QOwnNotes — The Complete Guide: Markdown Notes as Plain Files, With Sync and Encryption
QOwnNotes is a fast open-source notes app in which every note is stored as an ordinary Markdown file in a folder on your computer. There is no dependence on a closed format or on a company cloud. It suits an engineer who wants a private work notebook under their own control: meeting summaries, site visit checklists, design notes and open tasks.
QOwnNotes
QOwnNotes project
Markdown notes as plain text files, with Nextcloud sync, to-do lists and encryption.
Get it from the vendorWhat you get
- Plain Markdown files — they open in any text editor.
- Sync through Nextcloud and ownCloud — between computers and devices.
- To-do lists — also through Nextcloud.
- Encryption — AES-256 for sensitive notes.
- Browser extension and scripting — save snippets from websites and customise.
Who it suits
Anyone who already runs Nextcloud in the office, or prefers to sync a folder themselves. Because notes are files, you can search them, back them up and track them in Git like any other file. If you want an app with built-in sync to many services, Joplin offers more options.
Related tools
For notes with built-in sync — Joplin. To sync the notes folder without a server — Syncthing. For long-form Markdown writing — Zettlr.
Joplin
Joplin
Notes and to-do app with encrypted sync — site diaries, checklists and project documentation.
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Zettlr
Zettlr project
A Markdown editor for technical writing and theses — Zotero citations, LaTeX equations and export via Pandoc.
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Obsidian
Obsidian
A local knowledge base of Markdown files with links and a graph view — for project notes, design decisions and lessons learned.
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Syncthing
Syncthing Foundation
Sync files directly between computers, with no cloud — identical project folders at the office, at home and on site.
Get it from the vendorThe bottom line
QOwnNotes gives you fast, open and private notes. Open source and free for any use, including commercial work.