Logseq
Logseq is a privacy-first, open-source outliner that stores notes in nested blocks rather than pages. It is used for daily journals, linked knowledge bases and task tracking across desktop and mobile apps.
#40 in Productivity ToolsNote-Taking AppsFree plan
Who it's for
Best for
Students and researchers who link paper quotes and notes block by block.
Developers who outline in nested bullets and want plain local files.
Not for
Phone-first note takers who need quick capture on mobile every day.
Teams that need polished tables and Kanban boards out of the box.
Features
Privacy-first knowledge base
Logseq is a privacy-first, open-source knowledge base, and those two qualities lead the product's home page as the core of what it offers.
Open-source codebase
Logseq is open source, and the project links its source repository directly from the main site navigation.
Desktop downloads
A downloads page and a direct macOS download link sit in the main navigation, covering desktop installation.
Forum and documentation
A forum and a documentation section are linked from the main navigation, giving reference material and a place for questions.
What users say
Pros
- Block references display an embedded block inline with its nested content, so linked notes stay connected from another page.
- Linked references at the bottom of every page list each mention in date order, so past work on a topic is quick to review.
- The Markdown version keeps notes as ordinary files that sync through Syncthing, Dropbox, Nextcloud or Git.
- The source code and plugin code are open, so a workflow tweak can be added by editing a plugin repository.
- Clicking a block zooms it to fill the screen, giving one section for focused writing or reading.
Cons
- The mobile app is slow and awkward, so ideas captured on a phone rarely make it into the journal.
- Graphs with a few thousand notes slow down badly enough that daily use becomes frustrating.
- The database version has broken or lost notes, including whole journals and large Markdown collections.
- The database version needs a paid sync service or a self-hosted server instead of ordinary folder syncing.
- Table editing is weak and Kanban views depend on plugins that feel bolted on.
- The app has stayed in beta for years while the rewrite took priority, leaving known bugs unfixed.
A selection of the review sources we used:
Summarized from public user reviews and community discussions. View details
Global Traffic Rank
Not enough traffic data yet, so its traffic level is Low.
Alternatives
Rank#40 in category#1 in category#9 in category#16 in category
Free planYesYesYesYes
ProBlock refs, linked references, plain files, open sourceFree, instant syncing, simple, private, quick capture, smart tagsLocal markdown files, linked notes, daily notes, fast syncMarkdown notes, nested tags, large libraries, fast iPhone capture
Better forCapturing quick notes, voice memos and document scans seamlessly across Apple devices.
Weaker atWorking across non-Apple platforms and storing notes in plain local files.