The Trilium Notes Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Trilium Notes 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.
Trilium Notes
The Insider’s Guide
Open-source hierarchical note-taking and personal knowledge base
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among docs and wiki tools, read from Trilium Notes’s own pages.
Made by Elian Doran and the community · checked Nov 13, 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 Trilium Notes’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Trilium Notes’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.2
GPA, above 81 of the 86 other docs and wiki tools we grade
Trilium Notes (TriliumNext) is an open-source app for organizing notes in a tree where one note can sit in several places. It runs as a desktop app or on a self-hosted server that syncs across devices. It is AGPL-3.0 licensed and needs no account.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Trilium Notes, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No store rating on record, but you install a desktop app and start writing with nothing to set up.
- 1
Best for a free note tree you keep on your own machine
But syncing needs a server you host yourself, and phone use is through a web app on that server.
- 2
It is free
Trilium Notes has no paid plan at all. Free and open source under the AGPL-3.0 license, with no account needed.
- 3
It runs on 4 platforms
Web, Windows, macOS and Linux.
- 4
Note tree
Notes nest as sub-notes with no folders, and a note can be cloned into several places.
- 5
Many note types
Text, Markdown, code, spreadsheet, canvas, Mermaid, mind map and file notes.
- 6
Sync and sharing
A self-hosted or cloud server syncs notes, and a subtree can be published as a public read-only site.
- 7
A 3.2 GPA, above 81 of 86
That is against the other docs and wiki tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Trilium Notes is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Trilium Notes at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web, macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- Elian Doran and the community, since 2017
- Category
- Docs & Wikis
- Our grade
- 3.2 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for a free note tree you keep on your own machine
Trilium Notes is a free, open source note app with a tree where one note can live in several places, and desktop apps for Windows, Mac and Linux. But syncing needs a server you host yourself, and phone use is through a web app on that server.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free under the AGPL-3.0 license, and you can just download the desktop apps and use them, so it is under the category's cheapest quarter. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Free outright with no account and no paid plan from the team. |
| Features | C | Note tree, many note types, search, a REST API, scripting and a web clipper. The listing shows a gap: syncing across devices needs a self-hosted server. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record, but you install a desktop app and start writing with nothing to set up. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Windows, Mac and Linux apps plus a web app for phones, and a REST API. No native phone apps. |
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 Trilium Notes is for
- Fits if you want your notes on your own computer with no account
- Works for people who like organising notes in a tree rather than folders
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want native iPhone or Android apps, as phones use a web app on a server
- Tight if you want sync without running a server, since the paid host listed is third-party
- Not for you if you want a team wiki with shared editing, as the listing describes a personal notes app
- Watch out: the old TriliumNext docs repository is archived and the project now lives at triliumnotes.org
Good to know
Good for
- People building a large personal knowledge base
- Users who want to self-host and sync their own notes
- Tinkerers who like scripting and note relations
Worth knowing
- The download page offers Windows, Linux and macOS desktop apps; phone access is through a web app (PWA) on a server.
- Syncing needs a self-hosted server; the paid host listed is third-party, not affiliated with the team.
- The roster's TriliumNext docs repo is archived; the project now lives at triliumnotes.org.
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
Trilium Notes is free to use.
Free outright with no account and no paid plan from the team.
Open source
$0
Desktop apps and a self-hostable server, free; third-party paid hosting is available on PikaPods.
The free plan
Free and open source under the AGPL-3.0 license, with no account needed.
Read from triliumnotes.org on Nov 13, 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 hierarchical note-taking and personal knowledge base. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, self-hostable, works offline, public API, notes, wiki, web clipper.
Note tree, many note types, search, a REST API, scripting and a web clipper.
- Note tree
- Notes nest as sub-notes with no folders, and a note can be cloned into several places.
- Many note types
- Text, Markdown, code, spreadsheet, canvas, Mermaid, mind map and file notes.
- Sync and sharing
- A self-hosted or cloud server syncs notes, and a subtree can be published as a public read-only site.
- Search and protection
- Fuzzy title navigation, full-text search including text in images and PDFs via OCR, and password-locked protected notes.
- REST API and scripting
- A built-in REST API and scripting for automation.
- Web clipper
- A browser extension saves pages and screenshots into Trilium.
Where it runs
- Web
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
- Docker
- PikaPods
- OpenID Connect
Trilium Notes is made by Elian Doran and the community, and has been around since 2017.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
81/86
Other docs and wiki tools it is graded above
Trilium Notes's GPA of 3.2 is higher than 81 of the 86 other docs and wiki tools we grade, and level with 1.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 61 of 86) and worst on features (C, above 2).
