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SideNotes vs Trilium Notes

Professional comparison and analysis to help you choose the right software solution for your needs.

SideNotes icon
SideNotes
Trilium Notes icon
Trilium Notes

SideNotes vs Trilium Notes: The Verdict

⚡ Summary:

SideNotes: SideNotes is a digital notebook and annotation tool for the Mac. It allows users to take notes and annotate documents, PDFs, and images. Key features include cross-platform sync, website annotation, handwritten notes with Apple Pencil, and secure encryption.

Trilium Notes: Trilium Notes is an open-source hierarchical note taking application focused on building large personal knowledge bases. It has a tree-structured notes system allowing easy organization of ideas and supports features like linking between notes, embedding media, tagging, encryption, etc.

Both tools serve their respective audiences. Compare the features, pricing, and user ratings above to determine which best fits your needs.

Last updated: May 2026 · Comparison by Sugggest Editorial Team

Feature SideNotes Trilium Notes
Sugggest Score — —
Category Office & Productivity Office & Productivity
Pricing — Open Source

Product Overview

SideNotes
SideNotes

Description: SideNotes is a digital notebook and annotation tool for the Mac. It allows users to take notes and annotate documents, PDFs, and images. Key features include cross-platform sync, website annotation, handwritten notes with Apple Pencil, and secure encryption.

Type: software

Trilium Notes
Trilium Notes

Description: Trilium Notes is an open-source hierarchical note taking application focused on building large personal knowledge bases. It has a tree-structured notes system allowing easy organization of ideas and supports features like linking between notes, embedding media, tagging, encryption, etc.

Type: software

Pricing: Open Source

Key Features Comparison

SideNotes
SideNotes Features
  • Cross-platform sync
  • Website annotation
  • Handwritten notes with Apple Pencil
  • Secure encryption
Trilium Notes
Trilium Notes Features
  • Hierarchical tree-structured notes
  • Rich text notes with markdown support
  • Note linking and embedding
  • Media attachments
  • Tagging and full-text search
  • Note encryption
  • Sync through Git and WebDAV

Pros & Cons Analysis

SideNotes
SideNotes

Pros

  • Syncs notes across devices
  • Annotate web pages and PDFs
  • Natural handwriting with Apple Pencil
  • Notes are securely encrypted

Cons

  • No Windows version
  • Limited formatting options
  • Requires subscription for full features
  • No collaboration features
Trilium Notes
Trilium Notes

Pros

  • Open source and self-hosted
  • Very flexible organization
  • Strong linking and embedding
  • Good for large personal knowledge bases

Cons

  • No mobile apps
  • Steep learning curve
  • Formatting options limited compared to Evernote/OneNote

Pricing Comparison

SideNotes
SideNotes
  • Not listed
Trilium Notes
Trilium Notes
  • Open Source

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Learn More About Each Product

SideNotes
SideNotes
Reviews, pricing & alternatives →
Trilium Notes
Trilium Notes
Reviews, pricing & alternatives →

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