HelixNotesHelixNotes is completely free, open source, with no bloat. Your notes should be yours.
So we made sure they are. http://helixnotes.com
StackReport
- 4 Followers
- 10 Following
- 12 Posts
I recently came across a new note taking app called @HelixNotes. Like many others, one of the things that really prevents me from diving head first into Obsidian is that it isn't open source. HelixNotes checks most of those really important boxes for me so I was really happy to try this one out. For such a small dev team, I'm really impressed with what I see so far.
+ Open source
+ Privacy friendly
+ Notes are all .md files
+ Native mobile app (Android only)
+ Built-in version history
– No database style views
– Small community
– No sync (could be a positive for some)
I recently came across a new note taking app called @HelixNotes. Like many others, one of the things that really prevents me from diving head first into Obsidian is that it isn't open source. HelixNotes checks most of those really important boxes for me so I was really happy to try this one out. For such a small dev team, I'm really impressed with what I see so far.
+ Open source
+ Privacy friendly
+ Notes are all .md files
+ Native mobile app (Android only)
+ Built-in version history
– No database style views
– Small community
– No sync (could be a positive for some)
Linkwarden: helps you collect, read, annotate, and fully preserve what matters, all in one place.
I've been a Raindrop user for years and have always been on the lookout for something similar, but open source. Then I came across @linkwarden
+ Open source
+ Privacy friendly
+ Self-hostable
+ Easy UI
+ Follow RSS feeds
+ Sync using Floccus
– No free plans
– No 2FA
Thymer: The IDE for tasks, notes and planning.
I've had a few months to play around with Thymer and really like what I see. It has some great qualities that could really make it a fantastic PKMS for a wide range of people.
+ Offline-first
+ End-to-end encrypted
+ Self-hostable
+ Designed for speed
+ Very customizable
+ Devs are very responsive
– Slower to implement new features due to the small dev team
– Only in alpha stage
It's in private beta at the moment. Want to try it out? Join the Discord! If you stick around you could get lucky enough to claim an invite code!
Obsidian: a true PKMS with all the bells and whistles. I use this app daily!
1. Local-first: Your notes are stored on your device, giving you full control and privacy. My favorite feature!
2. Powerful linking features: You can easily connect ideas using bidirectional links to build a knowledge network.
3. Markdown based note taking: Notes are written in simple Markdown, making them portable and easy to format.
4. Highly customizable: You can tailor the app with themes, plugins, and settings from a huge community-based library.
5. Community: A large and active user base creates plugins, guides, and support resources for free.
6. Fast and lightweight: The app runs quickly even with large vaults.
7. Graph view: A visual map helps you see connections between your notes at a glance. I don't find this particularly useful for my workflow, but there are many people who love this feature!
8. Offline access anytime: You can access and edit your notes without needing an internet connection.
I choose @Vivaldi as my browser of choice in 2026 because:
1. The customization is unmatched. You can truly make it yours.
2. No trackers. No data selling. In a world where corporations profit off even the smallest bits of your data, that matters.
3. End-to-end encrypted sync that actually works across devices. This is something many browsers still struggle with.
4. No AI bloat. Vivaldi focuses on features that matter instead of chasing trends.
As a privacy advocate, Google products are not an option for me. Here's my 2026 deGoogled app lineup:
- Google Drive -> Filen
- Gmail -> ProtonMail
- Google Photos -> Ente
- Google Search -> DuckDuckGo
- Google Calendar -> Proton Calendar
- Google Keep -> Obsidian
- Google Passwords -> ProtonPass
- Google Chat -> Signal
- Google Play -> Aurora Store
Do you agree or disagree with any of my choices? I'm interested to hear any alternatives you might have below! 👇
nixCraft 🐧For those who don't know Meta is behind this OS level age verification stuff so they don't have to implement it within their own apps, like IG, FB, and WhatsApp. They are a truly evil mega corp out there that is pushing this and lobbying for things like age verification, ID verification, and KYC at OS level. They spent so far 2 billion dollars to make this legal thing. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/reddit-user-uncovers-behind-meta-154717384.html
Hey Mastodon! I just launched @stackreport to cover the stuff I find most interesting in the tech space.
A few things about me so you know what to expect:
1. I love trying out productivity tools, so I plan to cover many of the tools I've tried in hopes that someone else may find it helpful.
2. I'm very passionate about web design and development; HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in particular.
3. I'm a big supporter of open source software and digital privacy.
You can expect my honest takes on anything tech related. Happy to be here!