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woodgen @lemm.ee

1y ago

Self hosted Google Keep alternative

Any recommendations for a self hosted note taking app that runs on everything with a screen and is designed for multi device usage?

Also a modern, powerful and puristic UI would be a must have to compete with Keep.

I am looking for this app every now and then but am always disappointed by the choices.

I recently tried Joplin on Android, but was very dissatisfied with the usabilty.

The FOSS self hosted alternatives for smart home and porn are better than the commercial ones, can't be that hard for notes, can it?

110 comments

Obsidian! Getting it to use cloud synced folders is a little tricky but it is a fabulous little program.
- Available but not FOSS. Gotta watch the license if you use it for any work.
  
  I'm curious what licensing issues you would run into with obsidian?
- Obsidian is so so good.
  I don't even mind to pay for their sync service to support them. You can even encrypt your vault (notebook) with your own key.
- Seconding Obsidian - it's not FOSS, but the files are just markdown, nothing special, so you're not locked in. Self hosting is real easy, you just have to Sync the files, and everything follows. I use syncthing between my laptop and phone and am having a good time with it.
  
  Whoops, should have noticed your endorsement of syncthing before posting a comment mentioning this.
  While Obsidian does save to individual files, the Markdown they use seems to be a superset of everyday Markdown. Eg, being able to use callouts (eg, Note, Warning, Info, etc) and embedded linking of notes.
  The automatic backlinks are fantastic. And I've discovered that if I rename a note, all links to that note get updated as well. So no need to worry about orphaning pages.
  I've added a handful of plugins as well. Off the top of my head, one is a dynamic table of contents (for that page), another helps to compose/edit Markdown tables.
- Also a big fan of Obsidian!
  For syncing, one option is to use syncthing.
  I know someone (whose geek creds are admittedly well beyond mine) who is also a fan. He uses GitHub to sync his notes.

I've been using Trilium (https://github.com/zadam/trilium). There are desktop clients, no mobile clients. However the web interface works well enough for me that I don't mind. The notes update in near-realtime when you make edits through the web app on multiple machines (assuming internet connectivity of course).
If you're already self-hosting NextCloud you might want to look NextCloud Notes as well.

Mind sharing what were your issues with Joplin?
My only issue is that it does not have any widgets on Android. So, I use Nextcloud Notes when I need that. But Joplin is actually great. You can self host a joplin server or sync using a Nextcloud server. It supports advanced markdown and I like the UI as well.
You can try Bookstack, but it will work on a web browser only. Another option is Obsidian, but I think only the apps are FOSS, the backend is not.
- Obsidian isn't FOSS at all, sadly.
  Though, they're not the data-hungry kind of proprietary, or use some proprietary format. It's basically just a really fancy markdown editor with plugin support. No telemetry, no accounts, and sync can be self-hosted.
- I like Joplin too, and I use it when I can instead of Keep. It supports a pretty good range of synchronization mechanisms. But it doesn't have the collaboration capability of Keep, so when I'm doing shared shopping lists or to do lists, I still end up using Keep.
  
  I think Joplin is the best too, but I wish they will rewrite their app using Tauri or flutter for better performance and native app integration. Feature wise it is the best one that is FOSS.
- Right, obsidian didn't appeal to me since it's proprietary.
  I probably will look into setting up a Joplin server and maybe write a frontend for it. Also didn't try frontend options on PC yet.
  Until now I only tried the Android app and while it looked quite mature, I didn't get quite the UX from it I was anticipating.
  Some things that bothered me:
  Creating a note requires 2 clicks, 1 should be fine.I want to start writing and decide whether its a todo later.
  Tag management. In Keep #tags are parsed from text automatically. Although there is a conflict with markdown syntax, having to issue 3 clicks to add a tag seems bothersome
  Tags are not shown in the main menu, but are another view.
  Didn't figure out what notebooks are supposed to be, but i guess some kind of directory system. Don't see the point when having a tag system. In the end they are too prominent in the UI.
  But the synchronization options and markdown capabilities are a big plus. mardown is actually a feature missing in keep.
  
  I'm a Joplin contributor and if you think the android app is halfway decent, that's a win ahahaha. The desktop apps are what makes it a superstar though, with all the plugins and community. The mobile apps have been slowly modernizing but it's real basic
  
  Obsidian is just a glorified markdown editor and there are some open source plugins for sync that you can self host if you want!
- If you like obsidian but want a FOSS alternative, you might want to try out emacs org-mode and org-roam.
  Here is an example video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyhPmypHDEw
  
  Here is an alternative Piped link(s): https://piped.video/watch?v=AyhPmypHDEw
  Piped is a privacy-respecting open-source alternative frontend to YouTube.
  I'm open-source, check me out at GitHub.
  
