Trilium Notes replaces 3 paid apps
One open-source tool, 3 subscriptions it can stand in for. Each pairing below is curated and verified by hand, with the honest catch spelled out. No votes, no pay-to-list.
licenseAGPL-3.0+
runsyour machine or their cloud
installDesktop release package, or Docker Compose/image for a server and browser client
dataNotes, hierarchy, attributes, revisions, and most attachments live in a local or server-side SQLite database named document.db; notes can be exported to HTML, Markdown, or OPML
setupThe desktop app is straightforward, but cross-device sync and browser access require operating a Trilium server, persisting document.db, and handling backups and upgrades
facts verified 2026-08-10
Templates, relations and attributes turn notes into records, though the outline is a tree.
the catchTrilium's one-primary-parent tree is much more rigid than Tana's block outliner and supertag-driven views for reusing the same structured information.
the verdict →all Tana alternatives →
Notes become objects through attributes, relations and reusable templates.
the catchTrilium remains fundamentally tree-first, making typed objects and cross-cutting collections feel bolted on compared with Capacities' object-native design.
the verdict →all Capacities alternatives →
A personal knowledge tree with relations, attributes and a sync server you control.
the catchTrilium uses a hierarchical note tree and client-server sync rather than Anytype's typed object graph and encrypted peer-to-peer space model.
the verdict →all Anytype alternatives →last updated 2026-08-10 · up to $552/yr replaced · no votes, no pay-to-list
