memos
An open-source, self-hosted note-taking service. Your thoughts, your data, your control — no tracking, no ads, no subscription fees.
Top Related Projects
A privacy-first, open-source platform for knowledge management and collaboration. Download link: http://github.com/logseq/logseq/releases. roadmap: https://discuss.logseq.com/t/logseq-product-roadmap/34267
Think fearlessly with end-to-end encrypted notes and files. For issues, visit https://standardnotes.com/forum or https://standardnotes.com/help.
Build your personal knowledge base with Trilium Notes
A personal knowledge management and sharing system for VSCode
Quick Overview
Memos is an open-source, self-hosted memo hub for capturing, organizing, and sharing your thoughts. It's designed to be lightweight, privacy-focused, and easy to use, offering a clean and intuitive interface for managing personal notes and ideas.
Pros
- Self-hosted solution, ensuring data privacy and control
- Lightweight and fast, with minimal resource requirements
- Clean and intuitive user interface
- Supports Markdown formatting for rich text editing
Cons
- Limited advanced features compared to some commercial note-taking apps
- Requires technical knowledge for self-hosting and maintenance
- May lack integration with other popular productivity tools
- Community support might be less extensive than larger, commercial alternatives
Getting Started
To get started with Memos:
- Ensure you have Docker installed on your system.
- Run the following command to start Memos:
docker run -d --name memos -p 5230:5230 -v ~/.memos/:/var/opt/memos neosmemo/memos:latest
- Access Memos through your web browser at
http://localhost:5230. - Create an account and start using Memos to organize your thoughts and ideas.
For more detailed instructions and alternative installation methods, refer to the project's GitHub repository at https://github.com/usememos/memos.
Competitor Comparisons
A privacy-first, open-source platform for knowledge management and collaboration. Download link: http://github.com/logseq/logseq/releases. roadmap: https://discuss.logseq.com/t/logseq-product-roadmap/34267
Pros of Logseq
- Advanced knowledge management with bidirectional linking and graph view
- Supports multiple file formats (Markdown, Org-mode) and plugins
- Offline-first approach with local file storage and optional sync
Cons of Logseq
- Steeper learning curve due to more complex features
- Heavier resource usage, especially for large databases
- Less focus on quick, simple note-taking
Code Comparison
Logseq (ClojureScript):
(defn parse-title [content]
(let [lines (string/split-lines content)]
(if-let [title (some #(when (string/starts-with? % "title:") %) lines)]
(string/trim (subs title 6))
(first lines))))
Memos (Go):
func (s *SQLite3Storage) CreateMemo(create *store.Memo) (*store.Memo, error) {
memo := create
now := time.Now()
memo.CreatedTs = now.Unix()
memo.UpdatedTs = now.Unix()
return memo, nil
}
Summary
Logseq is a more powerful knowledge management tool with advanced features, while Memos focuses on simplicity and quick note-taking. Logseq offers bidirectional linking and graph views but has a steeper learning curve. Memos is lighter and easier to use but lacks some advanced features. The code comparison shows Logseq using ClojureScript for parsing, while Memos uses Go for database operations.
Think fearlessly with end-to-end encrypted notes and files. For issues, visit https://standardnotes.com/forum or https://standardnotes.com/help.
Pros of Standard Notes
- More comprehensive feature set, including end-to-end encryption and cross-platform synchronization
- Larger and more active community, with regular updates and improvements
- Extensive theming and customization options
Cons of Standard Notes
- More complex codebase, potentially harder for new contributors to get started
- Heavier resource usage due to its extensive feature set
- Steeper learning curve for users due to advanced features
Code Comparison
Standard Notes (React):
const Editor = ({ note, onNoteChange }) => {
return (
<textarea
value={note.content}
onChange={(e) => onNoteChange({ ...note, content: e.target.value })}
/>
);
};
Memos (Vue):
<template>
<textarea v-model="memo.content" @input="updateMemo"></textarea>
</template>
<script>
export default {
methods: {
updateMemo() {
this.$emit('update:memo', this.memo);
}
}
}
</script>
Both projects use modern JavaScript frameworks, but Standard Notes uses React while Memos uses Vue. Standard Notes' codebase is generally more complex due to its broader feature set, while Memos maintains a simpler structure focusing on core note-taking functionality.
Build your personal knowledge base with Trilium Notes
Pros of Trilium
- Advanced note-taking features like hierarchical organization and note linking
- Supports scripting and customization through plugins
- Offers end-to-end encryption for enhanced security
Cons of Trilium
- Steeper learning curve due to more complex features
- Requires local installation, not web-based like Memos
Code Comparison
Trilium (JavaScript):
const note = await becca.createNote(parentNote, 'New note', 'This is the content');
await note.setAttribute('label', 'myLabel', 'myValue');
Memos (Go):
memo := &entity.Memo{
Content: "This is the content",
CreatorID: user.ID,
}
err := store.CreateMemo(memo)
Trilium uses a more object-oriented approach with methods for note creation and attribute setting, while Memos employs a simpler struct-based model for memo creation. Trilium's code reflects its more feature-rich nature, allowing for hierarchical organization and custom attributes. Memos' code is more straightforward, focusing on basic content storage.