  Is there any way to use org roam in vim ? I'm interested in trying it out.
  I have been using an android app named orgzly and have found org-mode to work just as good as markdown for me. For markdown I was using an app called Markor.

self hosted alternatives for smart home and porn
How does self hosted porn even work and how am I the first person to notice that sitting there and mention it?
- https://github.com/stashapp/stash
  
  No way!

try obsidian.md
- this is my current solution; I use Obsidian to manage my notes and I sync the folder with Syncthing. I still use Google Keep though for its whiteboard tool; is there a better app for that?
  
  Have you tried the Excalidraw plugin for obsidian? This may be closer to what you’re looking for. Otherwise, would the canvas feature do what you need?
  
  Haven't tried the whiteboard tool in Google keep (didn't even know there was one), but the Excalidraw plugin for Obsidian should cover almost any whiteboard use case I can think of. A bit more limited but also good is the native Canvas plugin in Obsidian.

...ssh and vim?
- Editing a file with vim though ssh on mobile seems like a pain.
  
  I've done it a fair bit and it's actually pretty painless. If you know how to use vim you save a ton of keystrokes, which makes a big difference on mobile.
- Lol
- what about emacs?
  
  I use orgzly on android, Emacs on desktop. Syncthing to sync the files.
- +1

For the record, I also found that turtl is FOSS and seems to have a decent UI. I will give it a try.
https://github.com/turtl
https://turtlapp.com/
- In another comment you complained about the latest commit being made 7 years ago. Just a heads up, this project also seems pretty abandoned.
- Did you try it?

Nextcloud notes is the easiest I have found.

Anything wrong with Nextcloud Notes?
- I guess it does a job, but will lack some features like tagging I am accustomed to from keep. Also I would need to maintain a whole nextcloud instance for it.
  
  It has "categories". Not sure if thats the same thing
  I replaced keep with nextcloud notes many years ago

Quillpad is open source and pretty much identical to Google Keep - you can use Nextcloud to sync across devices.
All I really want is a way to import my lists, my many many lists.
- Hmm, latest commit 7 years ago... It was also not easy to find the "upstream" repo, the link on the website 404s. https://github.com/cognirel/Quillpad-Server
  
  It's here:
  https://github.com/quillpad/quillpad
  
  I didn't even know there was a standalone server, the app doesn't even seem to support it anymore, just Nextcloud.
- +1 for Quillpad 🌞

I'm really enjoying Otterwiki. Everything is saved as markdown, attachments are next to the markdown files in a folder, and version control is integrated with a git repo. Everything lives in a directory and the application runs from a docker container.
It's the perfect amount of simplicity and is really just a UI on top of fully portable standard tech.

Honestly, the closest I have found is https://github.com/baggachipz/tinylist It looks like keep, can share and edit files with other people, which is something a lot of things are lacking and I use it extensively for that. Also, I don't like the recommendations of using MD apps/files for a simple checklist/random notes app. That's way too much for something this simple and I use Obsidian as well. But they serve much different purposes.
It allows you to host your own database for it, and there is a guide on it.
- Was going to make the same suggestion. You can try it out at https://tinylist.app
- This is awesome! Thanks!
- No dockerhub image is a dealbreaker. Especially for Unraid
  
  Looks like you can host your own database and tie the web app to that. I'm going to try it later today with my unRAID server.

I'm a big fan of Logseq. I use Syncthing to sync a folder between my desktop and phone and it works great. Tagging, everything is in markdown, and it's easy to navigate around.
- I use a basic markdown editor on android called Markor. Is Logseq the same? Or is it more than that?
  
  Definitely more. It's geared to note taking, with hashtags, wiki-like linking, and loads of other features. The main page is here.
- Is there any mobile app for it?
  
  Yeah, it's on the Apple app store, and the Android version is available directly from their GitHub release page as an APK, or on F-Droid.

Nextcloud notes is really nice.

