Org mode
A GNU Emacs major mode for notes, outlines, to-do lists and documents kept in plain text.
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About Org mode
Org mode turns GNU Emacs into a system for keeping notes, planning projects, tracking to-do items and writing documents, all stored in a structured plain text format. Headings fold and unfold, and the agenda gathers todos from all your files so you can filter and update them in place.
It also handles computational notebooks and literate programming. Because everything is plain text, Org files are easy to sync and keep under version control. Carsten Dominik created it in 2003, Ihor Radchenko maintains it, and the format has parsers and editor plugins outside Emacs.
Strengths
- Notes, tasks, agenda and documents in one plain text format
- Files are easy to sync and version control
- Supports literate programming and computational notebooks
- Formal syntax specification with parsers for other tools
Limitations
- Requires GNU Emacs for the full feature set
- Steep learning curve for people new to Emacs
Details
- Pricing
- FreeFree and open source, with optional support through Liberapay.
- License
- GPL-3.0
- Developer
- The Org mode contributors
- Platforms
- Windows, macOS, Linux
- How it runs
- Downloadable app
- Account
- Not required
- Works offline
- Yes
- Best suited for
- Emacs users who want notes, tasks and writing in plain text files
- Categories
- Note-taking, Office tools
- Last verified
- Added
- Provenance
- Facts checked against the developer's own pages and store listings, 1 sources on file.
Alternatives to Org mode
Compare allSoftware that can replace Org mode for an important use case, and what changes if you switch.
Neorg
A Neovim plugin and file format for notes, tasks and organising your life inside the editor.
Neorg brings notes and tasks into Neovim instead of Emacs, keeping plain-text files on your disk, but uses its own format and needs Neovim configuration knowledge.
Denote
An Emacs note-taking package that organises plain-text notes through a predictable, descriptive file naming scheme.
Denote is another Emacs package for plain-text notes, organising them through a predictable file naming scheme, but it lacks Org mode's agenda and task features.
VimWiki
A Vim plugin that turns linked plain-text files into a personal wiki with its own syntax.
VimWiki turns linked plain-text files into a personal wiki inside Vim, suiting Vim users rather than Emacs users, with no built-in sync between devices.
Logseq
An outliner that stores notes as plain Markdown files, built around a daily journal and linked blocks.
Logseq is a cross-platform outliner storing notes as plain Markdown with a daily journal and mobile apps, so Emacs is not required, though mobile lags desktop.
Obsidian
A notes app that works on a folder of plain Markdown files on your own disk, with links between them.
Obsidian keeps notes as plain Markdown files with a graphical app on desktop and mobile, but it is closed source and lacks Org's formal syntax and agenda.
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 versioning, working with any text editor instead of requiring GNU Emacs.
Zim
A desktop wiki that keeps linked notes as plain text files in a folder structure.
Zim is a desktop wiki storing linked notes as plain text files with plugins for tasks, but it uses its own markup and runs only on Windows and Linux.
Workflowy
A nested outliner that organizes notes, lists and projects as a single tree of bullets.
Workflowy is a nested outliner for notes and tasks with apps on desktop, mobile and web, but it is closed source, cloud-based and caps free nodes monthly.
Org mode as an alternative
Listings that name Org mode as an alternative.
Bike
A fast outliner and rich text writing app for the Mac that uses standard file formats.
Org mode offers plain-text outlines, tasks and documents under GPL-3.0 on Windows, macOS and Linux, but it requires GNU Emacs and has a steep learning curve.
calcurse
A text-based calendar and to-do application for the terminal with reminders and scripting options.
Org mode keeps agenda, tasks and notes in plain text files like a local terminal workflow, but it requires GNU Emacs and has a steep learning curve.
OmniFocus
A task manager for Apple devices built for professionals who manage many projects and tasks.
Org mode keeps tasks, agenda and notes in plain text files within GNU Emacs, free and open source, but with a steep learning curve.
OmniOutliner
An outlining app for Mac, iPad, iPhone and Vision Pro for structuring ideas and documents.
Org mode is a free GNU Emacs mode for outlines, tasks and documents in plain text, with a steep learning curve for people new to Emacs.
Similar software
Related functionality, not necessarily a direct replacement.
Org-roam
An Emacs package for linked, plain-text personal knowledge management built on Org mode files.
TreeSheets
Organize ideas in a grid of nested cells.
Foam
A personal knowledge management system built on Visual Studio Code and plain Markdown files.
Markor
An open-source Android text editor for Markdown notes, todo.txt lists and plain text files.
