Documents & Knowledge Base
Document management, knowledge bases, e-books, digital libraries, and note-taking apps
Subcategories
Replace Popular SaaS
226 Tools
Stirling-PDF
75KThe most popular self-hosted PDF platform — merge, split, convert, OCR, sign, and process documents with AI, all running on your own infrastructure.
AppFlowy
69KAn open-source Notion alternative with AI, wikis, projects, and databases — cross-platform (desktop, mobile, web) with offline-first architecture and full data ownership.
AFFiNE Community Edition
66KAn open-source workspace that merges docs, whiteboards, and databases into one platform — a privacy-focused alternative to Notion and Miro with AI built in.
Docusaurus
64KA static site generator built on React for documentation websites — write in Markdown/MDX, version your docs, and deploy anywhere. Created by Meta.
Crawl4AI
62KOpen-source LLM-friendly web crawler that generates clean markdown from any website, purpose-built for RAG pipelines, AI data extraction, and automated research.
Atom
61KGitHub's hackable text editor, officially sunset in December 2022. The codebase remains archived on GitHub as a reference for community forks like Pulsar.
Memos
58KA private Twitter for your brain — open, type, done. Self-hosted in 30 seconds, runs forever on a $3/month VPS.
Joplin
54KOpen-source note-taking app with end-to-end encryption, Markdown support, and sync across all devices via Nextcloud, Dropbox, OneDrive, or your own server.
SiYuan
42KSiYuan is a privacy-first, local-first personal knowledge management system with block-level references, bidirectional links, end-to-end encrypted sync, and spaced repetition.
Logseq
42KLogseq is a privacy-first, local-first knowledge management tool built around outliner-style editing, bidirectional linking, and a powerful knowledge graph.
Outline
38KThe self-hosted team wiki with a Notion-quality editor — real-time collaboration, beautiful UI, and no per-seat pricing.
Paperless-ngx
37KA community-supported supercharged version of paperless. Scan, index, and archive all your physical documents.
Trilium Notes
35KA hierarchical, scriptable, self-hosted note app for people who want to engineer their own workflow — and a warning for people who don't.
TriliumNext Notes
35KTrilium is an open-source solution for note-taking and personal knowledge bases. Use it locally or sync with your own server.
Wiki.js
28KThe most powerful and extensible open source wiki software. Make documentation a joy to write with a beautiful and intuitive interface.
Anki
27KAnki is a self-hosted documents & knowledge base replacement for Quizlet.
Huly
25KAll-in-one platform combining project management, team chat, document collaboration, and HR tools.
Karakeep
24KAI-powered bookmark manager with automatic tagging, full-page archiving, and mobile apps for links, notes, and images.
Vuepress
23KVuepress gives you minimalistic Vue-powered static site generator on your own infrastructure.
MkDocs
22KStatic site generator for project documentation using Markdown files with themes and plugins.
MdBook
21KMdBook is a self-hosted documents & knowledge base tool that creates books with Markdown using Rust.
Open-Notebook
21KSelf-hosted AI-powered note-taking and research platform with podcast generation and content integration.
docmost
19KReplace Confluence and Notion with secure on-premise documentation for enterprise teams
BookStack
18KBookStack is a simple, open-source, self-hosted, easy-to-use platform for organising and storing information
Etherpad
18KEtherpad handles highly customizable online editor providing collaborative editing in real-time as a self-hosted solution.
LinkWarden
18KLinkwarden helps you collect, read, annotate, and fully preserve what matters, all in one place
Overleaf
17KSelf-host your LaTeX environment and reclaim compile time — the AGPL-licensed editor that removes the 10-second free-tier ceiling.
Calibre Web
17K:books: Web app for browsing, reading and downloading eBooks stored in a Calibre database - janeczku/calibre-web
Sumrat PDF Reader
16KSumatraPDF reader. Contribute to sumatrapdfreader/sumatrapdf development by creating an account on GitHub
Docs
16KCollaborative document editor with real-time editing, version control, and secure sharing
Xournalpp
14KXournalpp is a self-hosted documents & knowledge base replacement for Onenote.
Scalar
14KScalar is a self-hosted documents & knowledge base tool with support for rest API, API client, openapi.
Notesnook
14KNotesnook handles end-to-end encrypted note-taking app as a self-hosted solution.
Wallabag
13KWallabag is a self-hosted read-it-later & bookmarks tool with support for Bookmarks, Read Later, read it later.
