What it does
shizumu is a local-first writing and notes app where pages start without folders or tags; users pin important passages and group ongoing work into trails. The app is free and open source for Linux, Windows, Mac, and Android, with optional end-to-end encrypted sync. The homepage lists version 0.8.0, and the official blog shows current posts in October 2026; hosted sync pricing is planned for version 1.0 rather than currently offered.
Start with a blank page and keep the useful parts close
shizumu keeps the capture step simple: write on a page, pin passages worth returning to, and use a trail to collect context for a continuing project. Its docs describe searchable memory across pages, dates, and pins, while the product site emphasizes local storage and optional end-to-end encrypted sync. This is a different organizing model from a folder-based PKM: trails gather a thread without requiring users to file every note first.
The homepage lists free downloads for Linux, Windows, Mac, and Android and identifies the app as open source; it currently shows version 0.8.0. The pricing page says the app is free on every platform and that hosted sync will open at 1.0, while self-hosting is available. The blog lists posts dated October 23, 2026. I did not install the app, test local storage, use a trail, inspect the encryption design, or configure a relay.
Strengths
- Pages, pins, and trails offer a lightweight way to capture thoughts and return to ongoing work.
- The app stores writing locally and can be used offline; optional sync is described as end-to-end encrypted.
- It is open source, free during the beta, and available for desktop and Android.
Watch out for
- The app is still in beta at version 0.8.0, and hosted sync is described as a future 1.0 service.
- The page-and-trail model differs from conventional folders and tags, so it may not suit users who depend on detailed filing.
Best for
- Writers who want low-friction daily pages and a way to pin important excerpts for later
- People looking for a local-first, open-source notes app with optional encrypted sync
Sources
- shizumu | Private Open-Source Writing App (Oct 25, 2026)
- Pricing | shizumu (Oct 25, 2026)
- shizumu Docs (Oct 25, 2026)
- shizumu Essays and Release Notes (Oct 25, 2026)