The Khoj Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Khoj 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.
Khoj
The Insider’s Guide
Open-source AI assistant that searches and chats over your notes
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among note-taking apps, read from Khoj’s own pages.
Made by Khoj Inc. · checked Nov 12, 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 Khoj’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Khoj’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.2
GPA, above 12 of the 152 other note-taking apps we grade
Khoj is a personal AI assistant you run on your own server that answers questions from your notes and documents and from the web. It indexes Markdown, org-mode, PDF, plaintext, Word and Notion files and can be used from a web app, desktop app, Obsidian, Emacs or WhatsApp. The company shut down its hosted Khoj Cloud in April 2026, so what remains is the self-hosted software.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Khoj, taken from its own pages and our grades.
- 1
Best for AI chat over your own notes, self-hosted
Khoj lets you ask questions of your own notes and documents and search them by meaning, with the model of your choice.
- 2
It is free
Khoj has no paid plan at all. The self-hosted software is free and open source; you pay for any AI model API you connect.
- 3
It runs on 4 platforms
Web, macOS, Windows and Linux.
- 4
Chat with your notes
Ask questions and Khoj answers from files you shared, and from the web when relevant.
- 5
Natural-language search
Find notes and documents by meaning rather than exact words, with search-as-you-type.
- 6
Many file types
Indexes Markdown, org-mode, PDF, plaintext and Word files and Notion pages.
- 7
A 2.2 GPA, above 12 of 152
That is against the other note-taking apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Khoj is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Khoj at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web, macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- Khoj Inc., since 2021
- Category
- Note-Taking Apps
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for AI chat over your own notes, self-hosted
Khoj lets you ask questions of your own notes and documents and search them by meaning, with the model of your choice. The hosted Khoj Cloud was shut down on April 15, 2026, so what remains is the free self-hosted version, which needs Docker or Python and an AI model you pay for yourself.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | The software is free and open source, but only if you host it yourself, which needs a server. Commercial model APIs bill separately, so the real cost depends on the model you pick. |
| Free plan and trial | B | The self-hosted software costs nothing and has no caps. There is no hosted trial left, since the cloud service was sunset. |
| Features | C | Chat over your files, search by meaning, Markdown, org-mode, PDF and Word support, agents and automations. The company says it is now focusing on its other products. |
| Ease of use | D | No store rating on record. Setup means Docker or pip plus an AI model, and on Windows the documented Docker route runs through WSL2. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web, a desktop app on Mac, Windows and Linux, and Obsidian, Emacs and WhatsApp. No iPhone or Android app is listed. |
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 Khoj is for
- Fits if you use Obsidian or Emacs and want AI over notes you already have
- Works for people comfortable running Docker who want documents to stay on their own machine
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want a hosted service, because Khoj Cloud was shut down on April 15, 2026
- Not for you if you won't run Docker or Python, since there's no one-click install
- Watch out: commercial model APIs such as OpenAI bill you separately
- Tight if you want updates: the company says it is now focusing on Open Paper and Pipali
Good to know
Good for
- Obsidian and Emacs users who want AI over their existing notes
- People who want to keep their documents on their own machine
- Users comfortable running Docker or Python
Worth knowing
- Khoj Cloud was sunset on April 15, 2026; the docs still mention it, but only self-hosting remains.
- The company says it is now focusing on its other products, Open Paper and Pipali.
- Self-hosting needs Docker or pip plus an AI model, and commercial model APIs bill separately.
- On Windows the documented Docker setup runs through WSL2.
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
Khoj is free to use.
The software is free and open source, but only if you host it yourself, which needs a server.
Self-hosted
$0
Run the open-source server yourself with Docker or pip; connect OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini or a local model.
The free plan
The self-hosted software is free and open source; you pay for any AI model API you connect.
Read from app.khoj.dev on Nov 12, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
4
Places it runs: Web, macOS, Windows and Linux
Open-source AI assistant that searches and chats over your notes. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, self-hostable, chat assistant, AI search, Markdown.
Chat over your files, search by meaning, Markdown, org-mode, PDF and Word support, agents and automations.
