Joplin

• Synchronization across devices
• Markdown support
• Integration with cloud services like Dropbox and OneDrive
• Learn more about Joplin

Open Source Advantage: Free, customizable, and community-driven with extensive plugin support.

Evernote (Paid)

• Advanced organization
• Web clipping
• Powerful search
• Cost: Subscription plans starting at $7.99/month

Comparison: Joplin offers similar functionality without recurring costs, but Evernote provides a more polished user experience and advanced features like AI-powered search.

Logseq

• Local-first approach
• Structured data representation
• Back-linking
• Learn more about Logseq

Open Source Advantage: Full control over data, no dependency on cloud services.

Roam Research (Paid)

• Graph database
• Bi-directional linking
• Daily notes
• Cost: $15/month

Comparison: Logseq offers many of Roam’s core features for free, emphasizing privacy, while Roam provides a more user-friendly interface and additional integrations.

RedNotebook

• Text formatting
• Tagging and image insertion
• Spell check and export options
• Learn more about RedNotebook

Open Source Advantage: Free with robust customization options and multi-language support.

Day One (Paid)

• Rich media entries
• Timeline view
• End-to-end encryption
• Cost: $2.92/month billed annually

Comparison: RedNotebook provides similar core functionalities for free but lacks the polished interface and integrated cloud features of Day One.

Cherrytree

• Hierarchical note-taking
• Rich text formatting
• Syntax highlighting
• Learn more about Cherrytree

Open Source Advantage: Free with advanced search and extensive import/export capabilities.

Bear (Paid)

• Markdown support
• Themes and tagging
• Cross-note links
• Cost: $1.49/month billed annually

Comparison: Cherrytree offers comparable features for free, while Bear provides a more modern UI and seamless iOS integration.

Standard Notes

• End-to-end encryption
• Various editors and extensions
• Learn more about Standard Notes

Open Source Advantage: Strong focus on security, open source verification.

Notion (Paid)

• Extensive integrations
• Collaborative workspace
• Templates
• Cost: $4/month for personal use

Comparison: Standard Notes prioritizes security and privacy, while Notion offers more versatility and collaboration features at the expense of being proprietary.

TiddlyWiki

• Offline usability
• Customization and extensibility
• Learn more about TiddlyWiki

Open Source Advantage: Complete data ownership, no subscription fees.

Confluence (Paid)

• Team collaboration
• Integration with other Atlassian products
• Rich content creation
• Cost: $5/user/month

Comparison: TiddlyWiki is ideal for individual use with extensive customization, while Confluence is better suited for team collaboration and enterprise environments.

Boost Note

• Real-time collaboration
• Markdown support
• Integration with development tools
• Learn more about Boost Note

Open Source Advantage: Free with strong focus on developer needs.

Coda (Paid)

• Integration with apps
• Real-time collaboration
• Customizable workflows
• Cost: $10/user/month

Comparison: Boost Note is great for developers looking for a free solution, whereas Coda offers more extensive collaboration and workflow customization features.

Obsidian

• Features: Knowledge base, plain text Markdown files, extensive linking and visualization.
• Open Source Advantage: Free, local storage, customizable with plugins.
• Integration with development tools
• Learn more about Boost Note

Open Source Advantage: Free with strong focus on developer needs.

Paid Alternative: Notability

• Features: Audio recording, sketching, annotation, cloud sync.
• Cost: $8.99 one-time purchase (iOS), subscription for additional features.

Comparison: Obsidian offers superior knowledge management and linking for free, while Notability provides enhanced multimedia note-taking.

Zettlr

• Features: Markdown editor, powerful search, linking, and organization.
• Open Source Advantage: Free with strong focus on academic writing and research.
• Learn more about Zettlr

Paid Alternative: Scrivener

• Features: Comprehensive writing tool, research organization, robust export options.
• Cost: $49 one-time purchase.

Comparison: Zettlr is a free alternative for academic writing, while Scrivener offers more specialized tools for authors and researchers.

Trilium Notes

• Features: Rich text, code snippets, task management, hierarchical organization.
• Open Source Advantage: Free with extensive features for structured note-taking.
• Learn more about Trilium Notes

Ulysses (Paid)

• Features: Focused writing environment, publishing options, cross-device sync.
• Cost: $5.99/month.
• Comparison: Trilium offers powerful organizational tools for free, while Ulysses provides a streamlined writing experience with seamless synchronization.