Best Self Hosted Alternatives to Roam Research

Memos is an open-source, privacy-first note-taking service designed for capturing short notes and building a lightweight knowledge base. It is built for fast, local-first writing, with your data stored on your own infrastructure and no built-in tracking.

Key Features

• Markdown-first editor with plain-text oriented storage
• Fast, minimal UI optimized for quick capture and retrieval
• Organize notes with tags and basic structuring for knowledge management
• Share and publish selected notes for others to view
• REST and gRPC APIs for integrating with developer workflows
• Multiple database options, including SQLite, MySQL, and PostgreSQL
• Simple deployment options including Docker, prebuilt binaries, and Kubernetes

Use Cases

• Personal “memo hub” for daily notes, journaling, and quick idea capture
• Team wiki or lightweight internal knowledge base
• Developer logbook for snippets, debugging notes, and infrastructure runbooks

Memos is a good fit when you want a fast, distraction-free notes app that is easy to run and maintain, while keeping full control over your data. Its API access and simple deployment make it practical for both individuals and small teams.

Joplin is a free and open source note-taking and to-do application designed for keeping your data private while staying available across devices. It is offline-first and can sync using end-to-end encryption via multiple backends, including WebDAV and Nextcloud.

Key Features

• Organize notes in notebooks with tags and powerful full-text search
• Markdown-based notes with optional rich-text editing
• End-to-end encryption (E2EE) for sync to protect note contents
• Sync with multiple providers and standards (including WebDAV-compatible services)
• Web Clipper extension to save web pages or screenshots as notes
• Import from Evernote (ENEX) and import/export Markdown
• Customization via plugins, themes, and an extension API
• Available on desktop and mobile, plus a terminal application

Use Cases

• Personal knowledge management across devices with encrypted synchronization
• Migrating from Evernote and consolidating notes into an open format
• Capturing research and articles via web clipping for offline reading

Joplin fits individuals and teams that want flexible note organization, broad sync options, and strong privacy controls. Its open formats and extensibility make it a solid long-term notes and knowledge base solution.

SiYuan is a privacy-focused, open-source personal knowledge management application that organizes content as editable blocks and supports Markdown WYSIWYG. It emphasizes local-first storage with optional end-to-end encrypted synchronization and offers desktop, mobile and Docker deployments. (b3log.org)

Key Features

• Block-based editor with block-level references and two-way links for fine-grained connections.
• Markdown WYSIWYG editing plus large-document (million-word) editing with dynamic loading.
• Built-in database/table view, SQL query embeds and template/snippet support.
• Spaced-repetition flashcards and AI-assisted writing/Q&A via external model APIs.
• OCR support (Tesseract), PDF annotation linking and rich embeds (charts, flowcharts, math).
• Multiple sync options including end-to-end encrypted sync, S3 and WebDAV backends, and Docker deployment. (readmex.com)

Use Cases

• Personal knowledge management and research notes with block-level linking for networked thought.
• Publishing and documentation workflows where notes are exported to standard Markdown, HTML or platform-targeted formats.
• Shared team knowledge bases or a self-hosted notes server accessible via Docker and mobile/desktop clients.

Limitations and Considerations

• Some member-only features require payment; the project notes that some capabilities are gated for paid members. (github.com)
• Community discussions and repository issues have raised concerns about telemetry defaults and the need for careful plugin vetting; administrators should review telemetry and plugin settings for privacy-sensitive deployments. (github.com)

SiYuan combines a block-first editor model with server-backed features (Docker, APIs, sync) and desktop/mobile clients, making it suitable for users who want a privacy-oriented, extensible PKM system. Its active open-source repository and plugin ecosystem support customization, but administrators should review paid-feature gating and telemetry settings before production use. (b3log.org)

Logseq is a privacy-first platform for personal knowledge management built around linked, block-based notes organized as a graph. It supports local-first workflows using Markdown or Org-mode files, with additional options for database-backed graphs and real-time collaboration.

