Logseq vs Trilium 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

Trilium Notes

• People building a large personal knowledge base on a desktop computer
• Self-hosters who want sync on a server they control
• Tinkerers who want to script and extend their notes app

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.

Trilium Notes

• There is no official mobile app; phones reach a self-hosted server through the browser or an installed PWA.
• There is no official hosted version, so syncing devices means running your own server or paying a third-party host such as PikaPods.
• It is designed for a single user: real-time editing of the same notes by several people is not supported.
• Notes are kept in an SQLite database rather than plain-text files, and are not encrypted unless marked as protected.

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.

Trilium Notes

Hierarchical notes

Notes nest inside other notes instead of folders, and a single note can appear in several places in the tree. Labels and relations add structure.

Many note types

Rich text, Markdown, code, spreadsheet, canvas, Mermaid diagram, mind map and file notes can be mixed freely in the same tree.

Collections

Display a group of notes as a calendar, table, kanban board, map, presentation or dashboard, and switch between layouts at any time.

Sync through your own server

A self-hosted server syncs notes across devices, gives access from a browser and can publish a subtree of notes as a read-only website.

Scripting and REST API

JavaScript runs in the app or on the server to add widgets and automate work, and a built-in REST API reads, creates and updates notes over HTTP.

Protected notes and revisions

Selected notes can be encrypted behind a password-protected session, and periodic background revisions let you review or undo changes.

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.

Trilium Notes

• Free$0

  Every feature of the desktop apps and the self-hosted server, including sync, scripting and the REST API.