Open-source LiquidText alternatives

Zotero is a free tool for managing research. It collects references as you browse the web, organizes them into collections with tags and saved searches, and helps you annotate, cite and share them. It is available for Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android, and the source code in this repository is open.

A browser connector senses research material on sites it recognizes and saves it with a click. Citations and bibliographies can be generated for any text editor and directly inside Word, LibreOffice and Google Docs, with support for over 9,000 citation styles. A companion web tool, ZoteroBib, creates quick bibliographies without installing anything.

Syncing across devices is optional, and synced data can also be reached from a web browser. Libraries can be shared in groups, for co-writing a paper, distributing course materials or building a collaborative bibliography, with no limit on how many people join at no cost. The site also offers paid storage upgrades for synced files.

Butterfly is an open-source app for people who think better with space around their ideas. Instead of a fixed page, you get an endless workspace where notes, sketches, diagrams, images, and documents can be placed wherever they make sense. It is built with Flutter and released under the AGPL-3.0 license.

You can write by hand with a stylus, touch, or mouse, type text with Markdown, and mix in diagrams and imported documents. The README suggests uses such as class notes, meeting notes, research, math, worksheets, planning, whiteboarding, storyboards, and product sketches. Topics list Android, Linux, Windows, and web builds, and describe it as customizable and a OneNote alternative.

The project is run by Linwood and invites translations through Crowdin, with community spaces on Matrix, Discord, Mastodon, and Bluesky. It suits students, teachers, and visual thinkers who want a flexible digital notebook that keeps their canvas under their own control.