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Denote vs Org-roam: catalog facts
Denote	Org-roam
Free Free and available from GNU ELPA.	Free Free and open source under the GPL version 3 or later.
Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows, macOS, Linux
Plain-text notes with predictable file names No database or lock-in	Plain-text notes that stay fully under your control Backlinks and a graph view for connecting ideas
Requires Emacs and some familiarity with it No mobile app	Requires Emacs and familiarity with Org mode No mobile app of its own
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License not stated	License: GPL-3.0-or-later
No account needed	No account needed
Works offline	Works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.