Key Features

• Block-based outlining with bidirectional linking and graph-based navigation
• Local file-based graphs using Markdown and Org-mode for longevity and portability
• Task management features integrated into notes (e.g., TODO workflows and queries)
• Whiteboards for spatial thinking with shapes, connectors, drawings, and embeds
• PDF reading and annotation integrated into the knowledge base
• Plugin and theme ecosystem via a dedicated plugin API
• Optional database-backed graphs with sync and real-time collaboration capabilities

Use Cases

• Personal knowledge base for research notes, study, and writing workflows
• Daily journaling and task tracking with linked context across projects
• Team knowledge sharing and collaborative note-taking (where collaboration is enabled)

Limitations and Considerations

• Database-backed graphs and real-time collaboration features may be in beta/alpha and can carry higher risk of data issues; backups are recommended

Logseq is well-suited for users who want a durable, local-first note system with strong linking and outlining. Its whiteboards, PDF annotation, and extensibility make it flexible for both personal productivity and collaborative knowledge work.

Trilium Notes is a cross-platform note-taking application designed for building large, structured personal knowledge bases. It can be used locally as a desktop app or run as a server to access notes in a browser and synchronize across devices.

Key Features

• Deep hierarchical note tree with cloning (one note can appear in multiple places)
• Rich WYSIWYG editor with Markdown-like autoformat, tables, images, and math
• Code notes with syntax highlighting and dedicated editor
• Full-text search plus fast navigation, hoisting, and command palette-style search
• Note revisions/versioning for review and undo
• Per-note encryption with password-protected sessions
• Web clipper support for saving web content into notes
• Extensibility via attributes, scripting, custom widgets, and built-in REST API
• Multiple note types and visual tools (canvas, Mermaid diagrams, mind maps, relation/note maps)
• Collections for structured workflows (tables, kanban boards, calendar, geomap, presentations)

Use Cases

• Personal or team knowledge base with structured documentation and cross-linked notes
• Research and project organization using tables, kanban boards, diagrams, and saved searches
• Private journaling and sensitive information storage using per-note encryption

Limitations and Considerations

• Uses an SQLite database; sharing the database directly over a network drive is discouraged due to corruption risk
• Not intended as a large-file storage system; synchronization can be unreliable with very large uploads
• No official native mobile app; mobile access is primarily via the web/mobile frontend (PWA)

Trilium Notes combines a strong hierarchical model with powerful search, versioning, and automation features. It is well-suited for users who want an extensible knowledge base that scales to very large collections of notes while keeping control of their data.

Blinko is an open-source, privacy-focused note-taking app designed for quickly capturing short “card” notes and organizing them over time. It adds AI-assisted retrieval using RAG, enabling natural-language search across your personal knowledge base while keeping data under your control.

Key Features

• Card-style note capture optimized for quick, lightweight writing
• Markdown-based notes for simple formatting and portability
• AI-enhanced retrieval using RAG for natural language querying of notes
• Self-hosted data storage emphasizing data ownership and privacy
• Web app built with a modern UI stack
• Optional multi-platform desktop experience via Tauri

Use Cases

• Personal knowledge management with fast capture of ideas and snippets
• Searching a private notes archive using natural-language queries
• Lightweight alternative to heavier note systems for daily journaling and memos

Limitations and Considerations

• AI/RAG features may require additional configuration and external model/provider choices depending on your setup

Blinko fits users who want a clean, fast note workflow with Markdown and the option to add AI-powered retrieval. It is especially suited to individuals prioritizing privacy and control while still benefiting from modern AI search.

Standard Notes is a privacy-focused note-taking application that uses end-to-end encryption to protect notes and files so only you can decrypt your data. It supports cross-device sync, offline access, and a flexible editing experience for different writing and organization styles.

