Open Source & Self Hosted

Your Notes, Your Server

A self-hosted, open source note-taking application that keeps your notes on your own infrastructure. Private, secure, and fully under your control.

No cloud lock-in. No tracking. No subscriptions.

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Plainpad note-taking application screenshot
100% Free & Open Source
∞ Unlimited Users
REST API Included
GDPR Ready

Everything You Need to Capture Your Thoughts

A complete note-taking platform designed with simplicity, privacy, and self-hosting at its core. No vendor lock-in, open formats, total control.

Self Hosted

Your notes stay on your server. No third-party services, no tracking, no data mining - complete privacy and ownership of everything you write.

Markdown Support PREMIUM

Notes are plain text out of the box. Rich Markdown editing with live preview is available as a premium enhancement we build for you through Custom Development.

Database Encryption

Opt in to database encryption and your note titles and content are encrypted before they are stored. Even with direct database access, they stay unreadable without your passphrase.

Offline Mode PREMIUM

Plainpad ships with Progressive Web App foundations. Full offline access and background sync are available as a premium enhancement we enable and configure for you.

Multi-User Support

Create separate accounts for your team, family, or organization, with admin and user roles. Everyone gets their own private collection of notes.

Instant Search

Filter your notes by title and content to surface the one you need in an instant.

Responsive Design

Access your notes from desktop, tablet, or phone. The interface adapts seamlessly to any screen size so you can write wherever you are.

REST API

Integrate Plainpad with your existing tools using the built-in REST API. Automate workflows, sync notes, and build custom integrations.

Lightweight

Minimal server requirements mean Plainpad runs smoothly even on basic shared hosting. No heavy dependencies or complex infrastructure.

Popular Services

Buy the services people ask for most

Managed Hosting, White Label, and Technical Support are available online. If you need custom work, use the quote-based services.

Most promoted

Managed Hosting

A tuned, isolated Plainpad instance with backups, updates, and priority support handled for you.

€20/mo · billed annually

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Commercial use

White Label

Rebrand Plainpad with clear commercial terms — Regular for one installation, Extended for SaaS and resale.

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Single session

Technical Support

A focused, scheduled session with an expert to resolve a specific installation, upgrade, or configuration issue.

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Up and Running in Minutes

Getting started with Plainpad is fast and simple - no complex configuration needed.

1

Download

Grab the latest release from GitHub. It's a single archive with everything you need to run your own note-taking app.

2

Deploy

Upload to your web server or spin up a Docker container. Configure your database and you're almost there.

3

Start Writing

Open in your browser, complete the setup wizard, create your first note, and start capturing your thoughts immediately.

Built with Data Ownership First

In an era of data breaches and rising SaaS costs, Plainpad gives you complete control over your most personal asset - your notes and ideas.

No Cloud Dependency Your server, your data, your rules. Complete ownership at all times.
GDPR Compliant Your notes never leave your infrastructure. Simplify compliance with full data residency control.
Fully Open Source Auditable code. No hidden analytics, no tracking, no telemetry.
No Vendor Lock-In Standard database storage. Your data stays yours - every note, title, and word you write.
GPL-3.0 Licensed Free forever for personal and commercial use. No seat limits, no feature gates.
Zero Data Collection Plainpad itself sets no analytics, no cookies, and no user behavior tracking in your installation.

Your Notes Never Leave Your Server

Plainpad stores everything locally on your infrastructure. No external API calls, no syncing to third-party clouds. Every note you write stays under your control.

Premium Services

Take Your Plainpad to the Next Level

Managed Hosting, White Label licensing, and Technical Support are available online. For custom work, we’ll scope it with you first.

Managed Hosting White Label Technical Support Custom Development Data Migration
Managed Hosting White Label Technical Support Get in Touch Documentation

Frequently Asked Questions

Plainpad requires a web server with PHP 8.2+ and a MySQL database. Most shared hosting providers and VPS services support these requirements out of the box. Docker images are also available for containerized deployments.
Yes! Plainpad is 100% free and open source under the GPL-3.0 license. You can use it, modify it, and distribute it freely - for personal or commercial use, with unlimited users and no seat-based pricing.
Absolutely. Plainpad supports multiple user accounts with admin and user roles. Your team, family, or organization can each have their own private collection of notes on a single installation.
Unlike those hosted apps, Plainpad gives you complete data ownership with no monthly subscription. You host it on your own infrastructure, which means better privacy, GDPR compliance, and zero vendor lock-in. It's ideal for anyone who wants a capable note-taking app without handing their notes to a third party.
Yes. You can use the built-in REST API to script your own import, and our data migration service can transfer your notes from an existing app for you.
Yes! There's an official Docker image available. Check our Docker documentation for setup instructions and docker-compose examples.

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