Memos vs NoteGen

Memos

• Self-hosters who want quick notes on a server they control
• Short, frequent notes and logs rather than long structured documents
• Developers who want to script note capture through an API

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

Memos

• The project runs no hosted service, so you need to operate and back up a server yourself or use an instance someone else runs.
• No native mobile or desktop apps are listed; phones and computers use the web app, which can be installed as a PWA.
• Import is marked as work in progress and accepts only a Memos export ZIP; imports from other note apps are not supported.
• Memos are not arranged in folders or notebooks, and a Space does not let several people edit the same memo.

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.

Memos

Timeline of Markdown memos

Memos are written in Markdown with code highlighting, tables, task lists, math and diagrams, and need no title or folder before saving.

Search, tags, calendar and map

Find a memo by its text, nested #tags, the day it was written or the place attached to it. Views save a filter expression for reuse.

Per-memo visibility and Spaces

Each memo is private, open to signed-in users, public or limited to a Space. Spaces gather members and memos in one feed but do not grant shared editing.

Self-hosted in one container

Runs with Docker, Kubernetes or a binary for Linux, macOS or Windows, and keeps data in SQLite, MySQL or PostgreSQL on infrastructure you control.

API, webhooks and MCP server

REST and gRPC APIs cover the product's features, signed webhooks fire when memos change, and a built-in MCP endpoint lets AI assistants search and write memos.

Web Clipper and Telegram capture

A browser extension for Chromium-based browsers and Firefox saves pages, selections and images as Markdown, and a Telegram bot forwards messages into Memos.

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.

Memos

• Memos software$0

  Every feature, including sharing, Spaces, the API and all three database backends. Hosting is arranged and paid for separately.

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.