Looking for Notes App for Android & Linux

I am trying to slowly de-Google-ify myself by moving to open source apps, I wanna ditch google notes and evernote. I tried obsidian, standard notes, and joplin, I liked using obsidian on PC and standard notes looks nice on android but obsidian you need to pay to have sync and standard notes doesn’t do markdown unless you pay (are plugins only on PC???). Joplin has most features I need but I don’t like how it looks/feels on android (haven’t tried in PC yet)

Basically what I want the most in a notes app is offline with sync capability for phone and PC, would be nice to make folders for notes like notepads on evernote, and md is a big plus but I can live without it. I would love if I could use something like proton drive for cloud sync and wouldn’t mind paying for obsidian if it was cheaper cuz $8 per month is too much for my minimum pay and I didnt see any cheaper plans.

EDIT: If no one has any better suggestions, I am thinking of trying to setup obsidian with syncthing.

43dc92z0,

Quillpad on android + Qownnotes in linux + nextcloud sync

0x1C3B00DA,
@0x1C3B00DA@kbin.social avatar

I use TiddlyWiki via TiddlyPWA. It's an offline-capable PWA with a very quick sync capability. It works beautifully on my phone and desktop. It doesn't have folders, but it does have nestable tags, which works really well for me. I don't think it supports markdown out of the box, but I'm positive you can find a plugin for it. Plugins are crazy simple to install; you just drag and drop a link into you wiki tab and confirm installation.

jjlinux,

You can, in theory, use the notes on ProtonPass. I use Joplin, and regardless of the fact that the UI could be more user Fri, I believe it is currently the best FLOSS option out there.

RatzChatsubo,

So I use the evil Google notes app. Is there a better alternative?

0x1C3B00DA,
@0x1C3B00DA@lemmy.ml avatar

I use TiddlyWiki via TiddlyPWA. It’s an offline-capable PWA with builtin sync and encryption. It doesn’t have folders but it does have nestable tags. I don’t think it supports markdown out of the box, but I’m positive you can find a plugin to use markdown. Plugins are crazy easy to install in TiddlyWiki; you just drag and drop the plugin into your wiki window and confirm the installation.

library_napper,
@library_napper@monyet.cc avatar

Zim

Evkob,
@Evkob@lemmy.ca avatar

I love how 90% of replies are recommending software that isn’t open-source.

Shady_Shiroe,
@Shady_Shiroe@lemmy.world avatar

At the very least most of the recommendations are not run my multi billion/million companies like Google keep, notion, and evernote who are always suspicious in what they do on the side.

filister, (edited )

You can check Obsidian with Syncthing or Anytype.

I think Anytype would or did already release their source code, while obsidian isn’t open source but it creates Markdown files which is very nice.

Arkhive,

Came here to say exactly this. I might move to EMacs org mode, but I’m still reliant on devices that offer better gui experiences with Obsidian than a command line based solution using EMacs

wuphysics87,

IMO, FOSS doesn’t do well with cross platform note taking and task tracking. I find it best to have two separate, but complimentary, workflows for mobile and desktop note taking.

My mobile notes are things like door combinations or pill counts/dosages/spellings, or travel info for longer/complex trips. Things I need at hand and that I can check quickly. I just use the default android app. Or very often just a piece of paper.

I use org roam with git for my computers. These are mostly code snippets, articles, journaling, etc. Things that are involved to the point I would rather wait for a keyboard than work on them with a phone. Same is true for writing on a desk rather than a pad.

I do have a few ways to go between devices:

  • I can read my computer notes on gitlab if needed
  • I use Signal Note to Self to keep or send one offs and images. (SUPER handy!)
  • Firefox syncs tabs

Probably a few others, but I don’t take pictures of my computer screen because I’m not an animal.

My workflows are pretty orthogonal, so this works well for me. Your mileage may vary.

boggedgibbon75,

I have been using the notes feature within Vivaldi and have really liked it. Theres also Appflowy.

Clubbing4198,

Trilium

delightfuldude, (edited )
@delightfuldude@lemmy.criticalbasics.xyz avatar

I highly recommend:

  • Web: Nextcloud + Nextcloud Notes App + Qownnotes Sync App
  • Desktop: Qownnotes and/or vim (or any texteditor of choice)
  • Mobile: Nextcloud Notes

Main advantage of this software stack over other solutions like joplin is the handling of the notes. Everthing is stored in a simple folder structure in plain markdown text files (*.md). This means if anything breaks, you are always able to read and edit with any text editor on any system! I switched away from joplin because it stores the notes in a database and notes file names are a cryptic string, so if you are not able to load joplin it’s very hard to find anything.

OscarRobin,

UpNote is the best non-FOSS option

Father_Redbeard, (edited )
@Father_Redbeard@lemmy.ml avatar

Obsidian is great, and I agree the sync is too much. It does work flawlessly but Im going to try Syncthing again after my one year is up.

Another newcomer that is promising is Acreom. Doesnt require an account on PC. Currently does on mobile though. But like Obsidian, it is a pile of markdown files. No weird database silliness like Joplin does.

G020B,

Or Logseq is a great Obsidian alternative with no account needed and apps for Linux and Android. You can sync it with Syncthing.

Father_Redbeard,
@Father_Redbeard@lemmy.ml avatar

I’ve tried to like Logseq but with it’s outline focused approach, it didn’t jive with what I use a pkm for.

Kushia,
@Kushia@lemmy.ml avatar

Joplin with any of the dozen or so sync services it supports out of the box.

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