SideNotes alternatives · Note-Taking
Open-source alternatives to SideNotes
SideNotes 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.
SideNotes is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $9.99 one-time for iPhone and iPad; $19.99 one-time for Mac. 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 SideNotes
- 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. SideNotes starts at $9.99 one-time for iPhone and iPad; $19.99 one-time for Mac.
- FSNotes has a free plan. SideNotes does not, though it has a free trial.
- FSNotes is open source, according to its own site.
- SideNotes also covers tasks and menu bar app.
- Free
Tangent Notes
Open-source Markdown notes app that maps the path between notes
- Tangent Notes is free. SideNotes starts at $9.99 one-time for iPhone and iPad; $19.99 one-time for Mac.
- Tangent Notes has a free plan. SideNotes does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Tangent Notes lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Only SideNotes lists an iOS app.
- Free
Beaver Notes
Open-source, local-first Markdown notes app for desktop
- Beaver Notes is free. SideNotes starts at $9.99 one-time for iPhone and iPad; $19.99 one-time for Mac.
- Beaver Notes has a free plan. SideNotes does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Beaver Notes lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Only SideNotes 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). SideNotes starts at $9.99 one-time for iPhone and iPad; $19.99 one-time for Mac.
- GitJournal has a free plan. SideNotes does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only GitJournal lists an Android app.
- Only SideNotes lists a macOS app.
- Free
Markor
Offline Android text editor for Markdown notes and todo.txt
- Markor is free. SideNotes starts at $9.99 one-time for iPhone and iPad; $19.99 one-time for Mac.
- Markor has a free plan. SideNotes does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Markor lists an Android app.
- Only SideNotes lists macOS and iOS apps.
- Free
Quillpad
Open-source Android notes app with Markdown and task lists
- Quillpad is free. SideNotes starts at $9.99 one-time for iPhone and iPad; $19.99 one-time for Mac.
- Quillpad has a free plan. SideNotes does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Quillpad lists an Android app.
- Only SideNotes lists macOS and iOS apps.
- 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). SideNotes starts at $9.99 one-time for iPhone and iPad; $19.99 one-time for Mac.
- MiaoYan has a free plan. SideNotes does not, though it has a free trial.
- MiaoYan is open source, according to its own site.
- MiaoYan also covers linked notes and presentations.
- Free
VNote
Free desktop Markdown note-taking app with plain-file notebooks
- VNote is free. SideNotes starts at $9.99 one-time for iPhone and iPad; $19.99 one-time for Mac.
- VNote has a free plan. SideNotes does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only VNote lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Only SideNotes lists an iOS app.
- Free
Notenik
Free Mac notes app with Markdown, custom fields and outlining
- Notenik is free. SideNotes starts at $9.99 one-time for iPhone and iPad; $19.99 one-time for Mac.
- Notenik has a free plan. SideNotes does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only SideNotes lists an iOS app.
- Notenik is open source, according to its own site.
- Free
Jotty
Self-hosted notes and checklists stored as Markdown files
- Jotty is free. SideNotes starts at $9.99 one-time for iPhone and iPad; $19.99 one-time for Mac.
- Jotty has a free plan. SideNotes does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Jotty lists a web app.
- Only SideNotes lists macOS and iOS apps.
- Free
MindForger
Open-source Markdown notebook that links related notes for you
- MindForger is free. SideNotes starts at $9.99 one-time for iPhone and iPad; $19.99 one-time for Mac.
- MindForger has a free plan. SideNotes does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only MindForger lists Linux and Windows apps.
- Only SideNotes lists an iOS app.
- Free plan · from $5/mo
Logseq
Open-source outliner for linked notes stored as local files
- Logseq starts at $5 per month for Open Collective backers, which unlocks Logseq Sync. SideNotes starts at $9.99 one-time for iPhone and iPad; $19.99 one-time for Mac.
- Logseq has a free plan. SideNotes does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Logseq lists a web app.
- Only Logseq lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
38 more that are open source
- Reflect
- Joplin
- Simplenote
- Standard Notes
- Notesnook
- Trilium Notes
- Memos
- Tolaria
- Cryptee
- Lockbook
- FUTO Notes
- Orgzly Revived
- Fossify Notes
- NotallyX
- NoteGen
- Zavala
- Bangle.io
- Blinko
- SilverBullet
- flatnotes
- NoteDiscovery
- QOwnNotes
- Zim
- Marknote
- SiYuan
- TiddlyWiki
- Xournal++
- Mimiri Notes
- Saber
- Rnote
- Linwood Butterfly
- CherryTree
- KeyNote NF
- TreeSheets
- Stylus Labs Write
- DeepNotes
- AppFlowy
- AFFiNE
Common questions
Is there an open-source alternative to SideNotes?
Yes. FSNotes, Tangent Notes, Beaver Notes, GitJournal, Markor, Quillpad, MiaoYan, VNote and 42 more are open source, according to their own sites.
Is SideNotes open source?
SideNotes 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 SideNotes: the alternatives its listing names first, then the tools that share the most features with it.