The QOwnNotes Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about QOwnNotes 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.
QOwnNotes
The Insider’s Guide
Open-source Markdown notes app with Nextcloud and ownCloud support
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among note-taking apps, read from QOwnNotes’s own pages.
Made by Patrizio Bekerle · 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 QOwnNotes’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on QOwnNotes’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
3.0
GPA, above 107 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade
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.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about QOwnNotes, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No store rating on record, and there's assembly required.
- 1
Best for Markdown notes on a desktop, paired with Nextcloud
Without your own server, look elsewhere.
- 2
It is free
QOwnNotes has no paid plan at all. Free and open source under the GPL. The project says it generates no revenue and accepts donations through PayPal, GitHub Sponsors and Liberapay.
- 3
It runs on 4 platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux and Android, with a browser extension too.
- 4
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.
- 5
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.
- 6
Tags, subfolders and wiki links
Hierarchical tags and note subfolders, plus optional [[Note]] links with autocomplete, heading anchors, aliases and backlinks.
- 7
A 3.0 GPA, above 107 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
QOwnNotes is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
QOwnNotes at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, Browser extension
- Made by
- Patrizio Bekerle
- Category
- Note-Taking Apps
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for Markdown notes on a desktop, paired with Nextcloud
QOwnNotes is a free, open-source desktop notes app that keeps notes as Markdown files in a folder, with version history, trash, sharing and to-dos coming from a Nextcloud or ownCloud server. It doesn't sync anything itself, the Android app is a GitHub download that needs a Nextcloud server, there's no iOS or web app, and the clipper only works with the desktop app open. Without your own server, look elsewhere.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free outright and open source under the GPL, where paid plans in this category sit at $6 a month in the middle. The project says it generates no revenue and runs on donations through PayPal, GitHub Sponsors and Liberapay. There's nothing to buy and nothing held back. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The full desktop app, the Web Companion extension and the Android app are all free, with no paid tier anywhere, so there's no cap to run into. |
| Features | C | Hierarchical tags, subfolders, [[Note]] links with backlinks, AES-256 encryption on single notes, a clipper, scripts from an in-app repository and an MCP server. But the listing names the gap: the app does not sync notes or attachments itself, so that falls to a Nextcloud client or another file-sync tool. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record, and there's assembly required. Half the feature list wants a Nextcloud or ownCloud server connected, sync is something you arrange yourself, the Android app is an APK from GitHub, and the clipper only works while the desktop app is open. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Linux, macOS and Windows, a Chrome and Firefox extension, an Android app, and hooks into Nextcloud, ownCloud, Deck, LanguageTool, OpenAI and Groq. No iOS app and no web version, though, and the Android app needs a Nextcloud server running Notes. |
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 QOwnNotes is for
- Fits if you run Nextcloud or ownCloud and want a desktop app for your notes
- Works for people who want plain Markdown files any editor can open and don't mind writing scripts
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you have an iPhone, as the site lists no iOS app and there's no web version
- Not for you if you don't have a Nextcloud or ownCloud server and want sync included, as the app doesn't sync itself
- Tight if you're on Android, where the app is a GitHub APK that only works through a Nextcloud server running Notes
- Watch out: the browser clipper only works while the desktop app is running
- Watch out: current builds need Windows 10 or macOS 13 or later, and older Qt5 builds can't use the built-in updater
Good to know
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.
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
QOwnNotes is free to use.
The project says it generates no revenue and runs on donations through PayPal, GitHub Sponsors and Liberapay.
QOwnNotes
$0
The full desktop app for Linux, macOS and Windows, plus the Web Companion extension and the Android app.
The 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.
Read from qownnotes.org on Oct 9, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
5
Places it runs: macOS, Windows, Linux, Android and Browser extension
Open-source Markdown notes app with Nextcloud and ownCloud support. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, local-first, AI features, notes, Markdown, linked notes, web clipper.
