
Dnote
Dnote is a free, open-source terminal notebook for storing commands, snippets, and insights and retrieving them with full-text search.
What Dnote is
Dnote is a free, open-source terminal notebook for storing commands, snippets, and insights and retrieving them with full-text search. It centers on a command-line interface; the maker says the web note-taking interface has been removed. Notes are grouped into books, which Dnote creates when you add the first note. The CLI uses the text editor configured on your system, including terminal and graphical editors. Notebook data is held in a local SQLite database, while configuration and data paths follow the XDG Base Directory convention. If you want to sync across devices, you can optionally run its self-hosted server. That server provides a REST API for notes and books, accessible from any HTTP client; the CLI also accepts piped input from standard input. The server can run with Docker Compose, Docker, or as a standalone binary. Dnote is licensed under Apache License 2.0. Its maker says end-to-end encryption was removed to restore web full-text search, notes embedded in emails, and password recovery.
Good
- Free and open source under Apache License 2.0.
- Full-text search helps retrieve saved notes.
- Uses the system's configured terminal or GUI editor.
- Optional self-hosted server syncs notes across devices.
- Server can run via Docker or as a standalone binary.
Watch out
- The web note-taking interface has been removed.
- End-to-end encryption was removed.
- Cross-device sync requires an optional self-hosted server.
Who it suits
Dnote suits people who prefer keeping notes in a terminal and want searchable storage for commands and snippets. It can also suit users willing to run a self-hosted server for device syncing.
Verdict
Dnote is focused on command-line note capture with local SQLite storage and full-text search. Its removed web interface and encryption are material tradeoffs, while self-hosting is the route for syncing.
Plans and prices
From Dnote's own pricing page, checked 8 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Dnote | Free | Free and open source; self-hosted server is optional |
The facts
Each one read from Dnote's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- API
- The self-hosted server provides a REST API for syncing and accessing notes and books.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- The self-hosted server can run through Docker Compose, Docker, or as a standalone binary.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Editor
- Dnote works with the user's configured text editor, including terminal and GUI editors.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The API can be accessed from any HTTP client, and the CLI can accept piped input from standard input.checked 8 Oct 2026
- License
- Dnote is free and open source software licensed under Apache License 2.0.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Organization
- Notes are organized into books, which are created automatically when you add the first note to them.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Product scope
- The maker says it removed the web note-taking interface and focuses on the command-line interface.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Dnote is a terminal-based notebook for saving commands, snippets, and insights and finding them later with full-text search.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Security
- Dnote's end-to-end encryption feature was removed; the maker says the removal restored full-text search on the web, embedded notes in emails, and password recovery.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Storage
- The CLI stores its data in a SQLite database, and its configuration and data paths follow the XDG Base Directory convention.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Support
- The maker's documentation links to GitHub for the project and documentation feedback.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Sync
- Users can optionally run a self-hosted server to sync notes across devices.checked 8 Oct 2026
The company
- Founded
- 2017checked 28 Sep 2026
Where it runs
- Platforms
- The CLI has prebuilt binaries for Linux, macOS, and Windows, and the site also lists FreeBSD binaries.checked 8 Oct 2026
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