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Memos vs Logseq
Choose Memos if you want a server you reach from any browser and notes that stand on their own. Choose Logseq if you think in outlines, block references, and a local graph.
Logseq is an open-source outliner that stores Markdown or Org-mode files on your device and links every block. Memos is an open-source web app on your server where each memo is a short, standalone entry in a timeline. Both are free; they differ on where notes live and how they connect.
| At a glance | Memos | Logseq |
|---|---|---|
| License | Open source (MIT) | Open source (AGPL-3.0) |
| Hosting | Self-hosted web server | Local files on each device |
| Sync | Server-based; open it in any browser | Logseq Sync, git, or iCloud |
| Format | Markdown memos in a database | Markdown or Org-mode files |
| Best for | Short standalone memos | Outlines, journals, block references |
| Cost | No license fee (you host) | Free; paid Logseq Sync |
The decision
Choose for the work in front of you.
Choose Memos when
You want one instance on a server, open in any browser, with no file sync to manage.
Your notes are short and standalone rather than nested outlines.
You want to share a memo publicly or post to the API from scripts.
Choose Logseq when
You outline and reference blocks across daily journal pages.
You want local files you can open with any editor, fully offline.
You rely on plugins and the graph view.
Feature by feature
What each one actually does.
Memos answers honestly, including the rows where it says no.
| Feature | Memos | Logseq |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | ||
| Open source | Yes.MIT license, developed in public on GitHub | Yes.AGPL-3.0 |
| Self-hosting | Yes.Docker image or a single binary on your server | Partial.Local files; sync through git or your own storage |
| Official hosted service | No.No official hosted plan; you run the instance | Partial.Logseq Sync, paid |
| Where notes live | SQLite, MySQL, or PostgreSQL on your server | Markdown files in a local folder |
| Price | No license fee; you pay for hosting | Free; paid Logseq Sync |
| Writing | ||
| Markdown | Yes.Write in Markdown with live rendering, code blocks, and math | Yes.Markdown or Org-mode files |
| Tags | Yes.Inline #tags, nested with a slash | Yes.Tags are pages |
| Links between notes | Yes.Relations link memos to each other | Yes.Block references, backlinks, graph view |
| Attachments | Yes.Images and files, stored on disk or in S3 | Yes.Assets folder next to the files |
| Full-text search | Yes.Full-text search with tag, date, and visibility filters | Yes.Full-text search across the graph |
| Reach | ||
| Works offline | No.Browser app; reading and writing need a reachable server | Yes.Local-first |
| Desktop app | Partial.Install the web app as a PWA; no official native app | Yes.Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Mobile app | Partial.PWA on iOS and Android, plus community-built apps | Yes.iOS and Android |
| Cross-device sync | Yes.The server is the source of truth, so every device sees the same memos | Partial.Logseq Sync, git, or iCloud |
| Public sharing | Yes.Per-memo visibility: private, workspace, or public link | Partial.Publish a static site yourself |
| Data | ||
| API and webhooks | Yes.REST and gRPC APIs, signed webhooks | Partial.Plugin API and local HTTP API |
| Import and export | Partial.ZIP export of Markdown and JSON; import from Memos exports only | Yes.Plain files; imports Roam and OPML |
| End-to-end encryption | No.The server you run can read your memos; protect it with TLS and disk encryption | Partial.Logseq Sync is end-to-end encrypted; local files are plain |
Questions
Questions people ask.
Is Memos a self-hosted alternative to Logseq?
For daily short notes, yes. Memos runs on a server instead of syncing files between devices. It does not have an outliner or block references.
Can I keep daily journal pages in Memos?
Memos is already a journal: every memo is timestamped in a timeline you filter by date and tag. There are no separate journal pages to create.
Can I import a Logseq graph into Memos?
Not with a built-in importer. Your graph is plain Markdown, so you can script memos through the Memos API.
Keep exploring
Related comparisons and features.
More comparisons
Memos in detail
Start here
Start with one memo.
Install Memos on a server you choose and write your first memo. Open source under MIT, with no license fee.