Compare
Memos vs Simplenote
Choose Memos if you want the same simplicity on a server you control, with Markdown rendering and attachments. Choose Simplenote if you want free native apps and never want to run anything.
Simplenote and Memos share a philosophy: fast, plain, tag-based notes without a page editor. Simplenote is a free hosted service with native apps on every platform. Memos is open source end to end and runs on your own server, adding Markdown rendering, attachments, public sharing, and an API.
| At a glance | Memos | Simplenote |
|---|---|---|
| License | Open source (MIT) | Apps GPL-2.0; server proprietary |
| Hosting | Self-hosted web server | Automattic's servers |
| Apps | Any browser; PWA | Native apps on every platform |
| Format | Markdown with attachments | Plain text with Markdown preview |
| Best for | Short memos on your server | Plain text notes, synced for free |
| Cost | No license fee (you host) | Free |
The decision
Choose for the work in front of you.
Choose Memos when
You want notes on your own server rather than a free hosted service.
You want images and files in notes, rendered Markdown, and a REST API.
You want per-memo visibility and a public microblog-style feed.
Choose Simplenote when
You want native apps on every platform with offline support.
Plain text is enough and you never want to maintain a server.
You want note history and sync at no cost.
Feature by feature
What each one actually does.
Memos answers honestly, including the rows where it says no.
| Feature | Memos | Simplenote |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | ||
| Open source | Yes.MIT license, developed in public on GitHub | Partial.Apps are GPL-2.0; the sync server is proprietary |
| Self-hosting | Yes.Docker image or a single binary on your server | No.Hosted by Automattic only |
| Official hosted service | No.No official hosted plan; you run the instance | Yes.simplenote.com |
| Where notes live | SQLite, MySQL, or PostgreSQL on your server | Automattic's servers |
| Price | No license fee; you pay for hosting | Free |
| Writing | ||
| Markdown | Yes.Write in Markdown with live rendering, code blocks, and math | Yes.Markdown preview per note |
| Tags | Yes.Inline #tags, nested with a slash | Yes.Tags; no nesting |
| Links between notes | Yes.Relations link memos to each other | Yes.Internal note links |
| Attachments | Yes.Images and files, stored on disk or in S3 | No.Text only |
| Full-text search | Yes.Full-text search with tag, date, and visibility filters | Yes.Instant search with tag filters |
| Reach | ||
| Works offline | No.Browser app; reading and writing need a reachable server | Yes.Native apps cache notes |
| 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 | Yes.Free sync across devices |
| Public sharing | Yes.Per-memo visibility: private, workspace, or public link | Yes.Publish a note to a public URL |
| Data | ||
| API and webhooks | Yes.REST and gRPC APIs, signed webhooks | No.No supported public API |
| Import and export | Partial.ZIP export of Markdown and JSON; import from Memos exports only | Yes.Imports text and Evernote; exports a ZIP of text files |
| End-to-end encryption | No.The server you run can read your memos; protect it with TLS and disk encryption | No.Automattic can read content |
Questions
Questions people ask.
Is Memos a self-hosted Simplenote alternative?
Yes. It keeps the plain, tag-first feel and adds Markdown rendering, attachments, and an API, on a server you run instead of Automattic's.
Can I import Simplenote notes into Memos?
Simplenote exports a ZIP of text files. Memos has no Simplenote importer, so create memos from those files through the API.
Is Simplenote open source like Memos?
The Simplenote apps are open source under GPL-2.0, but the sync service is proprietary and cannot be self-hosted. Memos is open source end to end.
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.