The NoteDiscovery Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about NoteDiscovery 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.
NoteDiscovery
The Insider’s Guide
Self-hosted Markdown knowledge base that runs in the browser
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among note-taking apps, read from NoteDiscovery’s own pages.
Made by Gamosoft · 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 NoteDiscovery’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on NoteDiscovery’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
NoteDiscovery is an open-source, self-hosted note-taking app released under the MIT license. It runs on your own server, usually as a Docker container, and is used through a browser, with notes stored as plain Markdown files in ordinary folders. It adds wikilinks, backlinks, a graph view, tags, templates and a built-in MCP server that lets AI assistants read and edit the notes.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about NoteDiscovery, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You host it yourself: there's no hosted version from the maker, so step one is a server and a Docker container.
- 1
Best for reaching a folder of Markdown notes from any browser
NoteDiscovery opens a folder of Markdown notes, such as an Obsidian vault, in any browser, adding backlinks and a graph, and AI assistants can read and edit the notes over MCP.
- 2
It is free
NoteDiscovery has no paid plan at all. Free and open source under the MIT license. The site states there are no paid tiers, no accounts and no telemetry; you run it on your own server.
- 3
It runs on Web
Web.
- 4
Markdown editor with live preview
Edit, split and preview modes with auto-save, code highlighting, LaTeX math through MathJax and Mermaid diagrams.
- 5
Wikilinks, backlinks and graph view
Notes link with [[wikilink]] syntax, a backlinks panel shows which notes point at the current one, and an interactive graph maps the connections.
- 6
Plain-file storage
Notes are Markdown files in normal folders, so an existing Obsidian vault can be dropped in and the files open in any other Markdown editor.
- 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
NoteDiscovery is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
NoteDiscovery at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Gamosoft
- Category
- Note-Taking Apps
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for reaching a folder of Markdown notes from any browser
NoteDiscovery opens a folder of Markdown notes, such as an Obsidian vault, in any browser, adding backlinks and a graph, and AI assistants can read and edit the notes over MCP. It's free. But you run the server yourself, there's no cloud sync or native app, search skips file and folder names, and it's built for one person, with a single password that's off by default.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free and open source under the MIT license, in a category whose middle plan is $6 a month. The site says there are no paid tiers, no accounts and no telemetry. You'd only pay for a server, or for PikaPods if you'd rather someone else ran it. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The full app is free with nothing above it to upgrade to. Install it with Docker, or run it directly with Python 3.8 or higher. |
| Features | C | An editor with split and preview modes, [[wikilinks]], a backlinks panel, a graph view, tags, templates, LaTeX, Mermaid and a sketch editor. The listing names the gaps: no cloud sync at all, search that covers note contents but not file or folder names, and one password built for a single user. |
| Ease of use | D | You host it yourself: there's no hosted version from the maker, so step one is a server and a Docker container. Want more than one person on it? The README points you at a reverse proxy with OAuth or SSO. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | A web app you can install as a PWA on a phone or computer, with a built-in MCP server hooking it up to Claude Desktop, Cursor, Ollama and Open WebUI. No native desktop or mobile apps, so the browser is the app. |
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 NoteDiscovery is for
- Fits if you already run a home server and want your Markdown notes on it
- Works for reaching an Obsidian vault from a browser, or letting an AI assistant search it over MCP
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you don't want to run a server, as the maker offers no hosted version
- Not for you if several people need their own logins, because it has one password built for a single user
- Too light for native phone apps, since it only runs in a browser or as a PWA
- Watch out: password protection is off by default, and there's no cloud sync at all
- Watch out: search covers note contents only, not file or folder names
Good to know
Good for
- Self-hosters who want notes kept as Markdown files on their own server
- People with an Obsidian vault who want to reach it from a browser
- Connecting a personal note collection to AI assistants over MCP
Worth knowing
- There is no hosted version from the maker and no cloud sync: you run a server yourself or deploy through PikaPods, a separate hosting service.
- There are no native desktop or mobile apps; it is used in a browser and can be installed as a progressive web app.
- Password protection is off by default and is one password built for single-user use; the README suggests a reverse proxy with OAuth or SSO for multi-user setups.
- Text search covers note contents only, not file or folder names.
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
NoteDiscovery is free to use.
The site says there are no paid tiers, no accounts and no telemetry.
NoteDiscovery
$0
The full self-hosted app, installed with Docker or run directly with Python 3.8 or higher.
