Getting Started with Plainpad: Your Own Self-Hosted Note Taking App

If you’ve been looking for a simple, private, and self-hosted note taking solution, Plainpad might be exactly what you need. In this post, we’ll walk through what Plainpad is, why you might want to use it, and how to get it running on your own server.

What is Plainpad?

Plainpad is an open source, self-hosted note taking application built with simplicity in mind. Unlike cloud-based alternatives that store your data on someone else’s servers, Plainpad runs entirely on your own infrastructure. This means your notes, ideas, and private thoughts stay exactly where they should — under your control.

Why Self-Host Your Notes?

There are several compelling reasons to self-host your note taking app:

• Privacy: Your notes never leave your server. No third-party company can read, analyze, or monetize your data.
• Ownership: You own your data completely. No vendor lock-in, no surprise policy changes.
• Availability: As long as your server is running, your notes are accessible. No dependency on external service uptime.
• Cost: After the initial setup, there are no recurring subscription fees.

Requirements

Getting Plainpad up and running is straightforward. You’ll need:

• A web server (Apache or Nginx)
• PHP 7.4 or newer
• A MySQL database (or SQLite for simpler setups)
• Basic file upload access to your server (FTP or SSH)

Most shared hosting providers already meet these requirements, so you may not need a dedicated server.

Installation Steps

1. Download the latest release from the Plainpad GitHub repository.
2. Upload the extracted files to your web server’s public directory.
3. Navigate to your domain in a web browser.
4. Follow the on-screen setup wizard to configure your database connection and create your admin account.

That’s it. Within minutes, you’ll have a fully functional note taking application running on your own server.

Key Features to Explore

Once you’re set up, take some time to explore what Plainpad offers:

• Markdown Support — Write formatted notes with headings, lists, code blocks, and more.
• Full-Text Search — Quickly find any note across your entire collection.
• Multi-User Accounts — Create separate accounts for family members or team colleagues.
• Offline Mode — Thanks to PWA support, you can access notes even without an internet connection.
• Database Encryption — Enable encryption to ensure even server administrators can’t read your notes.

What’s Next?

Now that you have Plainpad running, consider setting up HTTPS if you haven’t already, creating accounts for other users, and exploring the settings panel for customization options.

Plainpad is actively maintained and open to contributions. If you find a bug or have a feature request, don’t hesitate to open an issue on GitHub.

Happy note taking!