Carnet

Free#122 of 214 in Note-Taking Apps

Carnet: A flexible open-source note taker for rich text, media and self-hosted sync. Ranked #122 of 214 in Note-Taking Apps by our editors (3.0/10); pricing: Open source; best for cross-platform rich-text note takers.

3.0/10★★☆☆☆Editor score

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At a glance

• Editor score
  3.0 / 10
• Pricing
  Open source
• Best for
  Cross-platform rich-text note takers
• Paid from
  Free
• Facts checked
  21 Sep 2026

• Where it wins

  • Rich-text editing includes formatting, color and highlighting
  • Supports folders, keywords, search, media, audio and to-do lists
  • Syncs with Google Drive, ownCloud and Nextcloud

• Where it doesn't

  • Google Keep import is limited to desktop
  • Sync depends on a configured cloud service
  • Sharing and collaboration are not listed as core features

Our verdict on Carnet

Carnet is an open-source note-taking application for individuals who want rich-text notes across web, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android. Its editing tools cover bold, italic, underline, color and highlighting, while folders, keywords and search help organize larger collections. Notes can include images, audio recordings and to-do lists, and the app also provides word, sentence and character statistics. A dark theme and PIN protection on Android add practical options for everyday use.

Carnet’s strongest fit is its combination of platform coverage and storage flexibility. Notes can synchronize through Google Drive, ownCloud or Nextcloud, giving users several cloud-service paths rather than tying the product to one provider. The published feature set also includes a configurable root storage folder, HTML file support and Google Keep import on desktop. That makes Carnet a particularly relevant choice for users moving from Google Keep or organizing notes within a self-hosted setup. Its GPLv3 license and open-source model further suit people who value inspectable, locally oriented software.

The trade-off is that Carnet’s appeal centers on personal note management rather than shared workspaces. Sharing and collaboration are not listed among its core capabilities, so teams seeking coordinated editing may prefer a product built around those workflows. Sync also requires choosing and configuring one of the supported services, while Google Keep import is limited to desktop. Pick Carnet for cross-platform rich-text notes, media, folders and flexible storage options; choose an alternative if collaborative authoring or a more tightly integrated workspace matters more than open-source and self-hosted options.

Questions about Carnet

What does Carnet run on? Web, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android. It runs in the cloud, self-hosted, as a desktop app and as a mobile app.

What does Carnet integrate with? 4 integrations: Google Keep, Google Drive, ownCloud and Nextcloud.

Who is Carnet built for? Solo users and small businesses (our editorial estimate).

Your product? Our editors can test Carnet in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →

Carnet pricing

Carnet fact sheet

Carnet integrations

Carnet lists 4 integrations on its own site.

• Google Keep
• Google Drive
• ownCloud
• Nextcloud

Alternatives to Carnet

• Microsoft OneNoteA broad, collaborative note system with strong Microsoft integration and a capable free option.9.3
• NotionA flexible workspace for teams that want notes and knowledge bases alongside databases and collaboration.9.2
• EvernoteA broad note-taking workspace for organizing information, tasks, calendars, and documents.9.0

See all Carnet alternatives →

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Featured on iTechGuides

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Nov 2026

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Last updated 14 Nov 2026 · How we research and update