I’ve been searching for an open source document management platform that works like Notion or Google Docs but haven’t found the right fit yet.
What I need:
Must be completely free (budget is really tight)
Cloud synchronization across devices
Available on web browsers, desktop computers, and Android phones
Good navigation system (need something like a sidebar menu that works well on both mobile and desktop)
Support for creating custom document templates
Ability to create internal links between different sections
File upload capabilities for images, PDF files, and audio recordings
Bonus feature: automatic generation of mind maps or relationship diagrams
I realize this is quite a long wishlist, but I’m hoping someone here has come across a solution that covers most of these features. Any suggestions would be really helpful!
Check out Zettlr - I’ve been using it for academic writing for about a year and it hits most of your needs. Works on web, desktop, and mobile (through browser). Internal linking uses wiki-style brackets [[like this]] and creates real connections between docs. Templates are built-in and you can customize them pretty easily. Handles images and PDFs fine, though audio might need some creativity. Syncs through whatever cloud service you already use since everything saves as markdown files. Navigation isn’t perfect but the file tree and search make up for it. Feels more like a real word processor than typical note apps, which is great for actual document editing. No mind maps though - but honestly, the simplicity means you’ll actually use it instead of getting buried in features.
check out Logseq! it’s an open knowledge base that handles docs pretty well. you can use it in your browser or grab the Android app. internal linking is solid and supports templates. file uploads work for most things you’ll throw at it. no mindmaps, but the graph view shows how your pages connect - kinda similar. you’ll need GitHub or cloud storage for syncing, but it won’t cost you anything.
hey laura! have u tried Outline? it’s pretty solid for collab work and linking stuff. mind maps might be a stretch tho. also, CryptPad could be worth a look – it’s browser-based & syncs well, but the templates are kinda limited.
I’ve used Obsidian for two years and it hits most of what you’re looking for. Yeah, it’s built for notes, but handles documents pretty well too. Syncs across everything including Android - official sync costs money but you can use Syncthing for free. The linking system crushes Notion’s, and custom templates are dead simple. Images and PDFs upload fine. Navigation feels weird at first but gets really powerful once you set it up. Only real miss is auto mind maps, though some community plugins do basic relationship graphs. Fair warning - there’s definitely a learning curve compared to regular document editors.
I’ve been managing docs and workflows for years - most open source editors turn into a mess when you need multiple integrations running smoothly.
Better approach: use a simple editor you like (Standard Notes, Google Docs, whatever) and let automation handle the complex stuff. Set up workflows that organize files, create internal links, generate relationship maps, and sync everything automatically.
Built something like this last month. It pulls content from different sources, creates cross-references automatically, and generates visual maps showing how documents connect. Takes 30 minutes to set up, then runs by itself.
You’re not stuck with one tool’s limits this way. Keep your editor fast and clean while automation does the heavy work - file organization, templates, connection diagrams.
Latenode makes this easy since it connects with almost anything and doesn’t need coding. Way more flexible than hunting for one magic tool.
BookStack might be exactly what you need. I switched six months ago after getting fed up with proprietary tools, and it hits almost everything you want. Web interface works great on desktop and mobile browsers - no Android app though. Navigation’s excellent with three levels that give you clean sidebars and breadcrumbs. Custom templates are easy to set up, and internal linking works well for cross-references. File uploads handle images and PDFs fine, though I haven’t tested audio much. Only real gap is automatic mind maps - you’d have to do that separately. Cloud sync needs some tech skills since you host it yourself, but there are solid tutorials out there. Search is solid, and you can control permissions if you need to share stuff.