Best Trilium Notes alternatives in 2026

Looking for an alternative to Trilium Notes? Whether you've outgrown it, find the pricing steep, or just want to weigh your options, these are the strongest note-taking apps alternatives in 2026 — ranked on pricing, features, and who each one fits best. Trilium Notes itself has a free tier, so we've flagged where each option is cheaper, simpler, or more specialized.

1
Joplin
Best for: privacy-conscious users
Open-source note-taking and to-do app with end-to-end encryption. A popular note taking alternative to Trilium Notes with a genuinely usable free tier — free – $2.99/user/mo. Particularly strong for privacy-conscious users.
4.4Free – $2.99/user/moVisit
2
SilverBullet
Best for: developers
If Trilium Notes feels like overkill or over-budget, SilverBullet is a leaner option with a genuinely usable free tier. Hackable, self-hosted markdown notebook for power users. Pricing: free.
4.3FreeVisit
3
Notion
Best for: startups
Notion goes head-to-head with Trilium Notes on features with a genuinely usable free tier. Connected workspace for notes, docs, and databases. Best suited to startups. Free – $10/user/mo.
4.6Free – $10/user/moVisit
4
Bear
Best for: writers
A well-rated note taking pick. Beautiful Markdown notes for Apple. Bear offers a free plan and starts at free – $2.99/mo, making it a credible Trilium Notes replacement.
4.7Free – $2.99/moVisit
5
Obsidian
Best for: researchers
Local-first Markdown knowledge base. A popular note taking alternative to Trilium Notes with a genuinely usable free tier — free – $4/mo. Particularly strong for researchers.
4.7Free – $4/moVisit
6
Craft
Best for: apple-users
If Trilium Notes feels like overkill or over-budget, Craft is a leaner option with a genuinely usable free tier. Beautiful documents and notes. Pricing: free – $10/mo.
4.6Free – $10/moVisit
7
Capacities
Best for: researchers
Capacities goes head-to-head with Trilium Notes on features with a genuinely usable free tier. A studio for your mind (object-based notes). Best suited to researchers. Free – $10/mo.
4.6Free – $10/moVisit
8
Apple Notes
Best for: apple-users
A well-rated note taking pick. Simple notes, built into Apple devices. Apple Notes offers a free plan and starts at free, making it a credible Trilium Notes replacement.
4.6FreeVisit

Still considering Trilium Notes itself? Read our Trilium Notes review →

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Trilium Notes alternative?

Joplin is our top-rated Trilium Notes alternative for 2026. Open-source note-taking and to-do app with end-to-end encryption. Free – $2.99/user/mo.

Is there a free Trilium Notes alternative?

Yes — Joplin, SilverBullet, Notion all offer a free tier you can start on without a credit card.

Why switch from Trilium Notes?

Common reasons are price, a simpler feature set, better fit for a specific use case, or platform support. Each tool above notes where it has an edge over Trilium Notes.