Key Features

• End-to-end encryption with a zero-knowledge design for notes and attached files
• Cross-platform apps and web app with sync across unlimited devices
• Offline access so you can read and edit notes without an internet connection
• Multiple editor types, including Markdown and rich text, plus support for code snippets and lists
• Self-hosting support by pointing clients to a custom sync server via configuration
• Built with a public codebase and designed for long-term, durable personal knowledge storage

Use Cases

• Private personal knowledge management for journals, records, and sensitive documents
• Secure storage of credentials, keys, and confidential notes alongside attachments
• Team members or individuals who need a consistent notes workflow across desktop and mobile

Limitations and Considerations

• Some advanced editor and productivity features are provided via extensions and may require additional configuration or a paid plan depending on the feature

Standard Notes is a strong fit for users who want straightforward note-taking with rigorous privacy guarantees and reliable multi-device access. It is especially well-suited for storing long-lived personal or professional information where confidentiality and portability matter.

TagSpaces is an offline-first, cross-platform application for organizing and managing local files using a flexible tagging system. It works without accounts or a central cloud backend by storing metadata alongside your files, keeping your data portable and private.

Key Features

• Tag files and folders using filename tags or sidecar metadata files
• Fast filtering and search, including a local index service for content search
• Built-in viewers and editors for common formats (text, Markdown, HTML, media)
• Note-taking and simple task lists stored as plain files
• Web Clipper browser extension to save web pages, screenshots, and bookmarks as local files
• Extensible architecture via custom viewers/editors (plugins)
• Optional local AI/LLM integrations (via Ollama) for summarization, tagging, and annotation

Use Cases

• Organize a personal document archive (PDFs, receipts, manuals) with consistent tags
• Build an offline personal knowledge base with notes, web clippings, and media
• Create a portable file-based workspace that can be synced with third-party tools

Limitations and Considerations

• Not optimized for working locations containing more than about 100,000 files

TagSpaces is well-suited for users who want a file-based, vendor-neutral way to manage documents, notes, and media. Its offline design and optional local AI features make it a strong choice for privacy-focused personal and small-team workflows.

SilverBullet is a programmable personal knowledge management platform that runs in the browser and stores content as Markdown pages in a “space.” It combines a clean editor with wiki-style navigation and a scripting system that can generate pages, automate workflows, and build custom functionality.

Key Features

• Markdown-first editor with live preview and outlining tools
• Wiki-style pages with links and bi-directional linked mentions
• Task management across pages
• Querying and “objects” for structured data and database-like workflows
• Lua-based scripting (Space Lua) to create commands, templates, widgets, and dynamically generated content
• Local-first Progressive Web App behavior with offline access and sync to browser storage
• Distributed as a single server binary or as a container image

Use Cases

• Personal notes and wiki-style knowledge base for research, projects, and documentation
• Task tracking embedded in notes with rollups across a workspace
• Building lightweight, custom productivity systems with scripts, templates, and queries

SilverBullet is well-suited for users who want Markdown ownership and the ability to extend their notes environment with scripting and automation. It can function as both a straightforward editor and a highly customizable knowledge platform as your needs grow.

Speakr is a personal, self-hosted web application that turns audio recordings into organized, searchable notes using AI transcription and post-processing. It supports both cloud and self-hosted ASR/LLM backends and is designed for privacy-conscious individuals and teams.

Key Features

• In-browser recording and audio file upload
• AI transcription with optional speaker diarization and audio-transcript sync
• Voice profiles via speaker embeddings when using a compatible WhisperX ASR service
• Interactive chat and semantic “inquire” mode to query recordings using natural language
• Tag-based organization with custom prompts, ASR settings, and prompt stacking
• Sharing and collaboration with granular permissions, groups, and group-scoped tags
• Retention policies and automatic deletion with tag-based protection
• REST API v1 with OpenAPI/Swagger UI
• Single Sign-On via OIDC providers

Use Cases

• Meeting and standup transcription with searchable summaries and action items
• Research, interviews, and personal voice notes exported into a knowledge base
• Team knowledge capture for architecture decisions and client calls with controlled sharing

Limitations and Considerations

• Some advanced features (voice profiles/embeddings) require a separate WhisperX ASR service and typically a GPU
• LLM-powered summaries/chat depend on configuring a compatible text model provider

Speakr combines transcription, organization, and collaboration in a single web UI, while keeping data under your control. Its tagging, sharing, and retention features make it suitable for both personal note-taking and team workflows around recorded conversations.

