QOwnNotes is a free open source (GPL) plain-text notepad. The program has support for markdown, and includes a to-do list manager that works on FreeBSD, Linux, MacOS and Windows. It can optionally work together with the notes application of ownCloud or Nextcloud.
In a 2017 interview, Bekerle traced the project's origins to late 2014, when he wanted a cross-platform application that could create notes with a keyboard shortcut and store them as text files in a directory for synchronization. Version 1.0 was announced in February 2016.
The editor provides Markdown syntax highlighting and a preview of the formatted document. Notes can be organized into subfolders and assigned hierarchical tags. The interface has panels that can be moved, docked or stacked, and the application supports optional AES-256 encryption of notes. Notes can also be exported as PDF or HTML documents.
What is QOwnNotes?
QOwnNotes by pbek (developed by Patrizio Bekerle) is open-source Windows software in the notes & to-do category. It ranks 3rd by popularity among notes & to-do in this catalogue. It is written in TypeScript and C++. Besides Windows, it is available for Linux.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides Portable installers for Any CPU Windows. It runs without installation (portable).
Updates and version history
The current version is 26.10.12, released on October 25, 2026. The version history goes back to December 13, 2023: 221 releases, all linked to the official files. That is about 77 releases a year. The last update is less than a month old.
Popularity and file types
The Chocolatey package has been downloaded 100,411 times. The source code on GitHub (pbek/QOwnNotes) has 5,920 stars. Wikipedia has an article about it in 2 of our languages. Similar programs include Obsidian, Logseq and Evernote.
Project description on GitHub: “QOwnNotes is a plain-text file notepad and todo-list manager with Markdown support and Nextcloud / ownCloud integration.”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Portable: runs without installation
- Frequent updates (about 77 a year)
- Also runs on Linux
- Large user base
In short: QOwnNotes is an open-source notes & to-do tool for Any CPU PCs. It is actively maintained.
Screenshots
Is QOwnNotes safe to download?
- The file is served by github.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
06B932F00D9DBF1FAB851343C3BFFE7FDFAAC4CF3B4F3AB02BA11F9E0ABF6904· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link has not been checked yet
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 221 versions ›221 versions over 3 years · about 77 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26.10.12Latest | October 25, 2026 | — | Any CPU ZIP |
| 26.10.11 | October 24, 2026 | — | Any CPU ZIP |
| 26.10.10 | October 22, 2026 | — | Any CPU ZIP |
| 26.10.9 | October 20, 2026 | — | Any CPU ZIP |
| 26.10.2 | October 9, 2026 | — | Any CPU ZIP |
| 26.10.0 | October 1, 2026 | — | Any CPU ZIP |
| 26.9.14 | September 29, 2026 | — | Any CPU ZIP |
| 26.9.13 | September 27, 2026 | — | Any CPU ZIP |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id pbek.QOwnNotes -echoco install qownnotes -yRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Also for other systems
flatpak install flathub org.qownnotes.QOwnNotesInformation
- Publisher
- pbek
- Developer
- Patrizio Bekerle
- Category
- Notes & to-do
- Licence
- GPL-2.0
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com/pbek/QOwnNotes
- Written in
- TypeScript and C++
- Content rating
- All ages
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- Any CPU
- Installer
- Portable
- Other platforms
- Linux
- Version
- 26.10.12
- Released
- October 25, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- December 13, 2023
- Versions listed
- 221
- Updates / year
- 77.1
- Chocolatey downloads
- 100,411
- GitHub stars
- 5,920
- GitHub forks
- 496
- Website
- github.com
- winget ID
- pbek.QOwnNotes
- Chocolatey package
- qownnotes
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is QOwnNotes free?
Yes. QOwnNotes is open-source software under the GPL-2.0 licence.
Is QOwnNotes safe to download?
The download comes from github.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install QOwnNotes with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Does QOwnNotes run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
The installer is architecture-neutral.
Where can I download an older version of QOwnNotes?
The versions page lists all 221 versions with links to their official installer files, back to December 13, 2023.
Can I use QOwnNotes without administrator rights?
Yes, it is portable: unpack and run it.
What are alternatives to QOwnNotes?
Obsidian, Logseq, Evernote, Notesnook and TagSpaces. The alternatives page compares them.