Documenso
13KOpen-source document signing platform — the DocuSign alternative you own
BentoPDF
12KBentoPDF is a JavaScript-based application that provides client-side PDF toolkit.
Docuseal
12KDocuseal is a Ruby-based application that provides e-signature platform.
Shiori
11KSelf-hosted read-it-later & bookmarks tool that provides simple bookmark manager built with Go.
Fumadocs
11KSelf-hosted documents & knowledge base tool that provides flexible Next.js framework for creating stunning documentation sites.
linkding
10KA minimal Django + SQLite bookmark app you run in a single Docker container — the one most people land on after Pocket shut down.
Kavita
10KSelf-hosted e-books & digital libraries tool that provides cross-platform e-book/manga/comic/PDF server and web reader.
Obsidian LiveSync
9.8KObsidian LiveSync gives you community-implemented sync plugin for Obsidian on your own infrastructure.
Blinko
9.7KReleased under GPL-3.0, Blinko provides of AI-powered card notes designed to help you quickly capture and organize inspiration so on self-hosted infrastructure.
Blinko
9.7KBlinko is a TypeScript-based application that provides personal note tool with AI features.
Laverna
9.2KLaverna gives you markdown note-taking app with encryption on your own infrastructure.
TiddlyWiki
8.6KTiddlyWiki handles self-contained JavaScript wiki for the browser as a self-hosted solution.
Reor
8.5KReor is a self-hosted note-taking tool that provides private, local AI app for managing personal knowledge, featuring semantic search, auto-connected.
Floccus
7.8KFloccus handles sync your bookmarks privately across browsers and devices as a self-hosted solution.
Dendron
7.4KDendron is a self-hosted documents & knowledge base tool that provides personal knowledge management tool that evolves with you.
HedgeDoc
7KHedgeDoc lets you run realtime collaborative markdown notes on all platforms, formerly known as CodiMD and HackMD CE entirely on your own server.
Standard Notes
6.4KStandard Notes handles cross-platform note-taking app as a self-hosted solution.
Standardnotes
6.4KStandardnotes is a TypeScript-based application that provides , secure note-taking app with end-to-end encryption.
OpenSign
6.1KOpen-source electronic signature platform for document signing without per-envelope fees
Komga
6.1KKomga gives you media server for comics/mangas/BDs on your own infrastructure.
Livebook
5.7KLivebook is a self-hosted note-taking replacement for Evernote, Firebase, and more.
Librum
5.3KLibrum is a self-hosted e-books & digital libraries replacement for Evernote and Microsoft OneNote.
Calibre Web Automated
5.2KCalibre Web Automated is a JavaScript-based application that provides all-in-one solution.
SilverBullet
4.9KSilverBullet is a self-hosted note-taking replacement for Evernote and Microsoft OneNote.
Colanode
4.7KColanode handles collaboration suite as a self-hosted solution.
Dokuwiki
4.6KReleased under GPL-2.0, Dokuwiki provides easy to use, lightweight, standards-compliant wiki engine on self-hosted infrastructure.
Docuwiki
4.6KDocuwiki lets you run dokuWiki: Easy-to-use, database-free wiki entirely on your own server.
Ueli
4.5KUeli handles keyboard-driven launcher as a self-hosted solution.
Papra
4KSelf-hosted document management tool that provides document management platform.
Freeplane
4KFreeplane offers mind mapping, knowledge management, project management as a self-hosted documents & knowledge base.
Shaarli
3.8KSelf-hosted read-it-later & bookmarks tool that provides personal, minimalist, super-fast, no-database bookmarking and link sharing platform.
LinkAce
3.3KSelf-hosted read-it-later & bookmarks tool that provides bookmark archive.
Slash
3.1KSelf-hosted URL shorteners tool that provides bookmarks and link sharing platform.
Raneto
2.9KRaneto lets you run knowledgebase platform that uses static Markdown files entirely on your own server.
Papermerge
2.9KPapermerge offers document storage, search functionality, metadata management as a self-hosted document management.
flatnotes
2.8KReleased under MIT, flatnotes provides database-less note-taking web app that utilises a flat folder of markdown files for storage on self-hosted...
Grimoire
2.8KFor read-it-later & bookmarks, Grimoire is a self-hosted solution that provides bookmark manager.
Shelfmark
2.8KSelf-hosted e-books & digital libraries tool that provides interface for searching and requesting book downloads.
EventCatalog
2.6KEventCatalog handles event-driven architecture documentation as a self-hosted solution.
PinTree
2.6KPinTree is a self-hosted documents & knowledge base replacement for Raindrop.
