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The flatnotes Insider’s Guide

Everything we know about flatnotes in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.

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ToolGPAOctober 2026

flatnotes

The Insider’s Guide

Self-hosted notes web app on a flat folder of Markdown files

flatnotes, as pictured on github.com

Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among note-taking apps, read from flatnotes’s own pages.

Made by Adam Dullage · checked Oct 9, 2026 · toolgpa.com

2.6GPA

Contents

  1. 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
  2. 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
  3. 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
  4. 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
  5. 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
  6. 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
  7. 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it

ToolGPA put this guide together from flatnotes’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on flatnotes’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 2026.

Part 01 · Overview

Welcome

What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first

2.6

GPA, above 50 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade

flatnotes is a free, open-source note-taking web app that you host yourself. It stores every note as a Markdown file in a single flat folder, with no database, folders or notebooks, and relies on full-text search and hashtags to find things. The interface works on phones and desktops in a browser, with raw and WYSIWYG editing modes and a REST API.

To get you started, here are 8 things to know about flatnotes, taken from its own pages and our grades.

You host it yourself, and that's the hard part.
From our grade for ease of use
  1. 1

    Best for self-hosted notes kept as plain Markdown files

    flatnotes is a free, open-source notes web app you host yourself, keeping every note as a Markdown file in one flat folder, found by search and hashtags.

  2. 2

    It is free

    flatnotes has no paid plan at all. The whole app is free and open source under the MIT license, with no paid edition. You supply the server, and the developer accepts sponsorship through GitHub Sponsors.

  3. 3

    It runs on Web

    Web.

  4. 4

    Flat folder of Markdown files

    Notes are .md files in one folder with no database. Files can be added, edited or deleted outside the app while it runs, since only the search index is cached.

  5. 5

    Raw and WYSIWYG editing

    The editor switches between raw Markdown and a WYSIWYG mode. Images can be inserted from the toolbar, dragged in or pasted, and are saved to an attachments folder.

  6. 6

    Full-text search

    Search opens from anywhere with the / key and supports AND and OR, quoted phrases, wildcards and field prefixes for title, content, tags and last-modified date.

  7. 7

    A 2.6 GPA, above 50 of 147

    That is against the other note-taking apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.

  8. 8

    Keep it

    flatnotes is free, so making your own would save you nothing.

flatnotes at a glance

Pricing
Free
Free plan
Yes
Free trial
None stated
Runs on
Web
Made by
Adam Dullage
Category
Note-Taking Apps
Our grade
2.6 GPA, good

The report card

Best for self-hosted notes kept as plain Markdown files

flatnotes is a free, open-source notes web app you host yourself, keeping every note as a Markdown file in one flat folder, found by search and hashtags. Setup is on you, with Docker as the recommended route or a paid third-party host, there are no folders or native apps, new features are limited on purpose, and attachments can't be viewed or deleted from inside the app.

ToolGPA report cardflatnotesGraded Oct 10, 2026
SubjectGradeComment
Value for moneyAFree and open source under the MIT licence, with no paid edition at all, where this category's middle plan is $6 a month. The cost is the server you put it on. The developer takes sponsorship through GitHub Sponsors if you want to chip in.
Free plan and trialAFree outright. Search, tags, both editors, the login modes and the API all come in the box, and nothing is held back for a paid tier because there is no paid tier.
FeaturesCRaw and WYSIWYG editing, full-text search with AND, OR, phrases and wildcards, hashtags, wikilinks and four login modes. Small on purpose, and the listing says as much: no folders or notebooks by design, new features deliberately limited, and attachments can't be viewed or deleted from inside the app.
Ease of useDYou host it yourself, and that's the hard part. Docker is the recommended route, or you pay a third-party host like PikaPods to run it for you. Once it's up it's simple enough, with search opening from anywhere on the / key.
Platforms and integrationsCWeb only. The interface works in a phone or desktop browser and there's a REST API documented at /docs on every instance, but the project lists no native desktop or mobile apps and nothing it connects to.
Grade point averageGood, out of 4.02.6

An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.

Who flatnotes is for

  • Fits if you already run a home server and want notes that are plain files on it
  • Works for serving a folder of notes read-only as a small blog or docs site

Who it is not for

  • Skip it if you've never touched Docker and don't fancy starting now, or paying PikaPods to host it
  • Not for you if you organize with folders or notebooks, because it has neither by design
  • Too light for people who want an app that keeps growing, as the developer limits new features on purpose
  • Watch out: attachments can't be viewed or deleted in the app, and stay behind when their note is deleted
  • Tight if you want native apps, since it's a browser interface only with no desktop or phone app

Good to know

Good for

  • Self-hosters who want a simple notes app backed by plain Markdown files
  • People who would sooner search and tag than file notes in folders
  • Serving a folder of notes read-only as a small blog or docs site

Worth knowing

  • It has to be self-hosted, with Docker as the recommended route, or run on a third-party host such as PikaPods.
  • There are no folders or notebooks by design, and the developer says new features are deliberately limited.
  • It is a mobile-responsive web interface only; the project lists no native desktop or mobile apps.
  • Uploaded attachments cannot be viewed or deleted from inside the app and are not removed when their note is deleted.

Part 02 · Pricing

What it costs

Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved

Free

No paid plan at all

flatnotes is free to use.

