# QOwnNotes

> Open-source Markdown notes app with Nextcloud and ownCloud support

QOwnNotes is a free, open-source (GPL) desktop app for Linux, macOS and Windows that keeps notes as plain-text Markdown files in a folder you choose. It can optionally work with the Notes apps of Nextcloud and ownCloud for note history, trash, sharing and to-do lists, and it is extended through scripts. A browser extension clips web content and an Android app reads and edits notes through a Nextcloud server.

- **Category:** Note-Taking Apps
- **Made by:** Patrizio Bekerle
- **Website:** https://www.qownnotes.org
- **Runs on:** Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, Browser extension
- **Facts last checked:** Oct 9, 2026

## Pricing

QOwnNotes is free to use.

- **Pricing model:** Free
- **Free plan:** Free and open source under the GPL. The project says it generates no revenue and accepts donations through PayPal, GitHub Sponsors and Liberapay.
- **Free trial:** None listed.

| Plan | Price | What you get |
| --- | --- | --- |
| QOwnNotes | $0 | The full desktop app for Linux, macOS and Windows, plus the Web Companion extension and the Android app. |

Read from https://www.qownnotes.org on Oct 9, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with QOwnNotes before buying.

## Key features

- **Plain Markdown files:** Notes are plain-text Markdown files in a folder you pick, so existing text files work without an import and any other editor can open them.
- **Nextcloud and ownCloud integration:** Restores older note versions and trashed notes from the server, shares notes publicly, creates Nextcloud Deck cards and manages server to-do lists.
- **Tags, subfolders and wiki links:** Hierarchical tags and note subfolders, plus optional [[Note]] links with autocomplete, heading anchors, aliases and backlinks.
- **Web Companion browser extension:** A Chrome and Firefox extension clips selected text or a screenshot of a page into a note and manages bookmarks kept in notes.
- **Scripting and AI support:** Scripts install from an in-app repository. Opt-in AI support takes Groq and OpenAI keys, and a built-in MCP server lets outside agents search and fetch notes.
- **Optional note encryption:** AES-256 encryption of individual notes is built in, and scripts add Keybase or PGP as alternative encryption methods.

## Good for

- Nextcloud or ownCloud users who want a desktop Markdown notes app
- People who keep notes as plain files that any editor can open
- Users who want to script and rearrange their notes app

## Worth knowing

- The app does not sync notes or attachments itself; syncing across devices depends on a Nextcloud or ownCloud sync client or another file-sync tool.
- The Android app is installed as an APK from its GitHub release page and needs a Nextcloud server running the Notes app. The site lists no iOS app.
- The browser extension works only while the desktop app is running.
- Current builds need Windows 10 or macOS 13 or later; the older Qt5 builds cannot use the built-in updater.

## Works with

Nextcloud, ownCloud, Nextcloud Deck, LanguageTool, Harper, OpenAI, Groq, Keybase

**Tags:** Open source, Local-first, Notes, Markdown, Linked notes, Web clipper, AI features

## Alternatives

- [Joplin](https://toolgpa.com/tools/joplin): Open source Markdown notes with sync through a service you choose. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/joplin-vs-qownnotes)
- [Obsidian](https://toolgpa.com/tools/obsidian): Markdown note-taking app that keeps your files on your device. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/obsidian-vs-qownnotes)
- [Zim](https://toolgpa.com/tools/zim): Desktop wiki that keeps linked pages as plain text files. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/qownnotes-vs-zim)
- [VNote](https://toolgpa.com/tools/vnote): Free desktop Markdown note-taking app with plain-file notebooks. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/qownnotes-vs-vnote)
- [CherryTree](https://toolgpa.com/tools/cherrytree): Hierarchical desktop notes with rich text and code highlighting. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/cherrytree-vs-qownnotes)

## Sources

The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 9, 2026:

- https://www.qownnotes.org
- https://www.qownnotes.org/getting-started/overview.html
- https://www.qownnotes.org/getting-started/concept.html
- https://www.qownnotes.org/getting-started/qownnotes-android.html
- https://www.qownnotes.org/getting-started/browser-extension.html
- https://www.qownnotes.org/getting-started/web-app.html
- https://www.qownnotes.org/editor/ai.html
- https://www.qownnotes.org/installation/macos.html
- https://www.qownnotes.org/installation/windows.html
- https://www.qownnotes.org/contributing/donate.html

Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/qownnotes
Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).