QOwnNotes — Plain-Text Note-Taking with Nextcloud Integration

Introduction

QOwnNotes is a free, open-source plain-text file notepad with Markdown support and Nextcloud/ownCloud integration. It stores notes as plain text files on your local filesystem while optionally syncing through Nextcloud. Built with C++ and Qt, it provides a native desktop experience with fast startup and low resource usage.

What QOwnNotes Does

• Stores notes as plain Markdown text files in folders you choose on your filesystem
• Integrates with Nextcloud and ownCloud for syncing notes, calendars, and todo lists
• Provides a built-in Markdown preview with syntax highlighting and live rendering
• Supports note tagging, searching, and linking between notes for organization
• Offers a scripting engine that allows extending functionality with custom scripts

Architecture Overview

QOwnNotes is built with C++ using the Qt framework for cross-platform GUI rendering. Notes are stored as individual .md or .txt files in standard directories, making them accessible to any text editor. The Nextcloud integration works through the QOwnNotesAPI app installed on the server, enabling note versioning, trash recovery, and todo synchronization via CalDAV. The scripting engine embeds a QML/JavaScript runtime for user-created extensions.

Self-Hosting & Configuration

• Notes are stored as plain files locally; no database or server is required for basic use
• Nextcloud integration requires installing the QOwnNotesAPI app on your Nextcloud instance
• Note folders, editor fonts, and Markdown rendering can be configured in the settings dialog
• Custom keyboard shortcuts can be defined for most editor and navigation actions
• The scripting engine supports community scripts from the official script repository

Key Features

• Plain-text storage ensures notes remain accessible regardless of the application's future
• Deep Nextcloud integration with note versioning, trash, and CalDAV todo syncing
• Extensible scripting engine with a community repository of ready-made scripts
• Hierarchical note tagging and subfolder support for organizing large note collections
• Full-text search across all notes with results highlighted in the note list

Comparison with Similar Tools

• Joplin: Uses its own database format; QOwnNotes stores plain text files directly on the filesystem
• Obsidian: Proprietary with plugin ecosystem; QOwnNotes is fully open source with scripting support
• Standard Notes: End-to-end encrypted sync service; QOwnNotes relies on Nextcloud for syncing
• Notable: Markdown note app without sync; QOwnNotes adds Nextcloud integration and scripting

FAQ

Q: Do I need Nextcloud to use QOwnNotes? A: No, QOwnNotes works fully offline with local plain-text files. Nextcloud integration is optional for syncing.

Q: Can I import notes from other applications? A: Yes, since QOwnNotes uses plain Markdown files, you can import notes from any app that exports to Markdown.

Q: Does QOwnNotes support end-to-end encryption? A: QOwnNotes supports note encryption using AES-256, though this is per-note rather than full vault encryption.

Q: Is there a mobile companion app? A: There is no official mobile app, but notes synced via Nextcloud can be accessed through the Nextcloud Notes mobile app.

Sources

• Repository: https://github.com/pbek/QOwnNotes
• Documentation: https://www.qownnotes.org/getting-started/overview.html