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Trilium Notes alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Trilium Notes: no official mobile app, and you host your own sync server. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Trilium Notes, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Joplin currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Joplin logoJoplinOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +31 of 376.8
2Obsidian logoObsidianFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS, Linux +22 of 373.3
3SiYuan logoSiYuanOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +44 of 472.1
4Logseq logoLogseqOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +21 of 367.4
5SilverBullet logoSilverBulletOpen sourceYesWeb, macOS, Windows +24 of 464.7
  1. Joplin logo

    1. JoplinTop pick

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

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

    76.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Trilium Notes

    Open-source notes with official mobile apps and easy sync options.

    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 ×0.3100
    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 Trilium Notes 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 24, 2026joplinapp.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Evernote import
    Yes (ENEX files)
    Not checked yetjoplinapp.org(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Obsidian logo

    2. Obsidian

    Best for: People who want to own their notes as local Markdown files

    Free plan + paidWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    73.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Trilium Notes

    Local Markdown files with polished apps on every platform.

    Pros

    • Notes are plain Markdown files you own
    • Works fully offline
    • Huge plugin ecosystem

    Cons

    • Official sync is a paid add-on
    • Real-time collaboration is limited
    Visit Obsidian Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.15100
    Freshness ×0.1577
    Votes ×0.150

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

    Is Obsidian a good Trilium Notes alternative?

    Verified facts

    2 of 3 verified
    Price
    Free, no sign-up required
    Checked Oct 24, 2026obsidian.md(opens source in a new tab)
    Storage
    Local Markdown files
    Checked Oct 24, 2026obsidian.md(opens source in a new tab)
    Sync
    Paid add-on
    Not checked yetobsidian.md(opens source in a new tab)
  3. SiYuan logo

    3. SiYuan

    Best for: People who want block-level linking and databases with local data they control

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

    72.1

    score / 100

    Why switch from Trilium Notes

    Open-source, self-hostable, with mobile apps and block references.

    Pros

    • Block references and embeds at any level
    • Databases with relations and rollups
    • Local-first, with Docker self-hosting
    • End-to-end encrypted sync option

    Cons

    • Official cloud sync needs a paid membership
    • English docs and community are thinner
    • Busy interface with many settings
    Visit SiYuan Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.1563
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

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

    Is SiYuan a good Trilium Notes alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    AGPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Local-first
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026b3log.org(opens source in a new tab)
    End-to-end encryption
    Yes, for sync
    Checked Oct 25, 2026b3log.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Databases
    Yes, with relations and rollups
    Checked Oct 25, 2026b3log.org(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Logseq logo

    4. Logseq

    Best for: Outliner thinkers who want local, open-source notes with backlinks

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    67.4

    score / 100

    Why switch from Trilium Notes

    A free outliner with backlinks if you prefer links over a tree.

    Pros

    • Free and open source
    • Local Markdown or Org files
    • Strong backlinks and block references

    Cons

    • Outliner-only structure isn't for everyone
    • Mobile apps feel less polished
    Visit Logseq Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    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 Logseq a good Trilium Notes alternative?

    Verified facts

    1 of 3 verified
    Open source
    Yes
    Checked Oct 24, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Storage
    Local Markdown/Org files
    Not checked yetlogseq.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Price
    Free
    Not checked yetlogseq.com(opens source in a new tab)
  5. SilverBullet logo

    5. SilverBullet

    Best for: Developers who want a self-hosted, programmable Markdown wiki

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, macOS, Windows, Linux, Self-hosted

    64.7

    score / 100

    Why switch from Trilium Notes

    Self-hosted Markdown notes in the browser that you can script with Lua.

    Pros

    • Plain Markdown files you own
    • Scriptable with Lua and queries
    • Single-container self-hosting
    • Works offline in the browser

    Cons

    • Self-hosting takes some technical skill
    • No native mobile apps
    • Smaller community than Obsidian
    Visit SilverBullet Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.1563
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

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

    Is SilverBullet a good Trilium Notes alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Open source
    Server and CLI
    Checked Oct 25, 2026silverbullet.md(opens source in a new tab)
    Self-hosting
    Single container
    Checked Oct 25, 2026silverbullet.md(opens source in a new tab)
    Desktop app
    macOS, Windows, Linux
    Checked Oct 25, 2026silverbullet.md(opens source in a new tab)

The best Trilium Notes alternative for…

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

Joplin logo

Best Trilium Notes alternative for most people

Joplin

Open-source notes with official mobile apps and easy sync options.

SiYuan logo

Best Trilium Notes alternative for a free option

SiYuan

Open-source, self-hostable, with mobile apps and block references.

Obsidian logo

Best Trilium Notes alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Obsidian

Local Markdown files with polished apps on every platform.

Logseq logo

Best Trilium Notes alternative for open source

Logseq

A free outliner with backlinks if you prefer links over a tree.

SilverBullet logo

Best Trilium Notes alternative for self-hosting

SilverBullet

Self-hosted Markdown notes in the browser that you can script with Lua.

Joplin logo

Best Trilium Notes alternative for Mac

Joplin

Open-source notes with official mobile apps and easy sync options.

Joplin logo

Best Trilium Notes alternative for Windows

Joplin

Open-source notes with official mobile apps and easy sync options.

Joplin logo

Best Trilium Notes alternative for Linux

Joplin

Open-source notes with official mobile apps and easy sync options.

Joplin logo

Best Trilium Notes alternative for iPhone and Android

Joplin

Open-source notes with official mobile apps and easy sync options.

Memos logo

Best Trilium Notes alternative for working in the browser

Memos

Lightweight self-hosted notes for quick thoughts rather than a big tree.

Trilium Notes alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Trilium Notes?

Joplin ranks first right now. Open-source notes with official mobile apps and easy sync options. Obsidian and SiYuan follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Trilium Notes?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to Trilium Notes?

Yes: Joplin, SiYuan, Logseq and SilverBullet, plus 1 more in the list above. Joplin, SiYuan and SilverBullet can also be self-hosted.

Which Trilium Notes alternatives work on Linux?

Joplin, Obsidian, SiYuan, Logseq and SilverBullet run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Trilium Notes?

The complaints we hear most: no official mobile app; you host your own sync server; interface feels dated.

How is this list ranked?

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