Colanode vs HelixNotes

Comparing two open source alternatives to Notion . Use the comparison below to decide which one fits your needs.

Colanode

Apache-2.0

Open source, local-first Slack and Notion alternative that puts you in control of your data with offline support and end-to-end encryption.

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HelixNotes

AGPL-3.0

A fast, privacy-first local markdown note-taking app built with Tauri and SvelteKit. Your notes stay as plain .md files on your device.

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Side-by-side comparison

	Colanode	HelixNotes
License	Apache-2.0	AGPL-3.0
Self-hostable	Yes	No
GitHub Stars	5,004	157
Forks	310	16
Open Issues	45	57
Last Commit	Apr 3, 2026	Jul 23, 2026
First Released	Jul 29, 2024	Feb 9, 2026
Categories	PDF viewer Team Chat & Messaging Tools	Note Taking & Knowledge Management Tools
Tags	—	#markdown #notes #knowledge-management #productivity #privacy

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