OpenNotas is a free, open-source personal note-taking app for Markdown notes that works offline across phones and computers and syncs through adapters the user configures, encrypting note data with AES before it reaches any sync server. It serves readers who want a calm place to capture thoughts quickly without accounts, setup friction, or subscription cost, and its AGPL-3.0-or-later codebase is maintained openly at tonghoai/opennotas.[1][2]
Quick verdict
Readers who want a calm, free place for personal Markdown notes across a phone and a computer benefit most from OpenNotas. Tap-and-write capture with no accounts, offline-first editing, and AES-encrypted sync through adapters they choose carry that recommendation. The constraint is single-user simplicity plus self-managed sync: there is no team sharing, no vendor cloud backup, and clearing the browser cache can lose local notes. If you want private everyday notes without setup or cost, start with OpenNotas; if you need collaboration or managed backup, choose something else.[1][2][3]
Key features
Tap-and-write Markdown capture Open the app and start writing immediately with no accounts, no clutter, and no learning curve, using Markdown-capable open-source editors that can be extended with additional features.[1][2]
AES end-to-end encryption before sync Note data is encrypted with the AES algorithm via the Web Crypto API before storage on the sync server, so a breached server exposes ciphertext rather than words, and the secret key never leaves the device in the documented flow.[1][2]
Optional per-note password lock Notes on the device can be locked behind a user-set password with AES encryption, including a documented password-change flow that relocks notes with the new password without closing the app mid-process.[1]
Offline-first editing The app works without an internet connection with data stored on the device, syncing when connectivity returns, which suits travel, commutes, and unreliable networks.[1]
Bring-your-own-backend sync adapters Cross-device sync runs through adapter configuration, including Turso, S3-compatible storage, or local-only operation, so the reader decides where synced data lives.[1]
Cross-platform PWA One installable app covers phones and computers across Windows, Linux, and macOS plus a web version, giving the same capture workflow on a phone or a laptop.[1][2]
Local data control with no vendor storage The vendor states it does not store note data: encrypted payloads go to the configured sync target while plain-text notes stay on the device, and moving to another device requires the sync setup plus the remembered secret key.[1]
Free AGPL-3.0-or-later codebase The app is completely free and open source, installable as a PWA or built from the Nuxt and Vue source, with documentation, GitHub issues, and a Telegram community channel for support.[1][2]
Who will love it
Everyday note-takers across phone and computer: fast capture, offline editing, and adapter sync cover the personal routine of jotting thoughts on one device and reading them on another.[1][2]
Privacy-minded readers avoiding accounts and lock-in: no-account use, local-first storage, AES encryption before sync, and a choice of sync backends keep data under the reader's control.[1][2]
Plain-text list keepers on a zero budget: Markdown notes with a completely free app and free self-managed sync remove both subscription cost and format risk.[1][2]
Who should avoid it
Teams needing sharing and collaboration: the documented workflow is personal, with no multi-user sharing, comments, or administration in the official materials.[1][2]
Readers wanting managed backup: there is no vendor cloud copy, and local data is lost if the browser cache is cleared or the app is uninstalled, so sync or regular backups are the reader's own responsibility.[1]
Contributors hoping to steer the roadmap with pull requests: the author asks that new-feature pull requests be held for now given time constraints.[1]
Workflow fit and switching notes
Joplin covers the closest substitutable workflow: personal Markdown notes, offline-first use, and encrypted sync to user-chosen targets, proposed as a competitor edge in review.[1][2]
Notesnook covers the managed alternative: open-source encrypted notes syncing through its own cloud from a free tier for readers who prefer not to configure adapters, proposed as a competitor edge in review.[1][2]
Switching into OpenNotas means setting up adapter sync and keeping the secret key safe; switching out is eased by Markdown plain text and the absence of account lock-in.[1]
Questions worth asking
What is the best OpenNotas alternative for non-technical users?
If managed sync without adapter setup matters more than backend control, Notesnook is the conditional pick: its catalogue record describes open-source, end-to-end encrypted notes syncing through its own cloud from a free tier. If plugin-powered Markdown notes with import tooling matter more, Joplin is the conditional pick, with Evernote import and an extension ecosystem in its catalogue record.[1]
Is OpenNotas really no-code?
How much does OpenNotas cost per month?
OpenNotas costs nothing per month: the official homepage and FAQ state it is completely free and open source with no paid tier documented, as checked on 2026-10-12. Self-managed sync targets such as Turso or S3-compatible storage may carry their own provider charges outside the app.[1]
Can you self-host OpenNotas?
Effectively yes for personal use: the repository documents building from source, the app runs local-only, and sync targets are reader-configured with no vendor backend required. No Docker image, Kubernetes chart, or operator guide was observed, so this is a build-and-run posture rather than a documented server deployment, and AGPL-3.0-or-later terms apply.[1][2][3]
Sources and editorial review
Source research. Reviewed on October 12, 2026. Written by Sanjib Sah. AI assisted; reviewed by a human editor.
We have not run or tested this product.
- OpenNotas homepage (official)
official · Observed October 12, 2026
Official homepage: simple/lightweight/cross-platform personal notes positioning; open-source and privacy-respecting; Windows, Linux, macOS, and mobile via PWA plus web version; adapter sync with Turso, S3-compatible storage, or local-only; AES E2EE before the sync server; offline on-device storage; completely free; FAQ confirms no stored note data, secret-key portability, cache-clear data-loss warning, Telegram support.
- OpenNotas GitHub repository (official)
official · Observed October 12, 2026
Official repository README: open-source PWA-based cross-platform Markdown notes with security and sync focus; Markdown via extensible open-source editors; adapter sync and AES encryption with doc links; PWA install and build-from-source paths; new-feature pull requests held for now; Telegram community and GitHub issues support.
- OpenNotas security documentation (official)
official · Observed October 12, 2026
Official security docs: per-note password protection with AES via Web Crypto API including password-change flow; sync encryption before sync-server storage with user-provided or app-generated key; on-device data stored as plain text; docs set covers architecture, sync flow, adapters, installation, storage, and backup/restore.
- OpenNotas package manifest (official)
official · Observed October 12, 2026
Repository package manifest at version 1.5.1: Nuxt and Vue app with Tiptap, Milkdown, and CodeMirror editing libraries, Drizzle ORM with libsql client, Tailwind styling.
- OpenNotas license file (official)
official · Observed October 12, 2026
Repository LICENSE file: all code under AGPL-3.0-or-later unless a subdirectory carries its own license file.
Compared with these products
No explicit proprietary baseline is recorded.