Trilium Notes has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4, and no tool on the category's chart scores higher without costing more.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 87 docs and wiki tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Trilium Notes’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 60 of 86
- AFree plan and trialAbove 61 of 86
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 86
- BEase of useAbove 65 of 86
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 28 of 86
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 79 docs and wiki tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Trilium Notes 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
Trilium Notes 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 3.2 is higher than 81 of the 86 other docs and wiki tools we grade.
What you could make
- Notes, wiki and web clipper: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
- It plugs into other products, Docker, PikaPods and OpenID Connect among them, and has an API.
What this rests on. Trilium Notes’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
Docmost, BookStack, Wiki.js, DokuWiki and HedgeDoc
The 5 tools Trilium Notes is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
Docmost
Free plan · from $6/mo
Open-source collaborative wiki you deploy on your own servers.
- Only Trilium Notes lists Windows, macOS and Linux apps.
- Trilium Notes also covers notes and web clipper.
- Docmost also covers AI search, databases and diagrams.
- 2.8GPA
BookStack
Free plan · from £450/yr
Free self-hosted wiki organized into books, chapters and pages.
- Only Trilium Notes lists Windows, macOS and Linux apps.
- Trilium Notes also covers notes and web clipper.
- BookStack also covers Markdown, templates and diagrams.
- 2.8GPA
Wiki.js
Free
Open-source wiki software built on Node.js with Git sync.
- Only Trilium Notes lists Windows, macOS and Linux apps.
- Trilium Notes also covers notes and web clipper.
- Wiki.js also covers Markdown and diagrams.
- 2.6GPA
DokuWiki
Free
Open-source wiki software that needs no database.
- Only Trilium Notes lists Windows, macOS and Linux apps.
- Trilium Notes also covers notes and web clipper.
- 2.6GPA
HedgeDoc
Free
Open-source, self-hosted collaborative Markdown editor.
- Only Trilium Notes lists Windows, macOS and Linux apps.
- Trilium Notes also covers wiki and web clipper.
- HedgeDoc also covers Markdown, diagrams and presentations.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
14
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 Trilium Notes free?
Yes. Trilium Notes is free to use.
How much does Trilium Notes cost?
Trilium Notes lists one plan. Open source: $0.
What platforms does Trilium Notes work on?
Trilium Notes is available on Web, Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does Trilium Notes have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Trilium Notes is listed for Web, Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does Trilium Notes have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Trilium Notes is listed for Web, Windows, macOS and Linux.
Is Trilium Notes open source?
Yes. Trilium Notes is open source, according to its own site.
Does Trilium Notes work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
Does Trilium Notes have an API?
Yes. Trilium Notes offers a public API, according to its own site.
What does Trilium Notes integrate with?
Trilium Notes's listing names Docker, PikaPods and OpenID Connect. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Trilium Notes?
Trilium Notes is made by Elian Doran and the community. It dates from 2017.
What are the alternatives to Trilium Notes?
The closest alternatives to Trilium Notes in our directory are Docmost, BookStack, Wiki.js, DokuWiki and HedgeDoc.
How does Trilium Notes compare with other docs and wiki tools?
Trilium Notes's GPA of 3.2 is higher than 81 of the 86 other docs and wiki tools we grade, and level with 1.
Is Trilium Notes good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Trilium Notes A for value for money. Trilium Notes has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Trilium Notes?
Trilium Notes 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 Trilium Notes’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Trilium Notes's own pages on 13 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 Elian Doran and the community. Prices change, so check triliumnotes.org before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
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.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Trilium Notes, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/triliumnext
- 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, "Trilium Notes: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/triliumnext
Know someone choosing between docs and wiki tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/triliumnext/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded docs and wiki tools after Trilium Notes, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Docs & Wikis Insider's GuideEvery one of the 87 docs and wiki tools we grade, compared
- Zoho Writer Insider's GuideFree online word processor with AI and document automation3.6 GPA
- Google Docs Insider's GuideBrowser-based word processor, free with a Google Account3.4 GPA
- ONLYOFFICE Insider's GuideOpen-source office suite for documents, sheets, slides and PDFs3.4 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 Trilium Notes’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. Trilium Notes is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Elian Doran and the community. Prices and plans change: check triliumnotes.org before you buy.