Basic Memory is a local-first “memory layer” that lets AI assistants build and reuse long-term context across chats. It stores knowledge as human-editable Markdown files and exposes that knowledge to compatible LLM clients via the Model Context Protocol (MCP).

Key Features

• Bi-directional read/write memory: AI can create and update notes, and you can edit them with standard tools
• Local Markdown storage with semantic patterns (frontmatter, observations, relations) to form a traversable knowledge graph
• Local indexing and search backed by SQLite for fast retrieval
• MCP server integration to connect with compatible AI clients (for example desktop assistants and editors)
• Multi-project organization for separate knowledge bases
• Optional sync workflows, including real-time syncing and cloud-oriented commands

Use Cases

• Build a personal knowledge base that persists across AI conversations without repeated re-explaining
• Maintain project “working memory” for coding, research, or writing using Markdown and wiki-style linking
• Share consistent prompts, instructions, and structured notes across different AI tools while keeping content editable

Limitations and Considerations

• Effectiveness depends on maintaining consistent note structure (observations/relations) for higher-quality retrieval
• Some cross-device features may depend on optional syncing workflows rather than the core local-only setup

Basic Memory is a practical way to turn conversations into durable, structured notes that both humans and AI can navigate. By keeping the source of truth in plain text Markdown, it aims to stay interoperable with existing editors and workflows while enabling richer, reusable AI context.

Zim is a graphical desktop wiki editor for maintaining a notebook of interlinked pages. Notes are stored locally as plain text files using wiki-style markup, making them easy to edit, back up, and version.

Key Features

• Wiki-style page linking with quick creation of new pages by linking to non-existent pages
• Notebook stored as a folder structure with support for page attachments (e.g., images and files)
• Lightweight markup for headings, lists, and basic text formatting
• Autosave-focused workflow for fast navigation and editing across pages
• Plugin system for extending functionality (e.g., task lists, equation editing, tray icon, version control integration)

Use Cases

• Personal knowledge base and long-term note archive
• Daily or weekly journaling and meeting/lecture notes
• Managing simple task lists alongside project notes

Zim is a solid choice for users who want a local-first, file-based wiki that remains usable without a server and integrates well with typical desktop workflows.

NoteDiscovery is a lightweight, self-hosted knowledge base and note-taking application that stores content as plain Markdown files in folders. It focuses on fast navigation and discovery of notes with a modern web interface, while keeping data under your control.

Key Features

• Markdown editor with live preview and code syntax highlighting
• Wikilinks for connecting notes and an interactive graph view
• YAML frontmatter metadata with tag-based organization and filtering
• Templates with dynamic placeholders for creating reusable note formats
• Mermaid diagram rendering and LaTeX/MathJax equation support
• Favorites, outline (table of contents) panel, and keyboard shortcuts
• Plugin system for extending functionality
• Optional built-in password protection and a REST API
• Responsive UI with Progressive Web App (PWA) support
• Export notes as standalone HTML files

Use Cases

• Personal knowledge base or “second brain” built on local Markdown files
• Developer documentation and technical notes with code blocks, diagrams, and math
• Small team internal wiki with simple sharing and optional authentication

NoteDiscovery is a practical option for users who want a fast, Markdown-first knowledge base with linking and visualization features, without relying on proprietary storage formats. Its file-based approach also makes backups and migrations straightforward.

Zen is a simple, lightweight self-hosted notes application designed for fast writing and long-term portability. Notes are stored as standard Markdown files with a local SQLite database for indexing and search.

Key Features

• Single Go binary deployment (or Docker Compose) with very low resource usage
• Notes stored as Markdown with a local SQLite database
• Full-text search with BM25 ranking across titles and content
• Flexible tagging and custom views (“Focus Modes”) instead of rigid folder structures
• Rich Markdown support (tables, code blocks, task lists, highlights, and more)
• Templates and pinned notes for faster capture and organization
• Archive and soft delete with restore capability
• Import/export for portability (Markdown, JSON, and referenced images)
• Responsive, mobile-friendly UI with PWA support, dark mode, and offline reading
• Experimental features: canvas view (JSON Canvas) and MCP server for searching/reading notes

Use Cases

• Personal knowledge management with portable Markdown-based storage
• Fast searchable note-taking for developers, students, and researchers
• Lightweight notes service for homelabs or low-resource servers

Limitations and Considerations

• Some capabilities (canvas, MCP server, semantic/similar-image features) are experimental and may change
• Automated backups are handled via a separate companion tool rather than built in

Zen focuses on a clean interface, minimal dependencies, and future-proof storage so your notes remain accessible and easy to migrate. It’s a good fit for users who want a self-contained, low-ops notes app without proprietary formats.

