Open Source Graph Note Alternatives

Org-roam is an Emacs-based note-taking system that builds a bidirectional network of plain-text notes, functioning as a personal knowledge base manager. It maintains both forward and backlink references in a SQLite database, automatically updated on file save, and uses persistent unique identifiers for notes instead of file paths to enable stable links across renames and moves. The system integrates directly with Emacs through custom interactive commands and hooks that access the database and buffer state, and it generates static graphs of note interconnections using Graphviz to reveal relati

Tolaria is a markdown knowledge base manager and bidirectional note linking system. It functions as an integrated environment for organizing notes and structured data, utilizing YAML frontmatter and wikilinks to establish relational mappings between documents. The project distinguishes itself by integrating language model capabilities directly into the editor for content generation and analysis. It further combines prose with structured data through a markdown spreadsheet editor that renders CSV-formatted files as interactive grids with formula support and cross-sheet referencing. The platfo

Logseq is a privacy-focused, local-first knowledge base designed for personal information management and networked thought mapping. It functions as a bi-directional graph editor that organizes content into hierarchical, outliner-based structures, allowing users to connect related concepts through automated backlinking and visual relationship mapping. The platform distinguishes itself by maintaining all user data in plain text markdown files stored directly on the local device, ensuring offline availability and long-term portability. It employs a logic-based query engine to perform complex rel

Dendron is a markdown knowledge management system designed for organizing linked files into a hierarchical personal knowledge base. It functions as a git-backed note manager that stores data as plaintext markdown files to ensure data persistence and ownership. The system distinguishes itself through schema-based organization, which applies structural templates and autocomplete hints to maintain consistency across large sets of documents. It also provides bi-directional linking and an interactive graph view to visualize relationships between notes, alongside a static site generator that export

anytype-ts is a TypeScript client library and offline-first knowledge base client designed for managing structured layouts and modular blocks within a private distributed database. It functions as a zero-knowledge data synchronizer and schema-driven API wrapper that enables the secure replication of encrypted data across devices. The library utilizes peer-to-peer connectivity and zero-knowledge encryption to ensure data remains private and unreadable to hosting infrastructure. It employs a schema-driven approach to compile data definitions into typed language bindings, ensuring consistent com

Athens is no longer maintainted. Athens was an open-source, collaborative knowledge graph, backed by YC W21

Zettlr is an academic markdown editor and research note management tool designed for professional writing and knowledge organization. It functions as a document processor that enables users to draft, structure, and manage research projects within a unified workspace. The application distinguishes itself by integrating a Zettelkasten-based knowledge management system, allowing users to link related research concepts and notes to foster discovery. It utilizes a local-file-system persistence model, ensuring that all data remains under user control and portable across different environments. The

Trilium is a local-first personal knowledge management system designed to store and organize information on a user's own device. It functions as a hierarchical knowledge base where every note acts as both a standalone document and a container for nested children, allowing for complex information relationships and deep categorization. The platform distinguishes itself through a component-based interface that dynamically renders diverse content types, including rich text, diagrams, and executable scripts. All data is persisted within a single relational database file, which supports a versioned

Siyuan is a self-hosted knowledge management platform designed for private note-taking and information organization. It functions as a local-first application that stores all user content as plain text files on the local file system, ensuring data ownership and offline availability. The platform utilizes a block-based document model, which structures information as a tree of independent content blocks to facilitate granular manipulation and bidirectional linking. Users can extend the core functionality through a sandboxed plugin architecture, allowing for the development of custom themes and

Foam is a personal knowledge management system that organizes information into a navigable web of interconnected markdown files. It functions as a knowledge graph tool, utilizing wiki-style bidirectional linking and metadata to track relationships between documents and concepts. By storing data in standard text files, the system ensures long-term portability and compatibility with external tools. The platform distinguishes itself through its integrated visualization and automation capabilities. It generates graphical maps of file connections to help users identify patterns and discover relati

fsnotes is a markdown notes manager and cross-platform markdown editor for macOS and iOS. It functions as a personal knowledge base that organizes plain text and markdown files across folders using tags and bidirectional links. The system provides a secure environment through an encrypted plain text notebook that protects individual notes and folders. It implements Git-based note versioning to track document changes and maintain backups, while relying on external cloud storage services to synchronize files across devices. The application renders mathematical formulas, diagrams, and syntax-hi

Laverna is an open-source note-taking application designed as a privacy-focused alternative to Evernote. It operates as a single-page application that runs entirely in the browser, combining Markdown editing with client-side encryption to ensure note content is encrypted on the device before it ever reaches a server or cloud storage. The application distinguishes itself through its offline-first architecture, storing notes locally using browser storage for full offline access and editing capabilities. It synchronizes notes across devices through a unified interface that connects to multiple b