Trilium
Trilium Notes is an open-source app for taking notes and organizing a personal knowledge base locally or through synchronization.
About Trilium
Trilium Notes is a note-taking and personal knowledge base application that can be used locally on desktop or synchronized with a self-hosted server. It supports hierarchical note organization without traditional folders, allowing individual notes to contain sub-notes and appear in multiple locations within the note tree. The tool includes offline functionality, OCR-powered full-text search, password-protected encrypted notes, a web clipper browser extension, and a built-in REST API for programmatic access. It supports multiple note types including rich text, Markdown, code, spreadsheets, mind maps, and Mermaid diagrams, and allows exporting notes in open formats like Markdown, HTML, and OPML.
Key features
- Hierarchical note structure without folders; notes support sub-notes and multi-location placement
- Offline local use with optional self-hosted or cloud sync across devices
- OCR-powered full-text search across notes including text inside images and PDFs
- Multiple note types including rich text, code, spreadsheets, mind maps and diagrams
- Password-protected encrypted notes for sensitive information storage
- Built-in REST API for programmatic access and third-party integrations
Best for: Trilium Notes is best suited for users seeking a local or self-hosted note-taking and personal knowledge base tool with flexible organization and customization options.
Good for
- No account required for local offline use
- Flexible hierarchical note organization without traditional folder constraints
- Open format export options prevent note lock-in
Watch out for
- Synchronization and public note publishing require a separate self-hosted or cloud server instance
- AGPL-3.0 license restricts distribution of modified versions of the software
- Mobile access is limited to a progressive web app with no native mobile app
Trilium at a glance
- Website
- triliumnotes.org
- Category
- Productivity › Notes & Knowledge Management
- Type
- Online tool
- Pricing
- Not confirmed. Check the site
- Platforms
- Web
- Open source
- Not stated
- Language
- English
- Last checked
- Oct 6, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
Guides for Notes & Knowledge Management
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Trilium FAQ
Does Trilium Notes require an account to use?
No, Trilium Notes does not require an account and works offline for local use.
Can notes be exported from Trilium Notes?
Yes, notes can be exported in Markdown, HTML, or OPML formats, or printed to PDF.
Is task automation supported in Trilium Notes?
Yes, the tool includes a built-in REST API and supports frontend and backend scripting for automations.
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