# Dnote review (2026): is it any good? > Free, open-source terminal notebook with optional self-hosted sync Checked Nov 13, 2026 ยท graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA. Dnote is a command-line notebook for saving commands, snippets and short notes, then finding them again with full-text search. Everything lives in one SQLite file. An optional self-hosted server syncs notes across devices and exposes a REST API. It is a single binary with no dependencies. - **Category:** Note-Taking Apps - **Made by:** Dnote - **Website:** https://www.getdnote.com - **Runs on:** macOS, Linux, Windows - **Who should skip it:** Not for you if you want a window to click in, as it is command line only. - **Facts last checked:** Nov 13, 2026 ## Pricing As of Nov 13, 2026, Dnote is free to use. - **Pricing model:** Free - **Free plan:** The vendor says Dnote is free and open source and will always be free. - **Free trial:** None listed. | Plan | Price | What you get | | --- | --- | --- | | Dnote | $0 | Free and open source (Apache-2.0 per its GitHub page). Sync needs a server you run yourself. | Read from https://www.getdnote.com on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Dnote before buying. ## Key features - **Full-text search:** Search every saved note from the terminal to find a command or snippet without scrolling shell history. - **Bring your own editor:** Notes can be written in any text editor, in a terminal or as a GUI. - **Single SQLite file:** All data is in one file that can be backed up to any storage, queried with standard tools or migrated. - **Self-hosted sync server:** An optional single-binary server with SQLite syncs data between devices and can be deployed with Docker or run directly. - **REST API:** The server exposes notes over a REST API for integrations or any HTTP client. ## Good for - Developers who want to log commands and snippets without leaving the terminal - People who prefer to keep notes in a single portable file they control ## Worth knowing - Sync between devices requires running your own server; the vendor lists no hosted service. - It is a command-line tool with no mobile or web app listed on its site. - Binaries are listed for macOS, Linux, FreeBSD and Windows; FreeBSD is not a platform on this site. ## ToolGPA grades **GPA: 2.6 out of 4**, graded Nov 13, 2026. Dnote is a terminal notebook for commands and short notes, kept in one SQLite file, with an optional sync server you run yourself. It is free and open source, but it is a command-line tool with no phone or web app. - **Value for money: A.** Free and open source, with no paid plan; the program is a single binary. - **Free plan and trial: A.** Free outright. Syncing across devices needs a server you run yourself. - **Features: C.** Full-text search, your own editor, one SQLite file, a REST API and self-hosted sync. The listing's gaps: no hosted sync, no phone or web app. - **Ease of use: D.** No store rating on record. It runs in a terminal, and sync means running your own server. - **Platforms and integrations: C.** macOS, Linux and Windows programs only. The REST API needs your own server. These are ToolGPA's own grades. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Dnote's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. ## Where it stands among note-taking apps - Dnote's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 61 of the 169 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 26. - It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 114 of 169) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0). - Dnote has no paid plan. - On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 1.7 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price. The category's chart of price against score: https://toolgpa.com/charts/note-taking ## Keep it, or make your own? **Keep it.** Dnote is free, so making your own would save you nothing. - You could make: Notes: an app builder makes this well. - You could not: Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other. - You could not: It plugs into other products, Homebrew and Docker among them, and has an API. A judgement by ToolGPA from this listing, by rules that are the same for every tool. Nothing was built to test it. ## Works with Homebrew, Docker **Tags:** Notes, Open source, Self-hostable, Public API, Local-first ## Alternatives - [nb](https://toolgpa.com/tools/nb): Command-line note, bookmark and knowledge base tool in one script. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/dnote-vs-nb) - [Notenik](https://toolgpa.com/tools/notenik): Free Mac notes app with Markdown, custom fields and outlining. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/dnote-vs-notenik) - [Joplin](https://toolgpa.com/tools/joplin): Open source Markdown notes with sync through a service you choose. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/dnote-vs-joplin) - [SilverBullet](https://toolgpa.com/tools/silverbullet): Scriptable Markdown knowledge base, self-hosted or on desktop. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/dnote-vs-silverbullet) - [Memos](https://toolgpa.com/tools/memos): Open-source, self-hosted timeline of short Markdown notes. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/dnote-vs-memos) ## Sources The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026: - https://www.getdnote.com - https://github.com/dnote/dnote Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/dnote Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).