Plainpad

Self-Hosted

Open-source self-hosted note-taking app for plain text and markdown

Overview

Plainpad is a lightweight, privacy-focused note-taking solution designed for self-hosting. It supports plain text and markdown editing, with features like note tagging, full-text search, dark mode, and offline access to stored notes. Deployable via Docker for quick setup or traditional web servers (PHP/MySQL required), it keeps your data under your control. Ideal for personal or small team use, it offers fast performance with no external dependencies beyond core web technologies.

Self-Hosting Resources

Find Official Image on Docker Hub View Source & Docs

Below is a reference structure for docker-compose.yml. ⚠️ Do NOT run blindly. Replace placeholders with official values.

docker-compose.template.yml TEMPLATE


version: '3'
services:
  plainpad:
    image: <OFFICIAL_IMAGE_NAME>:latest
    container_name: plainpad
    ports:
      - "8080:<APP_INTERNAL_PORT>"
    volumes:
      - ./data:/app/data
    restart: unless-stopped

Key Features

Markdown & plain text support
Full-text search & note tagging
Docker-powered easy deployment

Frequently Asked Questions

? Is Plainpad hard to install?

Plainpad is easy to install using Docker—pull the official image and run it with minimal configuration. Non-Docker setups require PHP 7.4+ and MySQL, which may need basic server administration skills.

? Is Plainpad a good alternative to Evernote?

Yes, if you prioritize privacy and self-hosting. It offers core note-taking features (markdown, search, tagging) without Evernote's subscription fees or data privacy risks, though it lacks advanced features like OCR or notebook stacking.

? Is Plainpad completely free?

Yes! Plainpad is open-source under the MIT License, so you can use, modify, and self-host it for free with no hidden costs or subscriptions.

Top Alternatives

Evernote Compare

Google Keep Compare

Tool Info

Pricing Open Source

Category Note-taking & Editors

Platform Self-Hosted

Pros

⊕ Privacy-focused (data stays local)
⊕ Free and open-source
⊕ Lightweight & fast performance

Cons

⊖ Lacks advanced rich text formatting
⊖ Requires basic server knowledge for self-hosting
⊖ No real-time collaboration