Many Notes is a Markdown note-taking web application focused on a simple writing experience while keeping your content portable. Notes are stored in a database for features and also saved to the filesystem, giving you direct control over your vault structure.

Key Features

• Multi-user authentication to protect notes
• Multiple vaults per user, with flexible organization
• Vault sharing and collaboration with invited users
• Real-time, live-updating interface for changes
• Fast, typo-tolerant full-text search
• Tree view file explorer with context actions
• Advanced Markdown editor with automatic saving
• Templates plus links, backlinks, and tags for organization
• Import/export vaults for backup and restore
• Export Markdown notes to PDF
• Progressive Web App experience with light/dark themes

Use Cases

• Personal or team knowledge base with shared vaults and backlinks
• Lightweight documentation workspace for projects and runbooks
• A private Markdown “vault” alternative with filesystem-backed storage

Limitations and Considerations

• Some features (for example PWA capabilities) work best when served over HTTPS behind a reverse proxy

Many Notes is a practical option for users who want a clean Markdown workflow, collaborative vaults, and strong portability via filesystem-backed storage. It fits well as a personal notes system or a small-team knowledge base with real-time editing and fast search.

Notesnook is a privacy-focused note-taking application that encrypts notes on the client before sync and storage. It offers desktop, mobile and web clients alongside an open-source sync server and supporting tooling.

Key Features

• End-to-end client-side encryption for notes, with encryption-at-rest and in-transit protections and an open verification tool demonstrating the encryption model.
• Cross-platform clients (desktop, web, mobile) and a browser web clipper for saving pages and articles privately.
• Self-hostable sync server and supporting services (identity, SSE messaging, attachments storage) published under an open-source license.
• Note editor features: Markdown support, tables, code blocks, maths/formulas, lists, task lists, embeds, images and file attachments.
• Bidirectional note linking for personal knowledge management and internal linking between notes.
• Notes vault and password-protected shares for additional access control on sensitive notes.
• Reminders and basic task scheduling integrated in the app.
• Deployment tooling: official repository includes Docker Compose manifests to run services with MongoDB and MinIO for storage.

Use Cases

• Secure personal note-taking and journaling where client-side encryption and privacy are required.
• Personal knowledge management and research workflows using bidirectional links, markdown, and cross-device sync.
• Sharing documents or notes securely with password-protected shared links while keeping primary data encrypted.

Limitations and Considerations

• Self-hosting of the sync server is marked alpha: documentation and official support are limited and self-hosting is provided without support. The repository and Docker Compose make self-hosting possible but administrators should be prepared to manage components (MongoDB, MinIO, identity and messaging services) themselves.
• Some on-premise/self-host settings and full documentation were stated as in progress; production hardening, scaling guidance, and enterprise support may be limited.

Notesnook combines a consumer-facing encrypted note service with open-source clients and a sync server repository. It is geared toward users who prioritize privacy and want the option to run their own sync infrastructure or review the server code.

Silicon Notes is a lightweight, low-friction personal knowledge base and wiki-style note app. It provides plaintext Markdown editing with HTML rendering, a simple no-frills UI, and tools for organizing and searching pages.

