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FSNotes alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 1, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave FSNotes: apple-only: no Windows, Android or web app, and iPhone sync is limited to iCloud Drive; no Dropbox or WebDAV. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces FSNotes, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Bear currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Zettlr logoZettlrOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 469.8
2Joplin logoJoplinOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +31 of 365.5
  1. Zettlr logo

    1. ZettlrTop pick

    Best for: Academics and writers who want Markdown notes with citations and Pandoc export

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    69.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from FSNotes

    Free open-source Markdown editor on all desktops, aimed at research writing and citations.

    Pros

    • Free and open source
    • Citations from Zotero, JabRef or Juris-M
    • Pandoc export to Word, PDF and LaTeX
    • Plain Markdown files on your disk

    Cons

    • No mobile apps
    • No built-in sync
    • Less suited to quick capture
    Visit Zettlr Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.1553
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Zettlr a good FSNotes alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, Linux
    Checked Oct 29, 2026zettlr.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Funding
    Donations
    Checked Oct 29, 2026zettlr.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Reference managers
    Zotero, JabRef, Juris-M
    Checked Oct 29, 2026zettlr.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Joplin logo

    2. Joplin

    Best for: Leaving Evernote for an open-source app with encrypted sync

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Self-hosted

    65.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from FSNotes

    Open-source Markdown notes with end-to-end encrypted sync on desktop and mobile, including Android.

    Pros

    • Open source with end-to-end encryption
    • Sync with your own storage
    • Imports Evernote exports

    Cons

    • Interface is plainer than commercial apps
    • Collaboration features are basic
    Visit Joplin Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.15100
    Freshness ×0.1553
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Joplin a good FSNotes alternative?

    Verified facts

    1 of 3 verified
    Open source
    Yes
    Not checked yetgithub.com(opens source in a new tab)
    End-to-end encryption
    Yes
    Checked Oct 29, 2026joplinapp.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Evernote import
    Yes (ENEX files)
    Not checked yetjoplinapp.org(opens source in a new tab)

The best FSNotes alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Bear logo

Best FSNotes alternative for most people

Bear

Polished Apple-only Markdown notes with tags, if you'd trade plain files for a nicer editor and sync.

Zettlr logo

Best FSNotes alternative for a free option

Zettlr

Free open-source Markdown editor on all desktops, aimed at research writing and citations.

Obsidian logo

Best FSNotes alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Obsidian

Also works on a folder of Markdown files, but adds Windows, Linux, Android and a large plugin ecosystem.

Joplin logo

Best FSNotes alternative for open source

Joplin

Open-source Markdown notes with end-to-end encrypted sync on desktop and mobile, including Android.

Joplin logo

Best FSNotes alternative for self-hosting

Joplin

Open-source Markdown notes with end-to-end encrypted sync on desktop and mobile, including Android.

Simplenote logo

Best FSNotes alternative for Mac

Simplenote

Free, minimal plain-text notes that sync to every platform including Windows, Android and the web.

Obsidian logo

Best FSNotes alternative for Windows

Obsidian

Also works on a folder of Markdown files, but adds Windows, Linux, Android and a large plugin ecosystem.

Obsidian logo

Best FSNotes alternative for Linux

Obsidian

Also works on a folder of Markdown files, but adds Windows, Linux, Android and a large plugin ecosystem.

Obsidian logo

Best FSNotes alternative for iPhone and Android

Obsidian

Also works on a folder of Markdown files, but adds Windows, Linux, Android and a large plugin ecosystem.

Apple Notes logo

Best FSNotes alternative for working in the browser

Apple Notes

Built into every Mac and iPhone; simpler, with no Markdown files but easy sharing.

FSNotes alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to FSNotes?

Bear ranks first right now. Polished Apple-only Markdown notes with tags, if you'd trade plain files for a nicer editor and sync. Obsidian and Zettlr follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to FSNotes?

Yes. Bear (free plan + paid), Obsidian (free plan + paid), Zettlr (open source) and Joplin (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to FSNotes?

Yes: Zettlr and Joplin. Joplin can also be self-hosted.

Which FSNotes alternatives work on Linux?

Obsidian, Zettlr, Joplin and Simplenote run on Linux.

Why do people switch from FSNotes?

The complaints we hear most: apple-only: no Windows, Android or web app; iPhone sync is limited to iCloud Drive; no Dropbox or WebDAV; no real-time collaboration or shared notebooks.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces FSNotes, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.