Both projects aim to provide note-taking solutions, but Trilium offers a more comprehensive feature set at the cost of complexity, while Memos prioritizes simplicity and ease of use in a web-based environment.
A personal knowledge management and sharing system for VSCode
Pros of Foam
- Integrates seamlessly with Visual Studio Code, leveraging its powerful features
- Supports bidirectional linking and graph visualization for better knowledge connections
- Offers a more flexible and customizable note-taking experience
Cons of Foam
- Steeper learning curve, especially for users unfamiliar with VS Code
- Requires more setup and configuration to get started
- Less focus on collaboration features compared to Memos
Code Comparison
Foam (JavaScript):
const generateNoteFromTemplate = async (templatePath, targetPath, substitutions) => {
const templateContent = await fs.readFile(templatePath, 'utf8');
const renderedContent = renderTemplate(templateContent, substitutions);
await fs.writeFile(targetPath, renderedContent);
};
Memos (Go):
func (s *Service) CreateMemo(ctx context.Context, create *store.Memo) (*store.Memo, error) {
memo, err := s.Store.CreateMemo(ctx, create)
if err != nil {
return nil, err
}
return memo, nil
}
While both projects aim to enhance note-taking and knowledge management, Foam focuses on integration with VS Code and graph-based connections, while Memos provides a more straightforward, web-based approach with emphasis on simplicity and collaboration.
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Memos
An open-source, self-hosted note-taking service. Your thoughts, your data, your control â no tracking, no ads, no subscription fees.
ð Featured Sponsors
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Overview
Memos is a privacy-first, self-hosted knowledge base that works seamlessly for personal notes, team wikis, and knowledge management. Built with Go and React, it offers lightning-fast performance without compromising on features or usability.
Why choose Memos over cloud services?
| Feature | Memos | Cloud Services |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy | â Self-hosted, zero telemetry | â Your data on their servers |
| Cost | â Free forever, MIT license | â Subscription fees |
| Performance | â Instant load, no latency | â ï¸ Depends on internet |
| Ownership | â Full control & export | â Vendor lock-in |
| API Access | â Full REST + gRPC APIs | â ï¸ Limited or paid |
| Customization | â Open source, forkable | â Closed ecosystem |
Features
-
ð Privacy-First Architecture
- Self-hosted on your infrastructure with zero telemetry
- Complete data ownership and export capabilities
- No tracking, no ads, no vendor lock-in
-
ð Markdown Native
- Full markdown support
- Plain text storage â take your data anywhere
-
â¡ Blazing Fast
- Built with Go backend and React frontend
- Optimized for performance at any scale
-
ð³ Simple Deployment
- One-line Docker installation
- Supports SQLite, MySQL, and PostgreSQL
-
ð Developer-Friendly
- Full REST and gRPC APIs
- Easy integration with existing workflows
-
ð¨ Beautiful Interface
- Clean, minimal design and dark mode support
- Mobile-responsive layout
Quick Start
Docker (Recommended)
docker run -d \
--name memos \
-p 5230:5230 \
-v ~/.memos:/var/opt/memos \
neosmemo/memos:stable
Open http://localhost:5230 and start writing!
Try the Live Demo
Don't want to install yet? Try our live demo first!
Other Installation Methods
- Docker Compose - Recommended for production deployments
- Pre-built Binaries - Available for Linux, macOS, and Windows
- Kubernetes - Helm charts and manifests available
- Build from Source - For development and customization
See our installation guide for detailed instructions.
Contributing
We welcome contributions of all kinds! Whether you're fixing bugs, adding features, improving documentation, or helping with translations â every contribution matters.
Ways to contribute:
- ð Report bugs
- ð¡ Suggest features
- ð§ Submit pull requests
- ð Improve documentation
- ð Help with translations
Sponsors
Love Memos? Sponsor us on GitHub to help keep the project growing!
Star History
License
Memos is open-source software licensed under the MIT License.
Privacy Policy
Memos is built with privacy as a core principle. As a self-hosted application, all your data stays on your infrastructure. There is no telemetry, no tracking, and no data collection. See our Privacy Policy for details.
Website ⢠Documentation ⢠Demo ⢠Discord ⢠X/Twitter
Top Related Projects
A privacy-first, open-source platform for knowledge management and collaboration. Download link: http://github.com/logseq/logseq/releases. roadmap: https://discuss.logseq.com/t/logseq-product-roadmap/34267
Think fearlessly with end-to-end encrypted notes and files. For issues, visit https://standardnotes.com/forum or https://standardnotes.com/help.
Build your personal knowledge base with Trilium Notes
A personal knowledge management and sharing system for VSCode
Convert
designs to code with AI
Introducing Visual Copilot: A new AI model to turn Figma designs to high quality code using your components.
Try Visual Copilot