# Trilium Notes

An open-source knowledge base built as a tree of notes, with scripting, attributes and self-hosted sync.

HTML: https://softbests.com/software/trilium-notes
Markdown: https://softbests.com/software/trilium-notes.md
Website: https://triliumnotes.org

- Category: [Notes & Markdown](https://softbests.com/category/notes-markdown)
- Pricing: Open source
- Platforms: Self-hosted, macOS, Windows, Linux
- Underrated

## Best for

People with years of notes who want a hierarchical system they can back up, script and host themselves.

## Why it deserves attention

Trilium stores notes as a tree you can nest and clone across branches, hangs custom attributes and labels on each note, and lets you query them with saved searches and JavaScript, so it can grow into a personal wiki or a small app. It supports Markdown, rich text and code notes, has a canvas and mind-map style drawing, backlinks and note revisions, and ships a server build so all devices sync through your own instance with encryption at rest. Desktop apps exist for macOS, Windows and Linux. It is AGPL-licensed and free. The trade-off: the interface carries real complexity, the learning curve is steeper than Obsidian's, and self-hosted sync means you own backups and upgrades.

## Can replace

- Evernote

## Related and alternatives

- [Joplin](https://softbests.com/software/joplin)
- [Standard Notes](https://softbests.com/software/standard-notes)