Memos is self hostable and is "cross platform" by nature of being web-based only. There is a 3rd party mobile app MoeMemos but it doesn't add anything special over the quite excellent progressive web app for plain Memos. Of course you can't use it offline since it's web-based. But I have an always on VPN connection between my phone and my server so home so it's fine.
Notesnook is recently open source, but as of yet not self hostable. It is on the roadmap though. This one is privacy/security oriented and has native apps for just about everything as well as a web interface.
Quillpad is the closest interface-wise to Keep, but it can only sync with Nextcloud and I can't run that beast on my old hardware. Too clunky and slow.
I've been on this hunt for awhile but I realized that I use Keep differently than other folks on the same journey. It's mostly a list focused service for me. Sometimes with check boxes, sometimes not. Most of the FOSS not taking apps can use some markdown, but that is a bear to use on mobile without a quick way to inject a checkbox. Memos has a button for a few formatting items on each "post" and thankfully one is the Markdown checkbox shortcut.
For notes, personal knowledge management, and everything else I use and love Obsidian.
- I really like Quillpad on mobile. I have my own Nextcloud instance and it works great. I only wish that Nextcloud Notes/Quillpad allowed for a few more levels in its notebook/notes hierarchy for better categorization.
  I've tried Obsidian/Logseq with Folder Sync As a companion app and just didn't like the clunkiness of it.
  
  100% agree on clunkiness of homebrew sync option for Obsidian. I ended up paying for their sync service, which is expensive for what it is. But I use it a ton and it's saved me so much time that I feel it's worth it. And it's about as flawless a sync option as their is.
  I would also use Quillpad if they offered another sync option.

https://gitjournal.io/

What about Obsidian?
- I actually stumbled upon it, but even though they have an active github account and there is an Arch Linux package, the software is proprietary. So I would rather patch the FOSS alternatives to my desire.
  
  Logseq is pretty similar to Obsidian, and it’s FOSS. It’s still really young, but I’ve enjoyed using it more than Obsidian for my personal note taking style. It’s block-based and focused on daily journals, so instead of folders of individual notes the tags/references become interlinked pages. It’s been cool to see my daily logs become a web of concepts. Syncing is a new function they’re adding for supporters, but it can be done with Syncthing if you’re nasty.
  It’s definitely a different way of note taking than Keep or Joplin and maybe not for everyone, but I hope I’m at least doing it justice and piqued someone’s curiosity!

I've had success with Standard Notes personally. I've just used the basic default server, but I know you can self host it. Best of luck!!
- I second Standard Notes. My focus is very geared towards privacy and security and Standard Notes excels at that as well.
- Oh, I didn't realize it was open source from the look of the website. But it actually is! And it's active. https://github.com/standardnotes/app
  I will check it out.
  
  Automattic, who owns Wordpress, also owns Standard Notes.

I have been using anytype.io for a few months and love it. Best thing is it's "local first" so stored on your own devices, just synched online.
- What type of file uses? MD?
  
  Yes MD can be used or just enter text into their pro forma objects

Im using nextcloud notes and it works perfectly fine in browser/android app. Doesnt look good like google keep, but had no issues with it. Recently I also started using memos, it looks like super simple private twiter and it has awesome android/ios app called MoeMemos. Not sure about encription, but it looks amazing
- Check their web

I'm really interested to see what you end up picking. I'm going through another phase of "find a new note taking tool" too. I can give you a few recommendations to try:
Obsidian is great on desktop, and okay on mobile. But it's really slow sometimes to open so not great for quick notes. I have a Tasker task/shortcut on my home screen that prompts me for a quick note and saves it to a md file in the vault directory without ever opening the obsidian app. Sync also isn't free unless you use a 3rd party plugin. There's a ton of plugins and some seem great, but there's no real built in security to protect you from malicious plugins afaik.
Joplin is okay, it has a great web clipper browser plugin. Syncing (at least over webdav) is painfully slow and doesn't happen in the background. The UI UX is pretty clunky but has been getting improved. Exporting from Joplin to markdown is annoying and not in a format usable by other tools. I ended up writing a script that uses the Joplin rest API to export all my notes with correct file names, frontmatter, etc. Otherwise they're random uuids and the metadata is at the bottom of the file.
Standard Notes seems alright so far. I'm pretty sure it's still electron, but hasn't felt too slow to me. It's the only app I've tried that has true end to end encryption where the notes are encrypted locally on your devices, not just in transit. Self hosting the sync server still requires a paid subscription to unlock most of the features like uploading files or using any note type other than plain text.
logseq scratches the emacs org mode itch, but doesn't have a mobile app out yet. It's an outliner by default too. I haven't used it much but it seems like it gets as much attention as obsidian does.
JTX Board, kind of a weird one but it's mobile only and uses caldav to create notes using the VJOURNAL format. I'm testing it with nextcloud. The app is pretty fast and usable offline so great for quick notes. It does have a lot of limitations though like not really being able to add large images or attachments. I also haven't found a good desktop or web app that uses the VJOURNAL standard.
TiddlyWiki - I really want to like it, it works offline and has several different methods of syncing changes. I haven't been able to get a good mobile syncing experience though, and it doesn't have a dedicated mobile app.
I juggle a lot of different note apps because I'm still looking for "the one", so always interested in seeing other's opinions!
- Logseq has an iOS app here, and an Android app at their GitHub releases.

