Alternatives to VimWiki
A Vim plugin that turns linked plain-text files into a personal wiki with its own syntax. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
VimWiki
A Vim plugin that turns linked plain-text files into a personal wiki with its own syntax.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as VimWiki.
Neorg
A Neovim plugin and file format for notes, tasks and organising your life inside the editor.
Neorg brings notes and tasks into Neovim with plain-text files and a module system, but requires Neovim and uses its own format.
Org mode
A GNU Emacs major mode for notes, outlines, to-do lists and documents kept in plain text.
Org mode keeps notes, outlines, tasks and agenda in plain text inside GNU Emacs, adding literate programming but with a steep learning curve.
Org-roam
An Emacs package for linked, plain-text personal knowledge management built on Org mode files.
Org-roam gives Emacs users a linked plain-text knowledge base on Org mode files with backlinks, graph view and GPG encryption, requiring Emacs instead of Vim.
zk
A command-line tool for maintaining a plain-text Markdown Zettelkasten or personal wiki.
zk is a command-line tool for a plain Markdown Zettelkasten that works with any editor including Vim, using Markdown instead of VimWiki syntax.
nb
A command-line and local web tool for plain text notes, bookmarks and a Git-backed knowledge base.
nb is a command-line tool for plain text notes and bookmarks with Git-backed sync and encryption, working with any text editor including Vim.
Zim
A desktop wiki that keeps linked notes as plain text files in a folder structure.
Zim is a desktop wiki for Windows and Linux keeping linked notes as plain text files with its own markup, using a graphical editor instead of Vim.
Foam
A personal knowledge management system built on Visual Studio Code and plain Markdown files.
Foam builds a linked Markdown knowledge base inside Visual Studio Code with backlinks, graph view and Git sync, replacing Vim with VS Code.
Denote
An Emacs note-taking package that organises plain-text notes through a predictable, descriptive file naming scheme.
Denote is an Emacs package organising plain-text notes by descriptive file names with no database, requiring Emacs familiarity rather than Vim.
Also worth comparing
These listings name VimWiki as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
TiddlyWiki
A non-linear personal notebook that runs as a single self-contained HTML file in a browser.
VimWiki turns linked plain-text files into a personal wiki inside Vim and can export it as a website, but it requires Vim familiarity.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
Emanote
A tool that turns a folder of Markdown notes into a linked, browsable website.
Obsidian
A notes app that works on a folder of plain Markdown files on your own disk, with links between them.
Markor
An open-source Android text editor for Markdown notes, todo.txt lists and plain text files.
SilverBullet
Keep linked Markdown notes in a self-hosted browser workspace.
Wiki.js
Modern self-hosted wiki with Markdown editing and Git synchronisation.
