The Jotty Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Jotty 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.
Jotty
The Insider’s Guide
Self-hosted notes and checklists stored as Markdown files
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among note-taking apps, read from Jotty’s own pages.
Made by fccview · checked Oct 9, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Jotty’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Jotty’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
2.8
GPA, above 72 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade
Jotty, written jotty·page by its developer, is a free, open-source app for notes and checklists that you host on your own server. Everything is stored as Markdown files in a single data folder, with no database to maintain. It pairs a rich-text Markdown editor with checklists that can grow into Kanban task projects, and adds linking between items, note encryption, multi-user sharing and a REST API.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Jotty, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It covers notes, Kanban boards, per-note encryption and sharing.
- 1
Best for notes and checklists on a server you run
Jotty is a free, open-source notes and checklists app you host on your own server, saving everything as Markdown files in one folder.
- 2
It is free
Jotty has no paid plan at all. Free and open source under AGPL-3.0, with no paid plans. The site says the project is fully and forever open source; you provide the server, and donations are optional.
- 3
It runs on Web
Web.
- 4
Checklists and task projects
Simple checklists have progress bars, nested categories, drag and drop and bulk add. Task projects add Kanban boards with custom statuses, a time tracker and a calendar view for due dates.
- 5
Rich-text notes in Markdown
A WYSIWYG editor built on TipTap saves GitHub Flavored Markdown, with code highlighting, callouts, diagrams, tags and a switch to the Markdown source.
- 6
File-based storage
Checklists and notes are Markdown files and users and settings are JSON, all in one data folder with no database. Backing up an instance means copying that folder.
- 7
A 2.8 GPA, above 72 of 147
That is against the other note-taking apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Jotty is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Jotty at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- fccview
- Category
- Note-Taking Apps
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for notes and checklists on a server you run
Jotty is a free, open-source notes and checklists app you host on your own server, saving everything as Markdown files in one folder. It covers notes, Kanban boards, per-note encryption and sharing. But self-hosting through Docker is the only way to run it, there's no native app, you can't create or edit anything offline, and the developer says to back up the data folder before every feature update.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free and open source under AGPL-3.0, with no paid plans at all, in a category whose middle plan is $6 a month. You supply the server, and donations are optional. |
| Free plan and trial | A | All of it is free: notes, checklists, Kanban, encryption, sharing, the sign-in options and the API. There's no paid tier to hold anything back, and no cap to run into. |
| Features | C | A rich-text editor that saves Markdown, checklists that grow into Kanban projects with a time tracker and a calendar, wikilinks both ways, a map of your links, per-note encryption and sharing by link. The listing names its own gap: you can't create or edit anything offline. |
| Ease of use | D | Self-hosting is the only way to run it, through Docker Compose, a Proxmox script or an Unraid template. The developer also says to back up the data folder before every feature update, so the work doesn't stop at the setup. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | A web app with a REST API, an optional MCP server for AI clients and sign-in through OIDC, LDAP or MFA. There's no native app on any platform, and the PWA only caches pages you've already opened. |
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 Jotty is for
- Fits if you run a home server and want notes and checklists in one app on it
- Works for households or small groups that want shared lists kept as Markdown files on their own server
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you don't want to run Docker, because there's no hosted version to sign up for
- Not for you if you write on trains and planes, as creating or editing offline isn't supported
- Too light for phone-first people, since there's no native app and the PWA only caches pages you've opened
- Watch out: the developer advises backing up the data folder before every feature update, as those can change data structures
- Watch out: the MCP server for AI clients is a separate container you have to run alongside Jotty
Good to know
Good for
- Self-hosters who want notes and checklists in one app
- Households or small groups sharing lists on their own server
- People who want their data as Markdown files, not in a database
Worth knowing
- It has to be self-hosted: Docker Compose is the recommended route, with a Proxmox script and an Unraid template as alternatives.
- There is no native app. The PWA caches pages already visited, but creating or editing items offline is not supported.
- The developer advises backing up the data folder before every feature update, since those can change data structures.
- The MCP server for AI clients is a separate container that has to be run alongside Jotty.
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
Jotty is free to use.
You supply the server, and donations are optional.
Jotty
$0
The full app as a single Docker image, with a Proxmox community script and an Unraid template as other ways to install it.
The free plan
Free and open source under AGPL-3.0, with no paid plans. The site says the project is fully and forever open source; you provide the server, and donations are optional.
Read from jotty.page 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 and checklists stored as Markdown files. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, self-hostable, notes, Markdown, linked notes, tasks, kanban boards.
The listing names its own gap: you can't create or edit anything offline.
