Blinko vs NoteGen

Blinko

• Capturing short thoughts quickly and sorting them out later
• AI search over your own notes using your own API key
• Self-hosters who want their notes on their own server
• Publishing selected notes as a personal blog

NoteGen

• People who capture fragments first and write them up later
• Using AI on notes with the models and API keys you choose
• Keeping notes as Markdown files synced through Git or your own storage

Blinko

• Blinko Cloud Free includes 100 MB of managed storage; Pro has 10 GB and Pro Plus 25 GB. Cloud plans are billed monthly.
• Custom domains, premium blog themes, the CLI, the developer API and secure sharing are listed under the paid Cloud plans.
• There is no iOS app yet (marked Coming soon), Android is an APK download and the desktop apps are described as preview builds.
• AI features need your own API key or a local model, and self-hosting leaves updates, backups and security to you.

NoteGen

• The README labels the desktop apps Beta and the mobile apps Alpha: Android is an ARM64 APK download and iOS is distributed through TestFlight.
• The macOS app is not signed, and the download page gives Terminal commands to run if macOS reports it as damaged.
• AI features rely on built-in free models or a provider you configure, and the docs note that data sent to an online model leaves the device.
• The self-hosted sync server is marked experimental, and the site warns against treating an instance as the only copy of important data.

Blinko

Blinks and Notes

A Blink is a quick capture for short-lived thoughts and is archived automatically after a period. A Note is permanent, with rich formatting, and a Blink can be turned into one.

AI search and chat over your notes

Retrieval-augmented search answers natural-language questions from your own notes, and a chat lets you ask what you recorded and follow up on a topic.

AI writing with your own provider

Selected text can be expanded or polished, and AI can tag notes or process new ones automatically. Providers include OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, DeepSeek, OpenRouter and local Ollama models.

Personal blog and share links

On Blinko Cloud a note can be published to a personal blog. Share links can carry an expiry time and a password, and shared notes are read-only.

Self-hosting with Docker

The open-source edition runs in Docker with a PostgreSQL database, so notes stay on your own server. S3 storage, webhooks, SSO and scheduled backups can be configured.

Apps and plugins

Desktop apps add a quick-note window and a text-selection toolbar, the Android app accepts content shared from other apps, and a plugin marketplace adds extras.

NoteGen

Records for quick capture

Text, voice recordings, screenshots, images, links, files and to-dos go into one stream and are filtered later by tag, time or type, so nothing has to be filed when it is captured.

AI organization into notes

Selected records are organized into a summary, report or article from a template or a prompt, and AI tools can continue, shorten, expand, rewrite or translate text in the editor.

Markdown editor

Notes are standard Markdown files in a workspace folder, edited visually or in source mode, with tables, task lists, code blocks, math, Mermaid diagrams, export and file history.

Chat and Agent

Chat answers questions using notes, records and a knowledge base. Agent mode can read and change notes, folders and tags once you approve its tools, and supports MCP servers and Skills.

Infinite canvas

Notes, records, images, links, shapes and charts become nodes that can be connected and grouped, and AI can generate flowcharts, charts and Mermaid diagrams from note content.

Sync to a place you choose

Notes stay on the device by default and can sync through GitHub, GitLab, Gitee, Gitea, S3 or WebDAV. A self-hosted NoteGen Server adds realtime sync and collaboration.

Blinko

• Open Source (self-hosted)$0

  The open-source edition on your own server. Storage is limited only by your infrastructure, and you manage updates, backups, security and AI providers.

• Blinko Cloud Free$0

  Hosted Blinko with 100 MB of managed storage, a personal blog, bring-your-own-key AI, nested tags, folders and full-text search.

• Blinko Cloud Pro$5.99

  per month, billed monthly

  10 GB of managed storage, premium blog themes, a custom domain, no Blinko branding, the Blinko CLI, developer API and secure sharing.

• Blinko Cloud Pro Plus$10.99

  per month, billed monthly

  25 GB of managed storage with everything in Pro, for larger note and attachment libraries.

NoteGen

• NoteGen$0

  The full app on every platform, with built-in free models or your own AI provider. The sync server can be self-hosted at no charge.