Productivity & Personal Tools
Plainpad
Open Source Self-Hosted Note-Taking App
- Community votes
- 0
- DR by Ahrefs
- 15 no change since last check
Brief: Ahrefs Domain Rating 17 Oct 2026, brief changed 3 Oct 2026.
Plainpad facts
- Stage
- Established
- Website
- plainpad.org
Plainpad metrics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Domain Rating | 15 no change since last check |
| Trust Flow | 24 no change since last check |
| Citation Flow | 24 no change since last check |
| Referring domains | 62 no change since last check |
| External backlinks | 180 no change since last check |
Brief: Ahrefs Domain Rating 17 Oct 2026, brief changed 3 Oct 2026. Brief topic: Reference/Education (23). Brief: Majestic 3 Oct 2026, brief changed 3 Oct 2026. Link brief by Majestic. Trust Flow, Citation Flow and Topical Trust Flow are trademarks of Majestic-12 Ltd.
Plainpad domain, briefly
| Domain age | 5 years |
|---|---|
| Registered | |
| Expires | |
| Registrar | eNom, LLC |
| DNSSEC | Not signed |
Self-hosted, open source note-taking application that keeps your notes on your own infrastructure with complete privacy and control.
About
A look at plainpad.org
Plainpad is a self-hosted, open source note-taking application designed with simplicity, privacy, and data ownership at its core. Your notes stay on your server with no cloud lock-in, no tracking, and no subscriptions. The platform includes features like Markdown support, database encryption, multi-user support, instant search, a REST API, and responsive design for access across devices. It is 100% free and open source under the GPL-3.0 license with unlimited users and no feature gates. Optional premium services include managed hosting, white label licensing, technical support, custom development, and data migration.
In brief
- Self-hosted deployment with full data control
- Database encryption per user
- Markdown support with live preview
- Multi-user support with admin and user roles
- REST API for integrations
- Instant search by title and content
- Responsive design for desktop, tablet, and phone
- Auto-save as you write
- Progressive Web App with offline support
- Admin panel for updates and migrations
Pricing
Pricing model: Free
Free and open source forever. Optional managed hosting at €20/month billed annually, white label licensing from €50 one-time, technical support sessions at €60 each, and custom development and data migration available on quote.
Compare and explore
Questions
What do I need to run Plainpad?
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.
Is Plainpad really free?
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.
Can my whole team use Plainpad?
Yes. Plainpad supports multiple user accounts with admin and user roles so your team, family, or organization can each have their own private collection of notes on a single installation.
How does Plainpad compare to Evernote, Notion, or Standard Notes?
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.
Can I import my notes from another app?
Yes. You can use the built-in REST API to script your own import, and a data migration service is available to transfer your notes from an existing app.
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