NoteDiscovery
2.4KNoteDiscovery is a JavaScript-based application that provides lightweight Obsidian-like note-taking app.
Docspell
2.2KDocspell is a self-hosted document management tool that organizes documents sourced from scanners, e-mail, and other sources.
Stump
2.1KStump lets you run fast, and comics, manga and digital book server with OPDS support entirely on your own server.
Jotty
1.7KJotty is a self-hosted note-taking tool that provides lightweight but powerful alternative for managing your personal, file based, notes and checklists.
PdfDing
1.7KPdfDing is a self-hosted document management tool that provides PDF manager, viewer and editor offering a seamless user experience on multiple devices. It's.
Haptic
1.7KHaptic gives you local-first, privacy-focused home for Markdown notes on your own infrastructure.
Documind
1.5KDocumind is a JavaScript-based application that provides uses advanced AI and LLMs to extract structured data from PDFs.
Otter Wiki
1.4KOtter Wiki lets you run simple, easy to use wiki software using markdown entirely on your own server.
LinguaCafe
1.3KLinguaCafe handles software that helps language learners acquire vocabulary through reading as a self-hosted solution.
Alexandrie
1.3KAlexandrie lets you run modern and elegant note-taking app entirely on your own server.
Paperless Mobile
1.3KFor document management, Paperless Mobile is a self-hosted solution that provides (almost) fledged mobile paperless client.
XWiki
1.2KXWiki is a self-hosted note-taking tool with support for Note Taking, Wiki, Workspace.
Bangle-io
1.2KBangle-io handles WYSIWYG note-taking app storing notes locally in Markdown as a self-hosted solution.
OpenOffice
1.2KSelf-hosted documents & knowledge base tool that provides apache OpenOffice: versatile, productivity suite.
Zen Notes
1.1KZen Notes handles minimal note-taking app storing Markdown notes in local SQLite database. Features instant search as a self-hosted solution.
Moe Memos
1KMoe Memos lets you run companion note-taking application for Memos entirely on your own server.
Journiv
981Journiv handles private journaling app as a self-hosted solution.
Many Notes
928Many Notes lets you run markdown note-taking web application designed for simplicity entirely on your own server.
Kapowarr
897Kapowarr is a self-hosted media management & *arr tool that builds and manage a comic book library. Download.
Readeck
881Self-hosted read-it-later & bookmarks tool that provides simple web application that lets you save the precious readable content of web pages.
Readeck
881Readeck lets you run personal content hub for saving articles entirely on your own server.
Swift Paperless
865Released under MIT, Swift Paperless provides native iOS app for interacting with a Paperless-ngx installation on self-hosted infrastructure.
Notesnook
863For note-taking, Notesnook is a self-hosted solution that provides and encrypted notes.
Faved
756For container management, Faved is a self-hosted solution that provides , bookmark manager that's superfast and secure. Organize.
Signature PDF
753Released under AGPL-3.0, Signature PDF provides sign and manipulate PDFs with collaboration, organization, compression and metadata editing on self-hosted...
Anchor
726Self-hosted note-taking tool that provides offline-first note-taking app.
Why Self-Host Your Knowledge Base?
Notes, documents, and knowledge bases accumulate your thinking, research, and institutional knowledge over years. Keeping that in platforms like Notion, Evernote, or Confluence means your intellectual property resides on servers you do not control, behind pricing tiers that can change, and in formats that are often difficult to export completely. For individuals and teams who take the long-term portability of their notes seriously, self-hosting is the only approach that guarantees ownership.
The open source note-taking and knowledge management ecosystem has produced some genuinely excellent tools. Joplin and Standard Notes offer end-to-end encrypted note-taking with self-hosted sync servers, providing Evernote-level functionality without any of the privacy compromises. AppFlowy and Outline are full-featured team wikis that match Notion’s capabilities for document organization, collaborative editing, and structured databases. BookStack provides a hierarchically organized wiki that is intuitive for non-technical users and easy to deploy.
Document management — scanning, OCR, archiving, and retrieval — is a distinct subcategory where self-hosting is particularly compelling. Paperless-ngx transforms paper documents into a searchable digital archive stored on your hardware. Stirling PDF handles PDF manipulation tasks that would otherwise require Adobe Acrobat or cloud-based tools. For e-book libraries, Calibre-Web provides a Kindle-like reading interface backed by your personal library hosted on your own server. With over 220 tools in this category, self-hosted options exist for every dimension of personal and team knowledge management.