About mdSilo
mdSilo is a lightweight knowledge base for storing ideas and notes, with a built-in feed reader. It is a local-first desktop app built with React and Tauri that works on top of local plain-text files, with no registration and no privacy concerns about cloud accounts.
The editor combines Markdown, WYSIWYG and mind map modes with diagrams, tables, math, highlighted code blocks, slash commands, a hovering toolbar and export to PDF or PNG. Notes can be explored in chronicle, graph and task views, and a kanban board helps manage a personal knowledge base like a project. The feed reader covers RSS, Atom and podcasts, and full-text search works across content.
Apps are available for Windows, macOS and Linux from the releases page or can be built from source with Rust and Node.js. The editor uses ProseMirror, the project has a roadmap including PDF and epub annotation, and it is licensed under AGPL-3.0.
Key features
- Markdown, WYSIWYG and mind map editing
- Graph, chronicle and task views
- Kanban board for knowledge projects
- RSS, Atom and podcast reader
- Full-text search
- Plain-text local file storage
- Export to PDF and PNG
Good fit for
- →Personal knowledge management
- →Reading feeds next to your notes
- Tags
- knowledge-base
- note-taking
- rss
- tauri
- markdown
- local-first
- kanban
- graph-view
mdSilo: questions and answers
- What is mdSilo used for?
- mdSilo is a local-first desktop knowledge base and feed reader built with Tauri, combining a Markdown editor, graph view, kanban and RSS. It is a good fit for personal knowledge management and reading feeds next to your notes.
- Is mdSilo open source?
- Yes. mdSilo is open source under the AGPL-3.0 licence. Its source code is on GitHub at mdSilo/mdSilo-app and is written mainly in TypeScript.
- Is mdSilo free?
- Yes. mdSilo is open source, so the software itself is free to use.
- Can I self-host mdSilo?
- Yes. mdSilo can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure.
- What is mdSilo an alternative to?
- mdSilo is an open-source alternative to Obsidian, Notion, Reflect and Matter. Other open-source alternatives to Obsidian include Logseq, Trilium Notes and SiYuan.
- Is mdSilo actively maintained?
- Yes. The most recent commit to mdSilo was on 29 September 2026. The project has 854 stars on GitHub.
Open-source alternatives to mdSilo
See all
Logseq
Note Taking
A privacy-first, open-source platform for knowledge management and collaboration. Download
AGPL-3.0vs Notion★ 45k
Trilium Notes
Note Taking
Trilium Notes is an open-source note-taking and personal knowledge base app that runs loca
AGPL-3.0vs Evernote★ 38k
SiYuan
Note Taking
思源笔记 - 隐私优先的个人知识管理系统,支持 Markdown 排版、块级引用和双向链接
AGPL-3.0vs Notion★ 47k
Anytype
Note Taking
Official Anytype client for MacOS, Linux, and Windows
OSSvs Notion★ 8.9k
SilverBullet
Note Taking
The malleable knowledge base for you and your team. Powered by Markdown and Lua.
MITvs Obsidian★ 6.2k
Archivy
Note Taking
Archivy is a self-hostable knowledge repository that allows you to learn and retain inform
MITvs Obsidian★ 3.3k
SaaS alternatives to mdSilo
See all
Obsidian
Note Taking
Obsidian is a free, flexible note-taking app for private notes, with plugins, linked notes and optional paid Sync and Publish services.
SaaS
Notion
Note Taking
Notion is an AI-enabled workspace for notes, docs, wikis and projects, with agents, meeting notes and search across connected apps.
SaaS
Reflect
Note Taking
Networked notes app with backlinks, calendar integration and AI features
SaaS
Matter
Productivity
Reading app that brings newsletters, feeds and read-later into one place with highlights
SaaS
Supernotes
Note Taking
Card-based note app with real-time collaboration
SaaS
Amplenote
Note Taking
Notes and tasks app with backlinks and calendar scheduling
SaaS