- Chat with your notes
- Ask questions and Khoj answers from files you shared, and from the web when relevant.
- Natural-language search
- Find notes and documents by meaning rather than exact words, with search-as-you-type.
- Many file types
- Indexes Markdown, org-mode, PDF, plaintext and Word files and Notion pages.
- Your choice of model
- Works with OpenAI, Anthropic and Gemini keys, or a local model through Ollama or an OpenAI-compatible server.
- Several interfaces
- Use it from the web, a desktop companion app, Obsidian, Emacs or WhatsApp.
- Agents and automations
- The homepage describes building agents and scheduling automations.
Where it runs
- Web
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
- Obsidian
- Emacs
- Notion
- Ollama
- OpenAI
- Anthropic
- Gemini
Khoj is made by Khoj Inc., and has been around since 2021.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
12/152
Other note-taking apps it is graded above
Khoj's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 12 of the 152 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 10.
It stands best on platforms and integrations (B, above 87 of 152) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0).
Khoj 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 153 note-taking apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Khoj’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 16 of 152
- BFree plan and trialAbove 73 of 152
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 152
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 152
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 87 of 152
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 107 note-taking apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Khoj 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
Khoj is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 130 of the 152 other note-taking apps grade higher.
What you could make
- Markdown: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- A search engine with an AI model behind it.
- An AI model, which you can rent by the request but not make.
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
- It plugs into other products, Obsidian, Emacs and Notion among them.
What this rests on. Khoj’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
Obsidian, Logseq, Notion, Joplin and Fabric
The 5 tools Khoj is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.6GPA
Obsidian
Free plan · from $4/mo
Markdown note-taking app that keeps your files on your device.
- Only Khoj lists a web app.
- Only Obsidian lists iOS and Android apps.
- Only Obsidian lists a browser extension.
- 3.0GPA
Logseq
Free plan · from $5/mo
Open-source outliner for linked notes stored as local files.
- Only Logseq lists iOS and Android apps.
- Khoj is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Khoj also covers chat assistant and AI search.
- 3.2GPA
Notion
Free plan · from $10/mo
Workspace for docs, wikis, databases and projects with built-in AI.
- Only Khoj lists a Linux app.
- Only Notion lists iOS and Android apps.
- Only Notion lists a browser extension.
- 3.6GPA
Joplin
Free plan · from €2.40/mo
Open source Markdown notes with sync through a service you choose.
- Only Joplin lists iOS and Android apps.
- Only Joplin lists a browser extension.
- Joplin is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- 2.8GPA
Fabric
Free plan · from $8/mo
AI workspace for notes, files, bookmarks and meeting notes.
- Only Fabric lists iOS and Android apps.
- Only Fabric lists a browser extension.
- Khoj is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
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 Khoj free?
Yes. Khoj is free to use.
How much does Khoj cost?
Khoj lists one plan. Self-hosted: $0.
What platforms does Khoj work on?
Khoj is available on Web, macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does Khoj have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Khoj is listed for Web, macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does Khoj have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Khoj is listed for Web, macOS, Windows and Linux.
Is Khoj open source?
Yes. Khoj is open source, according to its own site.
What does Khoj integrate with?
Khoj's listing names Obsidian, Emacs, Notion, WhatsApp, Ollama, OpenAI, Anthropic and Gemini.
Who makes Khoj?
Khoj is made by Khoj Inc. It dates from 2021.
What are the alternatives to Khoj?
The closest alternatives to Khoj in our directory are Obsidian, Logseq, Notion, Joplin and Fabric.
How does Khoj compare with other note-taking apps?
Khoj's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 12 of the 152 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 10.
Is Khoj good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Khoj C for value for money. Khoj has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Khoj?
Khoj is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Khoj’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Khoj's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
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 Khoj Inc. Prices change, so check khoj.dev before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 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.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Khoj, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/khoj
- 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, "Khoj: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/khoj
Know someone choosing between note-taking apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/khoj/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded note-taking apps after Khoj, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Note-Taking Apps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 153 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 Khoj’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. Khoj is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Khoj Inc. Prices and plans change: check khoj.dev before you buy.