QOwnNotes vs Trilium Notes
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted notes & knowledge base options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Trilium Notes
Hierarchical note-taking for building knowledge bases
| Feature | QOwnNotes | Trilium Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | ≈5-minute setup |
| Health score | 90 · Excellent | 99 · Excellent |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | GPL-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | C++ | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 5,886 | ★ 37,958 |
| First released | 2014 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Evernote, OneNote | Evernote, Notion |
What are QOwnNotes and Trilium Notes?
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
Trilium Notes
Trilium Notes is a hierarchical note-taking application designed for building large personal knowledge bases with rich linking and scripting. It targets power users who want a structured second brain. It is deployed via Docker as a server with desktop and web clients.
- Deep hierarchical note tree
- Note attributes and relations
- Scripting and automation
- Encrypted protected notes
QOwnNotes vs Trilium Notes: key differences
QOwnNotes is written in C++, while Trilium Notes is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for QOwnNotes versus AGPL-3.0 for Trilium Notes. QOwnNotes is the more established project (first released 2014), while Trilium Notes arrived in 2017. Trilium Notes has the considerably larger community, at 37,958 GitHub stars versus 5,886. Trilium Notes lists first-class Docker deployment; QOwnNotes does not.
Why pick each one
Choose QOwnNotes if…
- Pairs well with Nextcloud
- Notes remain plain files
Watch out for
- Desktop only
- Interface feels utilitarian
Choose Trilium Notes if…
- Powerful for big knowledge bases
- Flexible structure
- Scriptable
Watch out for
- Steep learning curve
- Single-user oriented
Frequently asked questions
Is QOwnNotes or Trilium Notes better?
Neither is universally better. Trilium Notes has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are QOwnNotes and Trilium Notes free and open-source?
Yes. QOwnNotes is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Trilium Notes under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run QOwnNotes and Trilium Notes with Docker?
QOwnNotes: check the project docs for container support. Trilium Notes: yes.