QOwnNotes vs QuillPad
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted notes & knowledge base options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | QOwnNotes | QuillPad |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 90 · Excellent | 84 · Excellent |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | GPL-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | C++ | Kotlin |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 5,886 | ★ 1,388 |
| First released | 2014 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Evernote, OneNote | Google Keep, OneNote |
What are QOwnNotes and QuillPad?
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
QuillPad
Quillpad is an open-source note-taking application focused on a clean, distraction-free writing experience with rich text formatting. It organizes notes into notebooks and supports tags, search, and offline use.
- Rich text notes
- Notebooks and tags
- Offline-first design
- Lightweight footprint
QOwnNotes vs QuillPad: key differences
QOwnNotes is written in C++, while QuillPad is built with Kotlin. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for QOwnNotes versus GPL-3.0 for QuillPad. QuillPad 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 QuillPad arrived in 2022. QOwnNotes has the considerably larger community, at 5,886 GitHub stars versus 1,388.
Why pick each one
Choose QOwnNotes if…
- Pairs well with Nextcloud
- Notes remain plain files
Watch out for
- Desktop only
- Interface feels utilitarian
Choose QuillPad if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (1.4k GitHub stars)
- Written in Kotlin
Frequently asked questions
Is QOwnNotes or QuillPad 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 QOwnNotes and QuillPad free and open-source?
Yes. QOwnNotes is licensed under GPL-2.0 and QuillPad under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run QOwnNotes and QuillPad with Docker?
QOwnNotes: check the project docs for container support. QuillPad: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, QOwnNotes or QuillPad?
QuillPad 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.