The developer takes sponsorship through GitHub Sponsors if you want to chip in.
From our grade for value for money

  • flatnotes

    $0

    The full app, self-hosted with Docker. The README also points to PikaPods, a third-party host, for a hosted instance.

The free plan

The whole app is free and open source under the MIT license, with no paid edition. You supply the server, and the developer accepts sponsorship through GitHub Sponsors.

Read from github.com on Oct 9, 2026.

Part 03 · Features

What it does

Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it

1

Place it runs: Web

Self-hosted notes web app on a flat folder of Markdown files. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, self-hostable, public API, notes, Markdown, linked notes.

Raw and WYSIWYG editing, full-text search with AND, OR, phrases and wildcards, hashtags, wikilinks and four login modes.
From our grade for features
Flat folder of Markdown files
Notes are .md files in one folder with no database. Files can be added, edited or deleted outside the app while it runs, since only the search index is cached.
Raw and WYSIWYG editing
The editor switches between raw Markdown and a WYSIWYG mode. Images can be inserted from the toolbar, dragged in or pasted, and are saved to an attachments folder.
Full-text search
Search opens from anywhere with the / key and supports AND and OR, quoted phrases, wildcards and field prefixes for title, content, tags and last-modified date.
Tags and wikilinks
A hashtag anywhere in a note tags it, and tags are indexed separately for searching. Double-bracket wikilinks link to other notes by name.
Authentication modes
Four modes are offered: none, read-only, username and password, and password plus a time-based one-time code. Read-only suits a blog or documentation site.
REST API
A RESTful API is included, with its documentation served at the /docs endpoint of each instance.

Where it runs

  • Web

What it works with

  • Docker
  • PikaPods

flatnotes is made by Adam Dullage.

Part 04 · Standing

Where it stands

Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own

50/147

Other note-taking apps it is graded above

flatnotes's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 50 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 21.

It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 100 of 147) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0).

flatnotes 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.

Each grade against the category

Every bar is all 148 note-taking apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. flatnotes’s own letter is outlined.

  • AValue for moneyAbove 62 of 147
  • AFree plan and trialAbove 100 of 147
  • CFeaturesAbove 2 of 147
  • DEase of useAbove 0 of 147
  • CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 31 of 147

Price against what you get

Each dot is one of 103 note-taking apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. flatnotes is the marked dot.

D1.0C2.0B3.0A4.0Free$0.5$1$2$5$10$20More for lessCosts more, scores moreCosts less, scores lessCosts more, scores lessflatnotesGoodnotesSimplenoteApple NotesNotionObsidian

What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →

Keep it, or make your own?

Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.

Keep it

flatnotes is free, so making your own would save you nothing.

What you could make

  • Notes, Markdown and linked notes: an app builder makes these well.

What you could not

  • It plugs into other products, Docker and PikaPods among them, and has an API.

What this rests on. flatnotes’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.

Part 05 · Alternatives

The alternatives

The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side

Memos, SilverBullet, NoteDiscovery, Jotty and Trilium Notes

The 5 tools flatnotes is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.

Part 06 · Questions

Quick answers

The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two

13

Questions, each answered in a line or two

The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.

Is flatnotes free?

Yes. flatnotes is free to use. The whole app is free and open source under the MIT license, with no paid edition.

How much does flatnotes cost?

flatnotes lists one plan. flatnotes: $0. Prices were read from github.com on Oct 9, 2026.

What platforms does flatnotes work on?

flatnotes is available on Web.

Does flatnotes have an Android app?

No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. flatnotes is listed for Web.

Does flatnotes have an iPhone app?

No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. flatnotes is listed for Web.

Is flatnotes open source?

Yes. flatnotes is open source, according to its own site. It can also be run on a server of your own.

Does flatnotes have an API?

Yes. flatnotes offers a public API, according to its own site.

What does flatnotes integrate with?

flatnotes's listing names Docker and PikaPods. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.

Who makes flatnotes?

flatnotes is made by Adam Dullage.

What are the alternatives to flatnotes?

The closest alternatives to flatnotes in our directory are Memos, SilverBullet, NoteDiscovery, Jotty and Trilium Notes.

How does flatnotes compare with other note-taking apps?

flatnotes's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 50 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 21.

Is flatnotes good value for money?

ToolGPA grades flatnotes A for value for money. flatnotes has no paid plan.

Could I make my own version of flatnotes?

flatnotes is free, so making your own would save you nothing. What you could not make: It plugs into other products, Docker and PikaPods among them, and has an API.

Where this guide comes from

The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from flatnotes’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from flatnotes' own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-04-28.

Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Adam Dullage. Prices change, so check github.com before you buy.

Part 07 · About

About ToolGPA

Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it

3,189

Tools graded, in 94 categories

ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.

Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.

  • 3,189

    tools graded

  • 94

    categories

  • 426

    price changes on record

  • 579

    apps priced in 12 countries

What else is on toolgpa.com

Scan for the live page

Prices and grades as they are today

Quoting this guide?

Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:

ToolGPA, "flatnotes: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/flatnotes

Know someone choosing between note-taking apps?

Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/flatnotes/guide

ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa

See our other guides

The best-graded note-taking apps after flatnotes, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.

ToolGPA

Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.

Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›

Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what flatnotes’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. flatnotes is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Adam Dullage. Prices and plans change: check github.com before you buy.