Logseq vs Tangent Notes

Logseq

• People who think in outlines and want their notes as plain-text files
• Students and researchers who annotate PDFs and manage sources in Zotero
• Users who prefer open-source software licensed under AGPL-3.0

Tangent Notes

• Writers who follow links from note to note and want to keep their place
• Obsidian users who want another editor for the same linked files
• People who want Markdown notes with no account or server

Logseq

• Sync is not part of the free app: Logseq Sync is in beta and limited to active Open Collective contributors paying $5 or $15 per month.
• Logseq 2.0, the database version, is still in beta, and its release notes advise backing up data before testing it.
• The mobile app for the database version is in alpha on iOS only, with Android listed as coming soon.

Tangent Notes

• Desktop only: iOS and Android support is listed under "Much Later" on the roadmap.
• The download page calls the app an open alpha, and the roadmap says it is still in active development.
• There is no built-in sync or collaboration; the site points to Git, iCloud, Drive or Dropbox for syncing the files.
• Export to HTML or simplified Markdown is still on the roadmap.

Logseq

Outliner on local files

Notes are nested bullet blocks saved as plain-text Markdown or Org-mode files on your device.

References, backlinks and knowledge graph

Pages and blocks can be referenced or embedded anywhere else, with backlinks and a graph showing how pages connect.

Journals, tasks and queries

A journals page collects dated entries, tasks and to-dos sit inside the outline, and queries pull matching blocks into one place.

Whiteboards

A spatial canvas where blocks from your notes sit next to shapes, drawings, website embeds and connectors.

PDF highlights and flashcards

Highlight PDFs inside the app, bring in references through the Zotero integration and review notes as spaced-repetition cards.

Logseq Sync and the DB version

Logseq Sync (beta) encrypts and syncs up to 10 graphs for backers. Logseq 2.0, a database-based version with real-time collaboration sync, is in beta.

Tangent Notes

Thread View

As you follow and create links, the notes behind you stay open as horizontally sliding panels, so you can move back and forth along the path you took.

Map View

A branching map of nodes and connections is built automatically from your writing and navigation, giving an overview of where you have been.

Markdown styled as you type

Markup is hidden once you move on and reappears when you return. Headers, highlights, lists, YAML front matter, LaTeX math, Mermaid diagrams and highlighted code blocks are supported.

Wiki links and backlinks

Double-bracket links connect notes by filename with autocomplete, and each note knows what links to it. Links in notes that come from Obsidian keep working.

Tags, to-dos and queries

Notes take nested tags and to-do checkboxes, and a custom query language finds notes by links, tags, to-dos or text. Queries can be saved and reused inside other queries.

Keyboard control and focus mode

Nearly every action has a customizable shortcut, with a command palette for the others. Focus mode narrows the view to one note, paragraph or sentence.

Logseq

• Free$0

  The full app with local graphs. No commercial license is required for personal or company use.

• Backers$5

  per month, as an Open Collective contribution

  Monthly donation that gives access to Logseq Sync (beta) for up to 10 graphs, plus early access to insider builds.

• Sponsors$15

  per month, as an Open Collective contribution

  A larger monthly donation with the same Logseq Sync access and early access to insider builds.

Tangent Notes

• Tangent$0

  The full desktop app for Mac, Windows and Linux, offered as an open alpha. Linux builds are also on Flathub.