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Memos vs Nextcloud Notes
Choose Memos if you want a focused notes app with tags, sharing, and an API, independent of Nextcloud. Choose Nextcloud Notes if you already run Nextcloud and want plain Markdown files with no extra service.
Nextcloud Notes stores plain Markdown files in your Nextcloud Files and edits them in the web app and mobile apps. Memos is a standalone, single-container app with a richer memo model: tags, relations, attachments, per-memo visibility, and an API. If you already run Nextcloud, the question is whether notes deserve their own app.
| At a glance | Memos | Nextcloud Notes |
|---|---|---|
| License | Open source (MIT) | Open source (AGPL-3.0) |
| Hosting | One container, standalone | App inside your Nextcloud server |
| Storage | SQLite, MySQL, or PostgreSQL | Markdown files in Nextcloud Files |
| Organization | Tags, relations, timeline | Categories as folders |
| Best for | Short memos captured fast | Markdown files next to your other files |
| Cost | No license fee (you host) | Free with Nextcloud |
The decision
Choose for the work in front of you.
Choose Memos when
You want a notes app that runs on its own, without Nextcloud's footprint.
You want tags, relations, and per-memo visibility instead of folders.
You want to post memos from scripts or the Web Clipper through an API.
Choose Nextcloud Notes when
You already run Nextcloud and want one less service to maintain.
You want plain Markdown files you can open with any editor.
Folders are enough organization for you.
Feature by feature
What each one actually does.
Memos answers honestly, including the rows where it says no.
| Feature | Memos | Nextcloud Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | ||
| Open source | Yes.MIT license, developed in public on GitHub | Yes.AGPL-3.0 source |
| Self-hosting | Yes.Docker image or a single binary on your server | Yes.Runs inside your Nextcloud server |
| Official hosted service | No.No official hosted plan; you run the instance | Partial.Through any Nextcloud provider |
| Where notes live | SQLite, MySQL, or PostgreSQL on your server | Markdown files in your Nextcloud Files |
| Price | No license fee; you pay for hosting | Free; you host Nextcloud |
| Writing | ||
| Markdown | Yes.Write in Markdown with live rendering, code blocks, and math | Yes.Plain Markdown files |
| Tags | Yes.Inline #tags, nested with a slash | Partial.Categories as folders; no inline tags |
| Links between notes | Yes.Relations link memos to each other | Partial.Markdown links to other notes |
| Attachments | Yes.Images and files, stored on disk or in S3 | Yes.Images and files through Nextcloud Files |
| Full-text search | Yes.Full-text search with tag, date, and visibility filters | Yes.Nextcloud unified search |
| Reach | ||
| Works offline | No.Browser app; reading and writing need a reachable server | Partial.Mobile apps cache notes; the web app needs the server |
| Desktop app | Partial.Install the web app as a PWA; no official native app | Partial.Web app; files sync with the Nextcloud desktop client |
| Mobile app | Partial.PWA on iOS and Android, plus community-built apps | Yes.Android and iOS apps |
| Cross-device sync | Yes.The server is the source of truth, so every device sees the same memos | Yes.Nextcloud sync |
| Public sharing | Yes.Per-memo visibility: private, workspace, or public link | Yes.Share through Nextcloud Files |
| Data | ||
| API and webhooks | Yes.REST and gRPC APIs, signed webhooks | Yes.REST API source |
| Import and export | Partial.ZIP export of Markdown and JSON; import from Memos exports only | Yes.Plain Markdown files; copy them in or out |
| End-to-end encryption | No.The server you run can read your memos; protect it with TLS and disk encryption | No.Server-side encryption option; notes readable by the server |
Questions
Questions people ask.
Why run Memos if I already have Nextcloud Notes?
For the memo model: tags, relations, attachments, per-memo visibility, a timeline, and an API. Nextcloud Notes is a Markdown file editor; Memos is a notes app.
Can Memos store notes in Nextcloud?
No. Memos uses its own database on your server. Attachments can go to local disk or S3-compatible storage.
Can I import Nextcloud Notes into Memos?
Your notes are already Markdown files. Memos has no file importer, so create memos from them through the API.
Keep exploring
Related comparisons and features.
More comparisons
- Memos vs JoplinTwo open-source note apps with different shapes: a timeline vs. encrypted notebooks.
- Memos vs Standard NotesA plain self-hosted timeline vs. an end-to-end encrypted notes service you can also self-host.
- Memos vs Trilium NotesA flat timeline of short memos vs. a deep tree of hierarchical notes, both on your server.
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.