Noteshelf alternatives · Note-Taking
Open-source alternatives to Noteshelf
Noteshelf 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.
Noteshelf has a free plan. Paid plans start at $7.99 one-time on Windows; Premium is $9.99 one-time on Android. 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 Noteshelf
- Free plan · from $9.99/mo
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. Noteshelf starts at $7.99 one-time on Windows; Premium is $9.99 one-time on Android.
- Only Reflect lists a browser extension.
- Only Noteshelf lists Android and Windows apps.
- Reflect is open source, according to its own site.
- Free
Tolaria
Free, open-source desktop app for Markdown knowledge bases
- Tolaria is free. Noteshelf starts at $7.99 one-time on Windows; Premium is $9.99 one-time on Android.
- Only Tolaria lists a Linux app.
- Only Noteshelf lists iOS and Android apps.
- Tolaria is open source, according to its own site.
- Free plan · from $4.99 one-time
FSNotes
Open-source Markdown notes app for Mac and iPhone
- FSNotes starts at $4.99 one-time for iPhone and iPad; $8.99 one-time for Mac. Noteshelf starts at $7.99 one-time on Windows; Premium is $9.99 one-time on Android.
- Only Noteshelf lists Android and Windows apps.
- FSNotes is open source, according to its own site.
- FSNotes also covers Markdown.
- Free
Linwood Butterfly
Open-source handwriting and sketching app with an infinite canvas
- Linwood Butterfly is free. Noteshelf starts at $7.99 one-time on Windows; Premium is $9.99 one-time on Android.
- Only Linwood Butterfly lists a web app.
- Only Linwood Butterfly lists a Linux app.
- Only Noteshelf lists an iOS app.
- Free plan · from $1.99/mo
GitJournal
Mobile Markdown notes app that syncs through any Git repository
- GitJournal starts at $1.99 per month in installments, or $31.99 one-time (US App Store minimums). Noteshelf starts at $7.99 one-time on Windows; Premium is $9.99 one-time on Android.
- Only Noteshelf lists macOS and Windows apps.
- GitJournal is open source, according to its own site.
- GitJournal also covers Markdown, linked notes and daily notes.
- Free plan · from $14.99 one-time
MiaoYan
Native Mac Markdown notes app with a split editor and preview
- MiaoYan starts at $14.99 one-time purchase (App Store edition). Noteshelf starts at $7.99 one-time on Windows; Premium is $9.99 one-time on Android.
- Only Noteshelf lists Android and Windows apps.
- MiaoYan is open source, according to its own site.
- MiaoYan also covers Markdown, linked notes and presentations.
- Free
VNote
Free desktop Markdown note-taking app with plain-file notebooks
- VNote is free. Noteshelf starts at $7.99 one-time on Windows; Premium is $9.99 one-time on Android.
- Only VNote lists a Linux app.
- Only Noteshelf lists iOS and Android apps.
- VNote is open source, according to its own site.
- Free
NoteGen
Open-source Markdown notes app that organizes captures with AI
- NoteGen is free. Noteshelf starts at $7.99 one-time on Windows; Premium is $9.99 one-time on Android.
- Only NoteGen lists a Linux app.
- Only NoteGen lists a browser extension.
- NoteGen is open source, according to its own site.
- Free plan · from $5.99/mo
Blinko
AI-assisted card notes, self-hosted or on Blinko Cloud
- Blinko starts at $5.99 per month, billed monthly (Blinko Cloud Pro). Noteshelf starts at $7.99 one-time on Windows; Premium is $9.99 one-time on Android.
- Only Blinko lists a web app.
- Only Blinko lists a Linux app.
- Only Noteshelf lists an iOS app.
- Free
NoteDiscovery
Self-hosted Markdown knowledge base that runs in the browser
- NoteDiscovery is free. Noteshelf starts at $7.99 one-time on Windows; Premium is $9.99 one-time on Android.
- Only NoteDiscovery lists a web app.
- Only Noteshelf lists iOS, macOS, Android and Windows apps.
- NoteDiscovery is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Free
QOwnNotes
Open-source Markdown notes app with Nextcloud and ownCloud support
- QOwnNotes is free. Noteshelf starts at $7.99 one-time on Windows; Premium is $9.99 one-time on Android.
- Only QOwnNotes lists a Linux app.
- Only QOwnNotes lists a browser extension.
- Only Noteshelf lists an iOS app.
- Free
MindForger
Open-source Markdown notebook that links related notes for you
- MindForger is free. Noteshelf starts at $7.99 one-time on Windows; Premium is $9.99 one-time on Android.
- Only MindForger lists a Linux app.
- Only Noteshelf lists iOS and Android apps.
- MindForger is open source, according to its own site.
38 more that are open source
- Logseq
- Joplin
- Simplenote
- Standard Notes
- Notesnook
- AppFlowy
- AFFiNE
- Trilium Notes
- SiYuan
- TiddlyWiki
- Xournal++
- Memos
- Tangent Notes
- Beaver Notes
- Cryptee
- Lockbook
- Mimiri Notes
- FUTO Notes
- Saber
- Rnote
- Orgzly Revived
- Markor
- Quillpad
- Fossify Notes
- NotallyX
- Notenik
- Zavala
- Bangle.io
- SilverBullet
- flatnotes
- Jotty
- CherryTree
- Zim
- KeyNote NF
- TreeSheets
- Stylus Labs Write
- DeepNotes
- Marknote
Common questions
Is there an open-source alternative to Noteshelf?
Yes. Reflect, Tolaria, FSNotes, Linwood Butterfly, GitJournal, MiaoYan, VNote, NoteGen and 42 more are open source, according to their own sites.
Is Noteshelf open source?
Noteshelf is not described as open source on its own site. The listing was checked on Oct 9, 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 Noteshelf: the alternatives its listing names first, then the tools that share the most features with it.