Notesnook, whenever they release self hosting.
Nextcloud and Quillpad is decent.
- whenever they release self hosting.
  Are there any plans? I just got their 70% off on subscription and I like it, but it would be great if there'd be a self hosted server.
  
  Self hosting is currently in progress
  https://notesnook.com/roadmap/

I want this sooooo bad.

Try Carnet it is exactly what Google Keep does but a nextcloud hosted App with mobile apps.

I use Nextcloud with Carnet. I haven't used Keep in years so I don't know the current features but when I made the switch to Carnet it was very comparable.
On Nextcloud it is an app you install separately. For your phone you'll find Carner on f-droid. Sadly there is no client for iOS. Link https://www.getcarnet.app/

There’s also Benotes - https://github.com/fr0tt/benotes

Might not the thing you are looking for, but I tried to find a replacement for Keep a year ago and somehow stuck with a todo.txt (http://todotxt.org/) file. It can be edited in a normal text editor but I use Markor and todo.txt on Android and Sleek on desktop. Sync is fine via your preferred sync tool.

I've been using Logseq and syncing via syncthing, but you can sync with any file syncing service
- This is the way.
  I'm using Logseq and syncthing across Windows, Linux and Android. Works well.
  The TODO / DOING / DONE option works well for me for checklists and the on the fly linking is amazing.
  
  One of the main things I feel is missing is there doesn't seem to be a way to view and track all tasks in all your pages, I generally like tasks to live with the relevant info rather than in the journals. Do you know if there's a way to get something like that?

I don't even need it to be (self)hosted, it can be an offline Android app that looks and behaves like Keep, but is not made by Google.
So notes arranged together, tick boxes, reminders, dark theme.
- Have a look at Obsidian. It runs on a variety of devices, you can sync either with their system, or pretty much anything else, as it just stores your notes as markdown files, and you can arrange notes like that with the canvas system.
  
  I actually had Obsidian installed and it looks like something I'd like if I spend more time on a computer but nowadays I'm mostly using phone for Internet activity. I couldn't get canvas to work on my phone for some reason. It also lack reminders which is wuite crucial for me.
- Honestly, the closest I have found is https://github.com/baggachipz/tinylist It looks like keep, can share and edit files with other people, which is something a lot of things are lacking and I use it extensively for that. Also, I don’t like the recommendations of using MD apps/files for a simple checklist/random notes app. That’s way too much for something this simple and I use Obsidian as well. But they serve much different purposes.
  It allows you to host your own database for it, and there is a guide on it.
  
  Hey, that TinyList.app is actually very good but unfortunately it's missing a quite crucial feature - reminders... Nevertheless I will be watching its career with great interest.
- that would be only limited to one device though. screenshot looks good.

That's a fantasy I'm afraid. Just use Keep.
- Why's that? Keep looks and feels like a pretty basic note taking app, I don't even see any of the usual google "secret sauce" that would make it better, smarter, or more embedded... what is it about keep that you find inimitable?
  
  Of all the open source note apps I tried over a year ago, they didn't seem that great. I'm also not interested in self hosting.
  I like that Keep let's you quickly create lists, let's you add images, you can markup images, you can pin notes, search is fast and it all backs up to the cloud seamelessy. And I can result access it on any device.
  In general I think there's a lot to be said for Google services. Drive is great, put anything in there and have it everywhere and easily share.
  Photos is indispensable because it's so tig byhtly integrated with Android: take a photo and instantly it's backed up to the cloud. No worry about losing my phone because my memories will be in the cloud.
  I use Calendar all the time to manage events and reminders and it works perfectly. Also syncs to my calendar on Mint perfectly. It's fast, easy to use, let's you get in and out.
  Google Messages now uses RCS which is great, is designed very well, and you can also send and receive messages from the web if you want. Plus it integrates nicely with Phone, Meet and Contacts.
  It's really hard to beat. And this is all free, although I pay €20 a year for the larger storage plan.
  You can replicate this in Nextcloud but then you need to self host, set up incoming open ports, sorry about being ddoss'd or hacked, have either a large HDD or external HDD which may fail at any time. And it won't integrate with Android as well.
  I get people's concern with privacy but I don't think it's as big a deal as people make out and end up throwing the baby out with the bath water.

110 comments