- Checklists and task projects
- Simple checklists have progress bars, nested categories, drag and drop and bulk add. Task projects add Kanban boards with custom statuses, a time tracker and a calendar view for due dates.
- Rich-text notes in Markdown
- A WYSIWYG editor built on TipTap saves GitHub Flavored Markdown, with code highlighting, callouts, diagrams, tags and a switch to the Markdown source.
- File-based storage
- Checklists and notes are Markdown files and users and settings are JSON, all in one data folder with no database. Backing up an instance means copying that folder.
- Links and the brain view
- Wikilinks and @mentions connect notes and checklists in both directions. A 2D or 3D map shows how items connect and suggests links that have not been made.
- Note encryption
- Any note can be encrypted with a passphrase using XChaCha20-Poly1305 or with PGP keys, and the file stays encrypted on disk until you choose to decrypt it.
- Sharing, sign-in and API
- Items can be shared with other users on the instance or by public link, with OIDC, LDAP and MFA sign-in. A REST API and an optional MCP server allow automation.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- Docker
- Proxmox VE
- Unraid
- Authentik
- Keycloak
- Okta
- Claude
- Cursor
Jotty is made by fccview.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
72/147
Other note-taking apps it is graded above
Jotty's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 72 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 34.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 100 of 147) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0).
Jotty has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 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. Jotty’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
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 86 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. Jotty is the marked dot.
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
Jotty is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
What you could make
- Notes, Markdown, tasks, kanban boards and linked notes: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- It plugs into other products, Docker, Proxmox VE and Unraid among them.
- Sharing with other people, which means accounts and invitations.
What this rests on. Jotty’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
flatnotes, Memos, Trilium Notes, SilverBullet and NoteDiscovery
The 5 tools Jotty is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
flatnotes
Free
Self-hosted notes web app on a flat folder of Markdown files.
- Jotty also covers tasks and kanban boards.
- 2.8GPA
Memos
Free
Open-source, self-hosted timeline of short Markdown notes.
- Only Memos lists a browser extension.
- Jotty also covers tasks and kanban boards.
- Memos also covers web clipper.
- 3.0GPA
Trilium Notes
Free
Free, open-source hierarchical notes for a personal knowledge base.
- Only Trilium Notes lists Windows, macOS and Linux apps.
- Only Trilium Notes lists a browser extension.
- Jotty also covers linked notes, tasks and kanban boards.
- 2.8GPA
SilverBullet
Free plan · from $50/yr
Scriptable Markdown knowledge base, self-hosted or on desktop.
- Only SilverBullet lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Jotty also covers tasks and kanban boards.
- SilverBullet also covers wiki.
- 2.8GPA
NoteDiscovery
Free
Self-hosted Markdown knowledge base that runs in the browser.
- Jotty also covers tasks and kanban boards.
- NoteDiscovery also covers templates.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
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 Jotty free?
Yes. Jotty is free to use.
How much does Jotty cost?
Jotty lists one plan. Jotty: $0.
What platforms does Jotty work on?
Jotty is available on Web.
Does Jotty have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Jotty is listed for Web.
Does Jotty have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Jotty is listed for Web.
Is Jotty open source?
Yes. Jotty is open source, according to its own site.
What does Jotty integrate with?
Jotty's listing names Docker, Proxmox VE, Unraid, Authentik, Keycloak, Okta, Claude and Cursor.
Who makes Jotty?
Jotty is made by fccview.
What are the alternatives to Jotty?
The closest alternatives to Jotty in our directory are flatnotes, Memos, Trilium Notes, SilverBullet and NoteDiscovery.
How does Jotty compare with other note-taking apps?
Jotty's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 72 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 34.
Is Jotty good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Jotty A for value for money. Jotty has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Jotty?
Jotty is free, so making your own would save you nothing. What you could not make: It plugs into other products, Docker, Proxmox VE and Unraid among them.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Jotty’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 Jotty's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-09-20.
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 fccview. Prices change, so check jotty.page 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
- Jotty, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/jotty
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
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, "Jotty: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/jotty
Know someone choosing between note-taking apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/jotty/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded note-taking apps after Jotty, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Note-Taking Apps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 148 note-taking apps we grade, compared
- Microsoft OneNote Insider's GuideMicrosoft's free digital notebook for typed, inked and audio notes3.8 GPA
- Goodnotes Insider's GuideHandwritten notes, PDF markup and whiteboards with an AI assistant3.6 GPA
- Joplin Insider's GuideOpen source Markdown notes with sync through a service you choose3.6 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Jotty’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. Jotty is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by fccview. Prices and plans change: check jotty.page before you buy.