Zim
A desktop wiki that keeps linked notes as plain text files in a folder structure.
These buttons open the developer's own site, repository or store listing in a new tab. wares.gg does not host downloads.
4 more ways to get Zim
Other download sites
Run by third parties, not by The Zim contributors. Prefer the official page above when it works.
Package managers
- Chocolatey
choco install zim - Homebrew
brew install zim - Flathub
flatpak install flathub org.zim_wiki.Zim
About Zim
Zim is a graphical text editor for maintaining a collection of wiki pages. Pages link to one another, can contain simple formatting, images and attachments, and are stored as plain text files with wiki markup in a folder hierarchy, so they can be edited with any other editor. Linking to a page that does not exist creates it.
Plugins add a task list manager, an equation editor, a tray icon and version control support. Autosave means you can follow links while editing. It suits journals, meeting notes, task lists and personal knowledge bases.
Strengths
- Notes stored as plain text files you can edit elsewhere
- Pages created simply by linking to them
- Plugins for tasks, equations and version control
- Autosave while moving between pages
Limitations
- Uses its own wiki markup rather than Markdown
- Desktop only, with no built-in sync or mobile app
Details
- Pricing
- FreeFree and open source.
- License
- Open source, license not stated
- Developer
- The Zim contributors
- Platforms
- Windows, Linux
- How it runs
- Downloadable app
- Account
- Not required
- Works offline
- Yes
- Best suited for
- A personal wiki or journal kept in plain text on the desktop
- Categories
- Note-taking
- Last verified
- Added
- Provenance
- Facts checked against the developer's own pages and store listings, 1 sources on file.
Alternatives to Zim
Compare allSoftware that can replace Zim for an important use case, and what changes if you switch.
CherryTree
A hierarchical notebook with rich text and syntax highlighting, storing everything in one file or a folder you control.
CherryTree is a GPL-3.0 hierarchical notebook for Windows and Linux with rich text and code highlighting, stored in a single file rather than plain text pages.
Obsidian
A notes app that works on a folder of plain Markdown files on your own disk, with links between them.
Obsidian uses plain Markdown files instead of wiki markup, adds macOS and mobile apps, graph view and plugins, but is closed source.
TiddlyWiki
A non-linear personal notebook that runs as a single self-contained HTML file in a browser.
TiddlyWiki keeps a linked, tagged personal wiki in one portable HTML file running in the browser, instead of a folder of text files.
TriliumNext Notes
A hierarchical note app where one note can live in several places at once, with a server you can host.
TriliumNext Notes is an AGPL hierarchical note app with a self-hosted sync server and note cloning, but stores notes in a database rather than plain files.
VNote
An open-source desktop Markdown note-taking app written in native C++ that keeps notes as local files.
VNote is an LGPL native desktop Markdown notebook for Windows, macOS and Linux keeping notes as local files, using Markdown instead of wiki markup.
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, requiring familiarity with Vim instead of a graphical desktop editor.
MindForger
Organize Markdown notes in a personal knowledge workspace.
MindForger is a GPL Markdown knowledge workspace for Windows, macOS and Linux that connects related notes.
RedNotebook
Keep a searchable desktop journal with dated entries.
RedNotebook is a GPL-2.0 desktop journal for Windows and Linux with dated, searchable entries and tags, covering Zim's journal use but not its linked wiki.
Zim as an alternative
Listings that name Zim as an alternative.
nb
A command-line and local web tool for plain text notes, bookmarks and a Git-backed knowledge base.
Zim is a desktop wiki for Windows and Linux storing linked notes as plain text files with a version control plugin, using a graphical interface and its own markup.
Org mode
A GNU Emacs major mode for notes, outlines, to-do lists and documents kept in plain text.
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.
QOwnNotes
A plain-text Markdown notepad and todo manager that syncs through Nextcloud or ownCloud, or any file sync you already use.
Zim keeps linked plain-text notes in a folder on Windows and Linux with task plugins, but uses its own wiki markup instead of Markdown.
Similar software
Related functionality, not necessarily a direct replacement.
Logseq
An outliner that stores notes as plain Markdown files, built around a daily journal and linked blocks.
Joplin
An open source note and to-do app that syncs end-to-end encrypted through storage you already have.
Wiki.js
Modern self-hosted wiki with Markdown editing and Git synchronisation.
Markor
An open-source Android text editor for Markdown notes, todo.txt lists and plain text files.
