Flatnotes- MinimalistMinimalist

Ready to try Flatnotes?

About

Flatnotes is a free, open-source, self-hosted web app that stores your notes as plain Markdown files in a single flat folder, with no database. Notes are organized through search, tags and wikilinks instead of folders or notebooks.

Flatnotes deliberately keeps things simple: every note is a Markdown file in one folder, with no folders, notebooks or proprietary database, so your notes remain fully portable and can be edited by other tools while the app is running. Only a search index is cached, and it updates incrementally when files change. The mobile-responsive web interface offers both raw Markdown and WYSIWYG editing modes (based on TOAST UI Editor), light and dark themes, fast full-text search (powered by Whoosh), tags, [[wikilinks]] and a customizable home page. Access can be left open, made read-only, protected by username and password, or secured with two-factor authentication, and a RESTful API is available for automation. Flatnotes is deployed with Docker or via one-click hosting on PikaPods, and a public demo resets every 15 minutes. It is developed by Adam Dullage, a hobbyist developer from England, under the MIT license; the maintainer intentionally limits new features to keep the app focused. The latest release, v5.5.5, shipped in August 2026.

Who Is Flatnotes Best For?

Flatnotes is particularly well-suited for:

Self-hosters and homelab enthusiasts

People who want notes as plain Markdown files

Minimalists who prefer search and tags over folders

Users who need a simple private web notebook

View all Minimalist apps

Credibility of This Listing

We show what we know, where it comes from, and what is still incomplete.

Review Coverage

Limited

Third-party review coverage is limited for this listing. Treat the score as directional rather than comprehensive.

NoteFinderz Research

October 9, 2026

NoteFinderz research refreshed on October 9, 2026.

Product Freshness

August 29, 2026

Latest known product update: August 29, 2026.

Descriptions, use cases, pros, and limitations are written and curated by NoteFinderz. Ratings and review volume are aggregated from public signals when they exist.

Visible Review Sources

Coverage in progress

No third-party review sources are linked to this listing yet. We still keep the app in the directory, but confidence in the score is lower.

Features

Markdown

WYSIWYG

Pricing

Free

Free Tier Available

Project Health

Status

Active

Publisher & Origin

Developer

Adam Dullage

Source Model

Open source

License

MIT

Country of Origin

United Kingdom

Origin Type

Indie creator

Pros

✓Plain Markdown files with no database, fully portable

✓Clean, distraction-free interface

✓Fast full-text search, tags and wikilinks

✓Raw Markdown and WYSIWYG editing modes

✓Simple Docker deployment with optional 2FA

Cons

⚠Single flat folder: no folders or notebooks by design

⚠Web only, no native desktop or mobile apps

⚠Single-user, no real-time collaboration

⚠Feature set intentionally limited by the maintainer

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Flatnotes free to use?

Yes, Flatnotes offers a free tier that you can use without payment. Completely free and open source (MIT). You self-host it with Docker; managed hosting is available through PikaPods at the host's own rates. Development can be supported via GitHub Sponsors.

What platforms does Flatnotes support?

Flatnotes is available on Web. You can access it from any web browser, plus dedicated apps for other platforms.

Is Flatnotes open source?

Yes, Flatnotes is open source. You can view the source code and contribute on GitHub at https://github.com/dullage/flatnotes.