Flatnotes vs QOwnNotes
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted notes & knowledge base options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Flatnotes
Self-hosted, database-less note-taking web app
VS
QOwnNotes
Plain-text note taking with Markdown and Nextcloud sync
| Feature | Flatnotes | QOwnNotes |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 88 · Excellent | 90 · Excellent |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | MIT | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | Vue | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,230 | ★ 5,886 |
| First released | 2021 | 2014 |
| Replaces | Evernote, Simplenote | Evernote, OneNote |
What are Flatnotes and QOwnNotes?
Flatnotes
Flatnotes is a self-hosted web application for taking notes, with a focus on simplicity and storing all notes as flat Markdown files. It has no database and keeps notes easy to back up and access.
- Flat Markdown file storage
- No database required
- Full-text search
- Clean minimal interface
QOwnNotes
QOwnNotes is an open-source plain-text note-taking and to-do application with Markdown support. It integrates tightly with Nextcloud and ownCloud for syncing notes across devices.
- Plain-text Markdown notes
- Nextcloud and ownCloud sync
- Scripting support
- Note versioning via Nextcloud
Flatnotes vs QOwnNotes: key differences
Flatnotes is written in Vue, while QOwnNotes is built with C++. Licensing differs — MIT for Flatnotes versus GPL-2.0 for QOwnNotes. Flatnotes is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for QOwnNotes. QOwnNotes is the more established project (first released 2014), while Flatnotes arrived in 2021. Flatnotes lists first-class Docker deployment; QOwnNotes does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Flatnotes if…
- Trivial to back up
- Very lightweight
Watch out for
- Basic feature set
- Single-user oriented
Choose QOwnNotes if…
- Pairs well with Nextcloud
- Notes remain plain files
Watch out for
- Desktop only
- Interface feels utilitarian
Frequently asked questions
Is Flatnotes or QOwnNotes better?
Neither is universally better. QOwnNotes has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Flatnotes and QOwnNotes free and open-source?
Yes. Flatnotes is licensed under MIT and QOwnNotes under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Flatnotes and QOwnNotes with Docker?
Flatnotes: yes. QOwnNotes: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Flatnotes or QOwnNotes?
Flatnotes has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for QOwnNotes. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.