Nested notebooks
Unlimited depth, drag to re-parent, and cycle detection that refuses a move into a notebook's own subtree.
Local-first notes
Your notes,
on your machine.
A private notes and knowledge base that runs in your browser. No account, no analytics, no cookies — and optional sync to a server you control.
Free · AGPL-3.0 · Works offline · No account
Stored in your browser · IndexedDB
Local-first by default
No account required
No cookies or trackers
Optional self-hosted sync
What it does
A notebook that feels like paper.
Everything you need to think in notes, without a server in the middle. The editor, search, links and history all run in the tab you already have open.
A real editor
TipTap rich text with a raw Markdown view, tables, LaTeX, images, task lists, slash commands and templates.
Search that stays local
MiniSearch runs in a Web Worker and the index is persisted, so search is fast, private and works offline.
Notes that link
Write [[Note Title]] to connect notes, with a backlinks panel and links that resolve when the note is created.
History that is history
Snapshots on the first edit, on a rename and at most every five minutes — plus named checkpoints you keep for good.
Backups you own
Export a ZIP with every note and attachment, import it back, bring in an Evernote ENEX file, or print a note to PDF.
Four themes
Warm Paper, Blue 2001, Glass 2009 and Gel 2000 — each with light and dark variants that change the whole interface.
A small companion
Pick a pet for the sidebar. One can cross the screen once a session, or stay off — and it respects reduced motion.
Sync if you want it
Point Sidenote at your own Supabase instance for sign-in, multi-device sync and expiring share links. The hosted app stays local-only.
Privacy by architecture
There is no server to trust.
Sidenote does not have an account system, an analytics pipeline or a copy of your notes. The default deployment is a static app: the data never leaves the browser.
This browser
Notes, attachments and history in IndexedDB. Works offline.
Your Supabase
Only if you configure it: accounts, sync and share links.
No Sidenote account, no Sidenote server, no third-party AI.
- No analytics or advertising. The site and app load no third-party scripts, fonts or pixels.
- No cookies. Only strictly necessary browser storage: your theme choice and your notes.
- Open source. Every line is AGPL-3.0 and auditable. The hosted build is the same code.
Self-host
Run the whole thing yourself.
The app is one Next.js codebase. Without environment variables it is fully local. Add your own Supabase stack and it gains accounts, sync and share links — on infrastructure you control.
- Clone the repository and install with
npm ci. - Run
npm run devfor a fully local app, or build for production. - Optionally apply the Supabase migrations and set the two public variables.
$ git clone https://github.com/awbuilds/sidenote.git
$ cd sidenote
$ npm ci
$ npm run dev
# http://localhost:3000 — no account, no upload
$ npm run build && npm start
# or: docker compose up --buildQuestions
The short answers.
Where are my notes stored?
In your browser's IndexedDB, on the device you are using. They are not uploaded anywhere on the hosted app. Export a ZIP from Settings → Backup whenever you want a copy you hold yourself.
Do I need an account?
No. The hosted app has no account system and no sync backend. An account exists only on a deployment you configure with your own Supabase instance.
What happens if I clear my browser data?
Local notes are deleted with the site's storage. That is why the app asks the browser for eviction protection, shows your storage usage, and makes ZIP export prominent. Keep a backup.
Can I sync between devices?
Yes, if you self-host: set the two NEXT_PUBLIC_SUPABASE_* variables at build time and apply the migrations. The project does not run a shared sync service for you.
Does it work offline?
Yes. It is a PWA with an app-shell service worker, and all data is local. After the first load it launches without a network.
Are there cookies or trackers?
No cookies, no analytics, no advertising, no crash reporting and no third-party fonts or scripts. The only storage is the app's own notes and theme choice. See the cookie policy.
Is it really open source?
Yes — GNU AGPL-3.0, source on GitHub. The licence lets you run, study, modify and share it, including as a network service, provided you offer the source.
Start writing
Your first note is one click away.
Open the app, write something, and export a backup when you are ready. No sign-up, no card, no cookie banner.
Open Sidenote