Marknote in this directory are QOwnNotes, Joplin, VNote, Zim and Obsidian. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Marknote.

Is there a free alternative to Marknote?

Yes. QOwnNotes, VNote and Zim are free to use. Joplin and Obsidian have a free plan alongside paid ones.

Which Marknote alternatives work on Android?

The Marknote listing does not include an Android app. QOwnNotes, Joplin and Obsidian list one.

Which Marknote alternatives work on iOS?

The Marknote listing does not include an iOS app. Joplin and Obsidian list one.

When were these prices checked?

Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 4, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.

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