Alternatives to Daino Notes
A free, local-first desktop note-taking app with a fast block editor and Markdown support. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Daino Notes
A free, local-first desktop note-taking app with a fast block editor and Markdown support.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Daino Notes.
Obsidian
A notes app that works on a folder of plain Markdown files on your own disk, with links between them.
Obsidian works on a folder of plain Markdown files with links, backlinks and plugins, and adds Android and iOS apps, though sync costs extra or needs your own tool.
Joplin
An open source note and to-do app that syncs end-to-end encrypted through storage you already have.
Joplin is an AGPL-licensed, offline-first note and to-do app with end-to-end encrypted sync through storage you already have, plus mobile apps and a web clipper.
SiYuan
A block-based notes workspace with Markdown that renders as you type, and an option to self-host it.
SiYuan is an AGPL-licensed block-based workspace with Markdown rendered while typing, SQL queries and self-hosting, but notes live in its own store and official sync is a subscription.
AFFiNE Community
Combine notes, tables and a drawing canvas in a local-first workspace.
AFFiNE is an MIT-licensed local-first workspace that adds tables and a drawing canvas to notes, and runs on the web and self-hosted as well as desktop.
VNote
An open-source desktop Markdown note-taking app written in native C++ that keeps notes as local files.
VNote is an LGPL-licensed native C++ desktop Markdown notebook that keeps notes as local files, but it has no built-in task board or sync service.
UpNote
A cross-platform notes app with rich text, Markdown support, nested notebooks and automatic sync.
UpNote offers rich text and Markdown notes with automatic sync and native mobile apps, but it is closed source and the full feature set needs a paid plan.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
Typora
A polished Markdown editor with live in-place rendering, sold as a one-off purchase rather than a subscription.
MarkText
A Markdown editor that shows formatted text as you type, with no preview pane and no syntax symbols in the way.
Notion
All-in-one workspace combining notes, databases, wikis, and task boards.
AppFlowy
Organize documents and projects in an open-source workspace.
Anytype
An encrypted, offline-first workspace for notes, tasks and databases that syncs peer to peer.
