memos
Memos is an open-source, self-hosted note-taking application built in Go with a focus on speed and simplicity. It stores notes in Markdown, runs as a lightweight Docker container or single binary, and gives users complete control over their data with no telemetry.
Key facts
Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Repository | usememos/memos |
| Owner | usememos |
| Primary language | Go |
| License | MIT — OSI-approved |
| Stars | 61.4k |
| Forks | 4.5k |
| Open issues | 9 |
| Latest release | v0.29.1 (2026-06-05) |
| Last updated | 2026-07-07 |
| Source | https://github.com/usememos/memos |
What memos is
Single-binary Go application with a React frontend, SQLite default backend (MySQL/PostgreSQL supported), REST and gRPC APIs, and ~20MB Docker footprint. Designed for quick deployment with minimal operational overhead and optional Kubernetes support.
Get the memos source
Clone the repository and explore it locally.
git clone https://github.com/usememos/memos.gitcd memos# follow the project's README for install & configurationNeed it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.
Best use cases
Implementation considerations
- Single Go binary and Docker setup enable rapid deployment; Docker Compose templates and Helm charts are available for production environments.
- Default SQLite suitable for single-user/small teams; switch to MySQL/PostgreSQL early if expecting significant scale or concurrent users.
- Data stored in Markdown format ensures portability; plan export/backup strategy aligned with your operational procedures.
- No built-in authentication details stated—review documentation for multi-user access control, password policies, and network isolation requirements.
- gRPC and REST APIs available for custom integrations; confirm API stability and versioning practices before depending on them for critical workflows.
When to avoid it — and what to weigh
- Requiring enterprise user management and SSO — Not clearly stated whether built-in authentication supports LDAP, SAML, or OAuth. Check documentation for multi-tenant or advanced identity requirements.
- Need for real-time collaboration on notes — No mention of conflict resolution, live cursors, or concurrent editing. Not positioned as a collaborative real-time editor like Google Docs.
- Mandatory commercial support or SLA guarantees — Community-driven FOSS project. No mention of commercial support tiers, prioritized bug fixes, or guaranteed response times.
- Full-text search at scale or complex querying — Designed for simplicity and lightweight operation. Scalability characteristics for large note volumes or advanced search are not detailed.
License & commercial use
MIT License—permissive OSI license allowing commercial use, modification, and distribution with attribution and no warranty. No copyleft restrictions.
MIT License explicitly permits commercial use. You may deploy, modify, and redistribute Memos in commercial products without royalties. However, no warranty is provided, and you assume liability. For production deployments, review the Privacy Policy and confirm no telemetry or external dependencies conflict with your data governance requirements.
DEV.co evaluation signals
Editorial assessment — not user reviews. Directional, with an explicit confidence level.
| Signal | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Maintenance | Active |
| Documentation | Adequate |
| License clarity | Clear |
| Deployment complexity | Low |
| DEV.co fit | Good |
| Assessment confidence | High |
Self-hosted architecture means you control the infrastructure; no telemetry by design. Review network isolation, authentication implementation (check docs for multi-user security), database backup encryption, and secrets management for your deployment. SQLite default—if using for production, ensure file permissions and access control are properly configured. No explicit security audit history or vulnerability disclosure process stated.
Alternatives to consider
Joplin
Cross-platform note-taking with end-to-end encryption, mobile clients, and multi-device sync. More mature ecosystem but heavier footprint and different architecture (note-centric vs. timeline-centric).
Obsidian Publish (self-hosted backend option)
Focus on local-first, Markdown-based knowledge graphs. Obsidian is desktop-first; Memos prioritizes web-first timeline capture and simplicity.
Nextcloud Notes
Self-hosted note sync built on Nextcloud ecosystem. Integrates with calendar, contacts, and other Nextcloud apps; heavier than Memos but more full-featured.
Build on memos with DEV.co software developers
Self-host a secure, lightweight note-taking solution. One Docker command to get started. Review the docs, try the live demo, or contact us for custom deployment and integration support.
Talk to DEV.coRelated on DEV.co
Explore the category and the services that help you build with it.
memos FAQ
Can I self-host Memos behind my firewall?
What databases does Memos support?
Is there mobile app support?
Can I integrate Memos with other tools?
Work with a software development agency
DEV.co helps companies turn open-source tools like memos into production software. Our software development services cover the full lifecycle — architecture, web development, integration, and maintenance — delivered by software developers and web developers who ship. Engage our software development agency to implement or customize it for your open-source devops stack.
Deploy Memos for Your Team
Self-host a secure, lightweight note-taking solution. One Docker command to get started. Review the docs, try the live demo, or contact us for custom deployment and integration support.