The free plan
Free and open source under the MIT license. The site states there are no paid tiers, no accounts and no telemetry; you run it on your own server.
Read from notediscovery.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 Markdown knowledge base that runs in the browser. 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, templates.
An editor with split and preview modes, [[wikilinks]], a backlinks panel, a graph view, tags, templates, LaTeX, Mermaid and a sketch editor.
- Markdown editor with live preview
- Edit, split and preview modes with auto-save, code highlighting, LaTeX math through MathJax and Mermaid diagrams.
- Wikilinks, backlinks and graph view
- Notes link with [[wikilink]] syntax, a backlinks panel shows which notes point at the current one, and an interactive graph maps the connections.
- Plain-file storage
- Notes are Markdown files in normal folders, so an existing Obsidian vault can be dropped in and the files open in any other Markdown editor.
- Built-in MCP server
- A Model Context Protocol server lets assistants such as Claude Desktop and Cursor search, create, edit and organize notes.
- Tags and templates
- Tags are set in YAML frontmatter and can be combined with text search. New notes can start from templates with dynamic placeholders.
- Drawing editor and public sharing
- Sketches are saved as PNG files beside the notes, and a note can be shared through a token-based link or exported as standalone HTML.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- Claude Desktop
- Cursor
- Ollama
- Open WebUI
NoteDiscovery is made by Gamosoft.
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
NoteDiscovery'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).
NoteDiscovery 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. NoteDiscovery’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. NoteDiscovery 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
NoteDiscovery is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
What you could make
- Notes, Markdown, linked notes and templates: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- It plugs into other products, Claude Desktop, Cursor and Ollama among them, and has an API.
What this rests on. NoteDiscovery’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, SilverBullet, Trilium Notes, Memos and Obsidian
The 5 tools NoteDiscovery 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.
- NoteDiscovery also covers templates.
- 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.
- NoteDiscovery also covers templates.
- SilverBullet also covers wiki.
- 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.
- NoteDiscovery also covers linked notes and templates.
- 2.8GPA
Memos
Free
Open-source, self-hosted timeline of short Markdown notes.
- Only Memos lists a browser extension.
- NoteDiscovery also covers templates.
- Memos also covers web clipper.
- 3.6GPA
Obsidian
Free plan · from $4/mo
Markdown note-taking app that keeps your files on your device.
- Only NoteDiscovery lists a web app.
- Only Obsidian lists macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
- Only Obsidian lists a browser extension.
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 NoteDiscovery free?
Yes. NoteDiscovery is free to use.
How much does NoteDiscovery cost?
NoteDiscovery lists one plan. NoteDiscovery: $0.
What platforms does NoteDiscovery work on?
NoteDiscovery is available on Web.
Does NoteDiscovery have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. NoteDiscovery is listed for Web.
Does NoteDiscovery have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. NoteDiscovery is listed for Web.
Is NoteDiscovery open source?
Yes. NoteDiscovery is open source, according to its own site.
Does NoteDiscovery have an API?
Yes. NoteDiscovery offers a public API, according to its own site.
What does NoteDiscovery integrate with?
NoteDiscovery's listing names Claude Desktop, Cursor, Ollama and Open WebUI.
Who makes NoteDiscovery?
NoteDiscovery is made by Gamosoft.
What are the alternatives to NoteDiscovery?
The closest alternatives to NoteDiscovery in our directory are flatnotes, SilverBullet, Trilium Notes, Memos and Obsidian.
How does NoteDiscovery compare with other note-taking apps?
NoteDiscovery's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 72 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 34.
Is NoteDiscovery good value for money?
ToolGPA grades NoteDiscovery A for value for money. NoteDiscovery has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of NoteDiscovery?
NoteDiscovery is free, so making your own would save you nothing. What you could not make: It plugs into other products, Claude Desktop, Cursor and Ollama among them, and has an API.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from NoteDiscovery’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 NoteDiscovery's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-09-01.
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 Gamosoft. Prices change, so check notediscovery.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
- NoteDiscovery, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/notediscovery
- 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, "NoteDiscovery: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/notediscovery
Know someone choosing between note-taking apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/notediscovery/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded note-taking apps after NoteDiscovery, 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 NoteDiscovery’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. NoteDiscovery is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Gamosoft. Prices and plans change: check notediscovery.com before you buy.