Alternatives
Best Simplenote alternatives in 2026
Simplenote is minimal, free notes that sync across phones, computers and the web. These 11 alternatives come from the same rankings, ordered by editorial score. Connected products carry a small, disclosed lift.
Ranked alternatives
- 1
Obsidian
Keeps notes as plain Markdown files on your disk, with the deepest plugin ecosystem in this list. Sync and publishing cost extra, and the app is not open source, unlike Joplin and Logseq.
Best for Local-first notes and personal knowledge bases
WindowsmacOSLinuxiOSAndroidFree plan, paid upgrades
- 2
Notion
The strongest hosted workspace here, with pages, databases and team sharing in one place. Notes live on Notion's servers, and paid plans charge per member, unlike the local tools above.
Best for Team workspaces with notes, databases and tasks
WebmacOSWindowsiOSAndroidFree plan, paid upgrades
- 3
Microsoft OneNote
A free notebook that runs on Windows, Apple devices, Android and the web, with pen and drawing support. Its canvas pages suit sketches more than plain typed notes.
Best for Free mixed-media notebooks across Windows and Apple
WindowsmacOSiOS, iPadOSAndroidWebFree
- 4
Joplin
Is open source. The open-source choice here, AGPL-licensed, covering desktop, mobile and terminal with end-to-end encrypted sync. Its interface is plainer than the commercial apps, and sharing runs through Joplin Cloud.
Best for Open-source notes with end-to-end encrypted sync
WindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOSCommand lineFree and open sourceOpen source
- 5
Apple Notes
Free and built into Apple devices, with iCloud sync, scanning and audio transcription. It runs only on Apple platforms and has fewer organizing tools than Obsidian or Logseq.
Best for Quick notes across Apple devices with iCloud
macOSiOS, iPadOSFree
- 6
Logseq
Is open source. An open-source outliner for linked notes and a daily journal, released under AGPL-3.0. Its README marks the database version and mobile app as beta or alpha, so Obsidian and Joplin are steadier for daily notes.
Best for Linked outlines and daily journals on the desktop
WindowsmacOSLinuxFree and open sourceOpen source
- 7
Bear
A focused Markdown editor for Mac, iPhone and iPad, with tags and inline sketches. The free tier stays local, and iCloud sync needs PRO, unlike Apple Notes where iCloud is part of the built-in app.
Best for Markdown writing on Mac, iPhone and iPad
macOSiOS, iPadOSFree plan, paid upgrades
- 8
Notesnook
Is open source. Open-source notes with end-to-end encryption and unlimited notes on the free plan, under GPL-3.0. It is built for private notes, while Notion and OneNote cover shared team workspaces.
Best for Private encrypted notes with open-source code
WindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOSWebFree plan, paid upgradesOpen source
- 9
Evernote
Clipping, document scanning and search are strong, and the apps cover most platforms. The free plan is capped at 50 notes and one synced device, which limits it more than the free options here.
Best for Clipping and scanning in a notebook app
iOSAndroidWebWindowsmacOSFree plan, paid upgrades
- 10
Google Keep
Fast capture of notes, lists and voice memos, free with a Google Account. It organizes with labels rather than folders and is built for short notes, so it ranks below the apps with deeper organization.
Best for Quick notes, lists and reminders on any device
WebAndroidiOS, iPadOSFree
- 11
RemNote
An outliner that turns notes into flashcards with spaced repetition, with PDF annotation and an exam scheduler. The free plan limits annotated documents and images, so heavy students use the paid tiers; plain note apps are simpler.
Best for Students who study from their own notes
WebiOSAndroidFree plan, paid upgrades
Narrow the alternatives
Open-source alternatives to Simplenote
About Simplenote alternatives
- What is the best alternative to Simplenote?
- On listme.name the highest-scored alternative is Obsidian, followed by Notion. The right choice depends on price, platform and whether you need open source.
- Is there a free alternative to Simplenote?
- Yes. Free options include Obsidian, Notion, Microsoft OneNote.
Before you switch
Learning Center
1:16Lock-in and exit costs: check how you leave before you commitLearn what lock-in is, run an export test on real data, compare open formats and local versus hosted storage, and plan an exit with your EU data rights in mind.
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All articles- Roundups · 6 min readBest Notion alternatives, sorted by what you use Notion forFind Notion alternatives for notes, databases, project tracking and publishing, with open-source and self-hosted options and the free plan limits to check.
- Guides · 4 min readHow to choose a note-taking app: storage, sharing and priceChoose a note-taking app by where notes are stored, how sharing works, platform reach and price. Compare Obsidian, Notion, Joplin and other top picks.
- Explainers · 5 min readHow to read software rankings: a checklist and listme.name's rulesRead best-software lists critically: affiliate links, paid placement, review bias, scoring and stale data, plus how listme.name scores and discloses its rules.