Open Source & Self Hosted

Your Thoughts Are Yours

A self-hosted, open source note taking application that keeps your data on your server. Private, encrypted, and fully under your control.

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

License Latest Release Downloads
Get Plainpad Try Demo
350+ GitHub Stars
100% Free & Open Source
PWA Works Offline
SAFE Encrypted Storage

Your Knowledge Should Last

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.

Database Encryption

Notes are encrypted before being stored in the database. Even with direct database access, your content remains unreadable without your passphrase.

Multi-User

Create separate accounts for your team, family, or organization. Each user gets their own private note collection.

Offline Mode

Works as a Progressive Web App. Access and edit notes without internet — changes sync when you're back online.

Markdown Support PREMIUM

Write formatted notes with headings, lists, code blocks, links, and more using familiar Markdown syntax.

Full-Text Search

Instantly find any note across your entire collection. Never lose track of your ideas again.

Responsive Design

Access your notes from desktop, tablet, or phone. The interface adapts seamlessly to any screen size.

REST API

Integrate Plainpad with other apps using the built-in REST API. Automate workflows and build custom integrations.

Lightweight

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

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.

2

Upload

Upload the files to your web server via FTP, SFTP, or SSH. No build steps required.

3

Start Writing

Open in your browser, complete the setup wizard, and start taking notes immediately.

Built with Privacy First

In an era of data breaches and surveillance, Plainpad gives you complete control over your most private thoughts and ideas.

No Cloud Dependency Your server, your data, your rules. Complete ownership at all times.
Database Encryption Notes are encrypted in the database — unreadable without your passphrase.
Fully Open Source Auditable code. No hidden analytics, no tracking, no telemetry.
No Vendor Lock-In Standard database storage. Export your data anytime, without restrictions.
GPL-3.0 Licensed Free forever for personal and commercial use.
Zero Data Collection No analytics, no cookies, no user behavior tracking of any kind.

Your Notes Never Leave Your Server

Plainpad stores everything locally on your infrastructure. No external API calls, no syncing to third-party clouds.

Premium Services

Take Your Plainpad to the Next Level

Professional support, custom features, managed hosting, and priority assistance — directly from the creators of Plainpad.

Get in Touch Documentation

Frequently Asked Questions

Plainpad requires a web server with PHP 7.4+ and a MySQL or SQLite database. Most shared hosting providers support these requirements out of the box.
Yes! Plainpad is 100% free and open source under the GPL-3.0 license. You can use it, modify it, and distribute it freely.
Absolutely. Plainpad supports multiple user accounts, so your team, family, or organization can each have their own private notes.
Yes — Markdown support is available as a Premium feature. It lets you format your notes with headings, lists, links, code blocks, and more.
Simply replace the files on your server with the new version. Plainpad will automatically handle any database migrations needed.
Yes! There's an official Docker image available. Check our Docker documentation for setup instructions and sample commands.

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