No iOS app and no web version, though, and the Android app needs a Nextcloud server running Notes.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
- Browser extension
What it works with
- Nextcloud
- ownCloud
- Nextcloud Deck
- LanguageTool
- Harper
- OpenAI
- Groq
- Keybase
QOwnNotes is made by Patrizio Bekerle.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
107/147
Other note-taking apps it is graded above
QOwnNotes's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 107 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 features (C, above 2).
QOwnNotes has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 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. QOwnNotes’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 62 of 147
- AFree plan and trialAbove 100 of 147
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 147
- CEase of useAbove 5 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. QOwnNotes 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
QOwnNotes is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 107 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade.
What you could make
- Notes, Markdown, linked notes and web clipper: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux and Android that stay in step with each other.
- It plugs into other products, Nextcloud, ownCloud and Nextcloud Deck among them.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
What this rests on. QOwnNotes’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
Joplin, Obsidian, Zim, VNote and CherryTree
The 5 tools QOwnNotes is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.6GPA
Joplin
Free plan · from €2.40/mo
Open source Markdown notes with sync through a service you choose.
- Only Joplin lists a web app.
- Only Joplin lists an iOS app.
- Joplin is self-hostable and end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- 3.6GPA
Obsidian
Free plan · from $4/mo
Markdown note-taking app that keeps your files on your device.
- Only Obsidian lists an iOS app.
- QOwnNotes is open source, according to its own site.
- Obsidian is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- 3.0GPA
Zim
Free
Desktop wiki that keeps linked pages as plain text files.
- Only QOwnNotes lists an Android app.
- Only QOwnNotes lists a browser extension.
- QOwnNotes also covers Markdown and web clipper.
- 2.8GPA
VNote
Free
Free desktop Markdown note-taking app with plain-file notebooks.
- Only QOwnNotes lists an Android app.
- Only QOwnNotes lists a browser extension.
- QOwnNotes also covers linked notes and web clipper.
- 2.8GPA
CherryTree
Free
Hierarchical desktop notes with rich text and code highlighting.
- Only QOwnNotes lists an Android app.
- Only QOwnNotes lists a browser extension.
- QOwnNotes also covers Markdown, linked notes and web clipper.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
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 QOwnNotes free?
Yes. QOwnNotes is free to use.
How much does QOwnNotes cost?
QOwnNotes lists one plan. QOwnNotes: $0.
What platforms does QOwnNotes work on?
QOwnNotes is available on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android. It also has a browser extension.
Does QOwnNotes have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. QOwnNotes is listed for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android.
Is QOwnNotes open source?
Yes. QOwnNotes is open source, according to its own site.
What does QOwnNotes integrate with?
QOwnNotes's listing names Nextcloud, ownCloud, Nextcloud Deck, LanguageTool, Harper, OpenAI, Groq and Keybase.
Who makes QOwnNotes?
QOwnNotes is made by Patrizio Bekerle.
What are the alternatives to QOwnNotes?
The closest alternatives to QOwnNotes in our directory are Joplin, Obsidian, Zim, VNote and CherryTree.
How does QOwnNotes compare with other note-taking apps?
QOwnNotes's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 107 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 21.
Is QOwnNotes good value for money?
ToolGPA grades QOwnNotes A for value for money. QOwnNotes has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of QOwnNotes?
QOwnNotes 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 QOwnNotes’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 QOwnNotes' own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-03-10.
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 Patrizio Bekerle. Prices change, so check qownnotes.org before you buy.
- qownnotes.org
- qownnotes.org/getting-started/overview.html
- qownnotes.org/getting-started/concept.html
- qownnotes.org/getting-started/qownnotes-android.html
- qownnotes.org/getting-started/browser-extension.html
- qownnotes.org/getting-started/web-app.html
- qownnotes.org/editor/ai.html
- qownnotes.org/installation/macos.html
- qownnotes.org/installation/windows.html
- qownnotes.org/contributing/donate.html
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
- QOwnNotes, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/qownnotes
- 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, "QOwnNotes: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/qownnotes
Know someone choosing between note-taking apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/qownnotes/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded note-taking apps after QOwnNotes, 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 QOwnNotes’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. QOwnNotes is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Patrizio Bekerle. Prices and plans change: check qownnotes.org before you buy.