Key Features

• Markdown-based editing with rendered HTML and syntax highlighting for code blocks
• Bi-directional page relationships (backlinks) and an in-page table of contents sidebar
• Full-text and title search for fast retrieval of notes
• Page history and revision tracking for auditing and rollback
• Export and import of pages and revisions as JSON for portability
• Optional CodeMirror editor for enhanced editing experience; configurable editor via environment
• Simple deployment options: SQLite-backed instance, container images and docker-compose samples

Use Cases

• Personal knowledge base for developers, researchers, or hobbyists who prefer Markdown
• Lightweight wiki for a small team on a private LAN or VPN-protected server
• Archival and searchable notes with revision history and portable JSON exports

Limitations and Considerations

• No built-in authentication or authorization; intended for trusted/private networks or behind reverse proxies with access control
• Default SQLite storage may limit scalability for larger teams or high-concurrency environments
• Optional CodeMirror assets add frontend weight and must be installed separately if enabled

Silicon Notes is suited for users seeking a simple, self-contained note/wiki app focused on Markdown, searchability, and minimal operational complexity. It emphasizes portability and ease of deployment over enterprise features and multi-tenant access control.

Minne is a self-hosted, graph-powered personal knowledge management solution that stores content, reveals connections, and enables AI-assisted discovery. It combines a fast Rust backend with server-side rendering and HTMX for snappy interactions, a visual knowledge graph for exploring relationships, and hybrid retrieval that combines vector similarity with full-text search.

Key Features

• Fast Rust backend with server-side rendering and HTMX for snappy interactions
• Search and chat AI for content discovery
• Knowledge graph with automatic and manual relationship curation
• Hybrid retrieval: vector similarity and full-text search
• Multi-format ingestion: text, URLs, PDFs, audio, and images
• Self-hosted: your data on your server and compatible with OpenAI-like APIs
• Live demo available

Use Cases

• Personal knowledge management and research notes with AI-assisted discovery
• Read-it-later style collection with semantic linking
• Ingest documents (PDFs, URLs) and media for later retrieval

Conclusion Minne provides a privacy-first, self-hosted platform for organizing knowledge with AI-assisted discovery and visual exploration. It is well suited for personal knowledge management, research notes, and data-rich reading collections.

Nanote is a lightweight, self-hosted note-taking application that stores notes as plain markdown files and folders on the filesystem, providing full portability. It is built with Nuxt, Vue and TypeScript and focuses on simplicity, fast search, and direct file access.

Key Features

• Notebook-based organization using folders as notebooks and .md files as notes
• Filesystem storage with no database dependency for full portability and easy backups
• Native Markdown support with Milkdown editor and proper MIME handling
• Universal, OS-optimized search for fast content discovery across all notes
• Type-safe REST API with validation for programmatic access
• Docker-ready with sample compose file for quick deployment
• File upload support and custom inline remark directives (e.g., inline file pickers, date shortcuts)
• Mobile-friendly responsive layout for viewing and editing notes

Use Cases

• Personal knowledge management where notes must remain portable and editable with any text editor
• Lightweight team/documentation server backed by a filesystem or shared volume
• Replace simple note apps with markdown-first workflow and fast search across local files

Limitations and Considerations

• Encryption at rest is not implemented (listed as pending in project roadmap)
• Feature set is early-stage: some planned features (archive, rollup checklists, desktop/mobile apps) are incomplete
• Local development requires Node.js, PNPM, and optional ugrep for optimized search; deployments may need environment variables configured for note and upload paths

Nanote is suited for users who prefer file-based markdown workflows and want a minimal, performant web UI over their existing notes. It prioritizes portability and simple operation while remaining extensible via its API.

Storyteller is a self-hostable web application designed to help writers plan and draft fiction or narrative projects. It focuses on keeping story content, structure, and supporting notes organized in one place.

Key Features

• Create and manage writing projects with hierarchical structure (e.g., chapters and scenes)
• Rich text editing for drafting story content
• Notes and supporting material to keep characters, locations, and ideas organized
• Project organization features to navigate and revise longer works

Use Cases

• Planning and drafting novels, short stories, or serial fiction
• Organizing story outlines, scenes, and reference notes for a writing project
• Keeping multiple writing projects separated and easy to maintain

Storyteller is a lightweight option for writers who want a focused, self-hosted environment to structure and write narrative content. It is best suited for individual authors or small groups who prioritize organization and drafting over heavyweight publishing workflows.