Open source alternative to Google Keep
Last verified
Host Google Keep-style notes with self-hosted storage, timeline navigation, folders, Markdown sync, and direct Keep or Markdown imports.
Run itsnotes for quick thoughts, reminders, saved links, and lightweight reference notes while keeping the database and files on your own infrastructure.
You want a hosted service with native mobile sync managed for you.
Mirror notes into Markdown so you can search them with local tools, version them with git, or edit them from a favorite Markdown editor.
You need a polished team wiki with permissions, comments, and shared databases.
Quick note apps work well at first, then become hard to search, back up, and migrate. Users who rely on Google Keep often need better organization and export control without moving into a heavier paid workspace.
Browse notes through month markers, saved search panels, color filters, tags, folders, and a dense list view instead of relying only on a masonry wall.
Import Google Keep Takeout archives plus Markdown or text files so existing notes can move into the self-hosted app with less manual cleanup.
Mirror notes to Markdown files with metadata, edit them in external tools, and sync changes back while preserving note identity and conflict safety.
itsnotes and Google Keep both suit fast personal notes, but they solve different ownership problems. itsnotes is MIT licensed and runs on your own Docker/PostgreSQL stack; Google Keep is a Google-managed notes app built for instant capture, mobile widgets, sharing, and Google account sync.
| Criteria | itsnotes | Google Keep |
|---|---|---|
| License | MIT | Proprietary Google app |
| Hosting model | Self-hosted with Docker Compose and PostgreSQL | Google-managed service |
| Import and export | Imports Google Takeout .zip files, bulk .txt and .md files, and mirrors notes to Markdown | Exports through Google Takeout, including note content, attachments, color, state, collaborators, and labels |
| Organization | Month markers, saved search panels, colors, tags, folders, internal note links, grid and list views | Colors, labels, search, pins, reminders, sharing, widgets, and Wear OS shortcuts |
| Best for | Technical users who want Keep-style notes with local ownership and Markdown backups | Casual users who want managed sync, mobile capture, voice notes, image notes, and shared lists |
Choose itsnotes when you already like Keep's sticky-note workflow but need self-hosting, Markdown backups, and better navigation for a growing archive. The strongest advantage is the Markdown mirror: notes are written to .md files with metadata and can be edited in Obsidian or VS Code, while conflicts are kept in a separate folder. That makes itsnotes a better fit for technical users who want ownership, grep, git backups, or a practical migration path from Google Takeout exports.
Google Keep is still the better choice if you want zero server maintenance, Google-managed sync across phone, tablet, computer, and Wear OS, or quick capture from voice, images, widgets, and shared lists. Keep also has the larger mobile ecosystem and simpler collaboration model. Pick Keep for casual family or mobile-first notes; pick itsnotes when your priority is owning the notes archive and keeping it portable.
Yes. itsnotes is MIT licensed and designed as a self-hosted alternative for users who like Google Keep-style quick capture but want more control over storage and organization.
Yes. The project supports importing Google Takeout exports from Google Keep, plus bulk Markdown and text file imports.
itsnotes is best for individuals and technical users who want quick notes, folders, tags, Markdown backups, and self-hosted ownership. It is less suited to teams that need a mature collaborative workspace.
Alternative to
Google Keep
Self-hosted note timeline with per-memo privacy, zero telemetry
Alternative to
Muse
Self-hosted AI assistant for WhatsApp, Telegram, and more
Alternative to
Superhuman
AI email assistant that drafts replies and clears your inbox
Alternative to
Grok Bot
AI teammates you own: your keys, your model, your machine.
Alternative toGrok Bot
Self-hosted AI agent management with org charts and budgets
Alternative to
TypingMind
Local-first AI workstation with agents and multi-model chat.
Run itsnotes on your own server
Self-host itsnotes on a Hostinger VPS.
Deploy on HostingerFeatured
Alternative toClaude Managed Agents
Open-source agent deployment API. Self-host or use Omnara Cloud.
Alternative toSuperhuman
AI email assistant that drafts replies and clears your inbox
Alternative toGrok Bot
AI teammates you own: your keys, your model, your machine.
The projects we add and every new guide. Free, unsubscribe any time.
Claude Code to 
OpenCode
Jira to 
Windshift
Notion to 
AppFlowy
Slack to 
Mattermost
Linear to 
GitLab
Wispr Flow to 
Handy
CapCut to 
Concat
Grok Bot to 
rakazo
Superhuman to 
Inbox Zero
Airtable to 
AITable
Muse to 
OpenClaw
GitHub Copilot to 
Cline
Datadog to 
Netdata
Microsoft Teams to 
Rocket.ChatConfluence to 
Docmost
Pinecone to 
Qdrant
Zapier to 
n8n
Devin AI to 
OpenHands
Firebase to 
Supabase
1Password to 
KeePassXC
Contentful to 
Strapi
Adobe Premiere Pro to 
Shotcut
ChatGPT to 
AnythingLLM
LangSmith to 
Langfuse
