Neoma

Neoma is a Markdown-first notes app for people who want their files kept locally while still getting search, linking and publishing tools. It suits privacy-conscious individuals, and organisations that need a site licence or formal support. Its strongest case is a no-account, cross-platform workflow; readers needing mobile Android support or built-in cloud sync should look elsewhere.

Overview

Neoma stores notes as ordinary Markdown files in a folder you choose, so your material remains readable outside the app and stays on your device. It works without a network connection and does not require an account. The privacy policy says there is no telemetry or cloud storage, while the homepage describes a Content Security Policy that blocks remote hosts in connect-src, preventing notes from being sent elsewhere.

This local approach is a practical advantage for private journals, research collections and documentation that must remain under the owner's control. It also means Neoma is not a hosted collaboration system: the published plans add organisation-focused services rather than shared cloud note storage.

Key features

Markdown files, search and graph

Notes are plain Markdown, avoiding a proprietary document format. Search uses a local MiniSearch index running in a Web Worker, which keeps indexing work in the app rather than on a remote service. Neoma also indexes links between notes and presents them as a graph, making connected material easier to navigate than a folder list alone.

Static-site publishing

You can select notes and turn them into a static HTML site hosted anywhere. That is useful for documentation, a public knowledge base or a personal site when you want to choose the hosting provider yourself. Publishing is separate from storing the source notes, so your working files can remain private while selected material is released.

Privacy controls

Remote images and video embeds are blocked by default and can be enabled in Settings. The default protects against unintended external requests, while the switch accommodates notes that deliberately include remote media.

Pricing

Personal

The Personal plan is free forever at no cost. It includes every feature on every platform, requires no account, imposes no limits and has no expiry. There is no free trial because the individual plan is permanently free, so this is the straightforward choice for personal use.

Team

Team costs A$22 per user per month, billed monthly. It is aimed at firms, labs, clinics and practices and adds invoicing, a compliance pack and priority support. Choose it when an organisation needs those administrative and support provisions; individual users gain no stated feature advantage over Personal.

Institutional

Institutional starts at A$4,500 a year. One site licence covers everyone in a faculty, hospital or department, with no seat counting and written answers to security questionnaires. It fits larger institutions that would otherwise have to manage many user subscriptions and formal security responses.

Free

A separate Free listing is priced at 0.00 USD forever and covers macOS, Windows, Linux, iPhone and iPad beta, and the web. The Personal plan is the clearer individual offer because it states every feature, every platform and no limits; organisations should compare Team or Institutional provisions instead.

Platforms

Neoma supports web, macOS, Windows, Linux and iOS. The compatibility list specifically includes iPhone and iPad beta access. Android is not among the supported platforms, so Android-only users need another app or a web-based workflow.

The web app is free and open source under AGPL-3.0-or-later. Desktop and App Store editions are proprietary, creating a meaningful licensing distinction for users who require open-source code across every client.

Who it's for

Neoma is well suited to individuals building a durable personal knowledge base from local Markdown, especially where offline access and privacy matter. Writers and technical teams can use static publishing to expose selected notes without moving the whole collection to a hosted service. Team is relevant to firms, labs, clinics and practices that need invoicing, compliance material or priority support; Institutional targets departments wanting one licence and no seat administration.

It is a poor fit for Android-first users, people seeking built-in cloud synchronisation, or teams that expect a conventional shared online workspace. Its local-file model gives control, but collaboration and remote access require workflows beyond the features described here.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Local Markdown storage: files remain readable and under your control.
• Offline and no-account operation: useful for travel, privacy-sensitive work and users avoiding cloud dependencies.
• Local search and link graph: combines fast discovery with a visual view of relationships between notes.
• Static publishing: selected notes can become portable HTML hosted on any provider.
• Generous Personal plan: every feature and platform is free forever with no stated limits.

Cons

• No Android client: Android users are limited to whatever access the web version provides.
• Mixed licensing: only the web edition is identified as AGPL-3.0-or-later; desktop and App Store editions are proprietary.
• No built-in cloud storage: remote collaboration or synchronisation is not part of the stated product model.
• Organisation pricing rises quickly: Team is charged per user monthly, while Institutional starts at A$4,500 annually.

Alternatives

SiYuan is the better pick if Android support, self-hosting and a completely open-source distribution matter; it is freemium and offers a free trial.

Supernotes suits users who prefer card-based notes and want an optional Unlimited plan at £6 a month billed annually.

TheBrain is an alternative for users who want a free app with unlimited thoughts, links and brains plus private sync up to 1,000 thoughts.

TiddlyWiki is a free, open-source project for readers who want a highly portable self-hosted wiki rather than Neoma's dedicated app workflow.

Capacities is worth considering if structured objects and media uploads are more important than plain local Markdown; its Basic plan includes 5 GB of media uploads.

Logseq fits personal users seeking a free forever knowledge tool, with an optional 5.00 USD monthly Sync Backer donation for beta sync access.

Obsidian is a strong alternative when a broad plugin-oriented Markdown ecosystem and optional Sync are priorities; Sync Standard costs $5 a month billed annually.

SilverBullet is another free, self-hostable option for users who want to sync with any SilverBullet Server.

Verdict

Choose Neoma for a private, local Markdown knowledge base that can work offline, map links and publish selected notes as a static site. The free Personal plan removes cost and account barriers for individuals, while Team and Institutional cover formal organisational needs. Look elsewhere if Android support, hosted synchronisation or fully open-source desktop clients are essential.