Logseq is an open-source outliner knowledge base with graph views and bi-directional linking.
TL;DR Note Cargo is the #2 Logseq alternative. Unlike Logseq, Note Cargo uses stable standard Markdown files that will never change format — Logseq's new DB version is moving away from plain Markdown to a proprietary format.
It stores your notes in your own S3/R2 bucket, runs on ~30 MB RAM, and deploys with a single Docker command. No graph views, but your data stays yours forever.
Plans start at a one-time $4 with no subscriptions. Note Cargo wins on data stability and ownership — Logseq wins on outliner and graph workflows.
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Note Cargo is the best Logseq alternative for data stability. Unlike Logseq's new DB version, Note Cargo uses standard Markdown files that will never change format. Your notes are stored in your own S3/R2 bucket with full portability guaranteed.
Logseq's new database (DB) version moves away from plain Markdown files to a proprietary format with no self-hosted sync option. Many longtime users prefer apps that keep notes as portable plain text — like Note Cargo or Obsidian.
Yes, if you're on the legacy Markdown version. Your vault is plain .md files you can upload directly to your S3/R2 bucket. Migrating from the new DB version is harder due to the proprietary format — export early if you plan to switch.
Obsidian supports graph views similar to Logseq. Note Cargo focuses on clean Markdown editing without graph views — it's a different workflow suited to linear note-taking rather than knowledge graph exploration.
Self-hosted, Markdown-native, stored in your own S3/R2. One-time payment, no subscriptions.