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Microsoft OneNote alternatives · Note-Taking

Open-source alternatives to Microsoft OneNote

Microsoft OneNote is not described as open source on its own site. 50 of the 146 other note-taking apps in this directory are open source, according to their own sites.

Microsoft OneNote has a free plan. Paid plans start at $9.99 per month, or $99.99 per year (Microsoft 365 Personal). All of them are free or have a free plan.

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

The 12 closest to Microsoft OneNote

  1. Linwood Butterfly

    Open-source handwriting and sketching app with an infinite canvas

    • Linwood Butterfly is free. Microsoft OneNote starts at $9.99 per month, or $99.99 per year (Microsoft 365 Personal).
    • Only Linwood Butterfly lists a Linux app.
    • Only Microsoft OneNote lists an iOS app.
    • Only Microsoft OneNote lists a browser extension.
    Linwood Butterfly vs Microsoft OneNoteLinwood Butterfly pricing and details

  2. Xournal++

    Open-source handwriting notes and PDF annotation for desktop

    • Xournal++ is free. Microsoft OneNote starts at $9.99 per month, or $99.99 per year (Microsoft 365 Personal).
    • Only Xournal++ lists a Linux app.
    • Only Microsoft OneNote lists a web app.
    • Only Microsoft OneNote lists iOS and Android apps.
    Xournal++ vs Microsoft OneNoteXournal++ pricing and details

  3. 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). Microsoft OneNote starts at $9.99 per month, or $99.99 per year (Microsoft 365 Personal).
    • Only Joplin lists a Linux app.
    • Joplin is open source, self-hostable and end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
    • Joplin also covers Markdown.
    Joplin pricing and details

  4. Standard Notes

    End-to-end encrypted notes app with open source clients

    • Standard Notes starts at $90 per year (Productivity). Microsoft OneNote starts at $9.99 per month, or $99.99 per year (Microsoft 365 Personal).
    • Only Standard Notes lists a Linux app.
    • Standard Notes is open source, self-hostable and end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
    • Standard Notes also covers Markdown.
    Standard Notes pricing and details

  5. Trilium Notes

    Free, open-source hierarchical notes for a personal knowledge base

    • Trilium Notes is free. Microsoft OneNote starts at $9.99 per month, or $99.99 per year (Microsoft 365 Personal).
    • Only Trilium Notes lists a Linux app.
    • Only Microsoft OneNote lists iOS and Android apps.
    • Trilium Notes is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
    Trilium Notes pricing and details

  6. Tolaria

    Free, open-source desktop app for Markdown knowledge bases

    • Tolaria is free. Microsoft OneNote starts at $9.99 per month, or $99.99 per year (Microsoft 365 Personal).
    • Only Tolaria lists a Linux app.
    • Only Microsoft OneNote lists a web app.
    • Only Microsoft OneNote lists iOS and Android apps.
    Tolaria pricing and details

  7. NoteGen

    Open-source Markdown notes app that organizes captures with AI

    • NoteGen is free. Microsoft OneNote starts at $9.99 per month, or $99.99 per year (Microsoft 365 Personal).
    • Only NoteGen lists a Linux app.
    • Only Microsoft OneNote lists a web app.
    • NoteGen is open source, according to its own site.
    NoteGen pricing and details

  8. Zavala

    Free open-source outliner for Mac, iPhone and iPad

    • Zavala is free. Microsoft OneNote starts at $9.99 per month, or $99.99 per year (Microsoft 365 Personal).
    • Only Microsoft OneNote lists a web app.
    • Only Microsoft OneNote lists Windows and Android apps.
    • Only Microsoft OneNote lists a browser extension.
    Zavala pricing and details

  9. QOwnNotes

    Open-source Markdown notes app with Nextcloud and ownCloud support

    • QOwnNotes is free. Microsoft OneNote starts at $9.99 per month, or $99.99 per year (Microsoft 365 Personal).
    • Only QOwnNotes lists a Linux app.
    • Only Microsoft OneNote lists a web app.
    • Only Microsoft OneNote lists an iOS app.
    QOwnNotes pricing and details

  10. Reflect

    Open-source daily notes app with backlinks and local Markdown

    • Reflect starts at $9.99 per month, or $99 per year, for the iPhone and iPad app. Microsoft OneNote starts at $9.99 per month, or $99.99 per year (Microsoft 365 Personal).
    • Only Microsoft OneNote lists a web app.
    • Only Microsoft OneNote lists Windows and Android apps.
    • Reflect is open source, according to its own site.
    Reflect pricing and details

  11. Simplenote

    Free plain-text notes that sync across every major platform

    • Simplenote is free. Microsoft OneNote starts at $9.99 per month, or $99.99 per year (Microsoft 365 Personal).
    • Only Simplenote lists a Linux app.
    • Only Microsoft OneNote lists a browser extension.
    • Simplenote is open source, according to its own site.
    Simplenote pricing and details

  12. Notesnook

    Open source, end-to-end encrypted notes on every platform

    • Notesnook starts at $1.99 per month, or $19.99 per year (Essential). Microsoft OneNote starts at $9.99 per month, or $99.99 per year (Microsoft 365 Personal).
    • Only Notesnook lists a Linux app.
    • Notesnook is open source, self-hostable and end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
    • Notesnook also covers Markdown and linked notes.
    Notesnook pricing and details

38 more that are open source

All 50 in one table

Common questions

Is there an open-source alternative to Microsoft OneNote?

Yes. Linwood Butterfly, Xournal++, Joplin, Standard Notes, Trilium Notes, Tolaria, NoteGen, Zavala and 42 more are open source, according to their own sites.

Is Microsoft OneNote open source?

Microsoft OneNote is not described as open source on its own site. The listing was checked on Oct 5, 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 Microsoft OneNote: the alternatives its listing names first, then the tools that share the most features with it.