Zim

Graphical desktop wiki for notes, journals, and tasks

About Zim

Zim is a desktop wiki and graphical text editor for maintaining a collection of linked wiki pages. Pages are stored as plain text files in a folder structure, with simple formatting, images, and attachments, and plugins add task lists, an equation editor, and version control support. People use it to keep notes and journals, take meeting or lecture notes, organize tasks, draft documents, and brainstorm.

Zim website preview

Live preview of zim-wiki.org via the WordPress mShots service — it can take a few seconds to generate on a first visit.

Zim: strengths & things to check

Strengths

Completely free to use — this directory lists no paid plan for it.
Covers desktop wiki, notes, outliner — see the focus areas listed in its key facts.
Has 6 close alternatives in the same category on this page, so switching or comparing is easy.

Things to check

Free tools can change their model or shut down — avoid locking critical work into it without an export path.
Current plan prices are not listed here (they change too often to print reliably) — confirm the exact price on the official site.
It is one of 2092 tools in the Productivity & Notes category here — compare it against the alternatives below before you commit.

Derived from this listing's own data (pricing model, focus areas and category) — not a hands-on review score.

Zim pricing

Pricing model	Free — listed in this directory as a free tool, with no paid plan required to use it.
Free access	Yes — fully free
Current plan prices	Listed on the official site — prices change, so this directory links out instead of printing a number that may already be stale.
Official site	zim-wiki.org

Zim key facts

Category: Productivity & Notes
Pricing: Free — listed in this directory as a free tool, with no paid plan required to use it.
Focus areas: desktop wiki, notes, outliner
Official site: zim-wiki.org

Zim FAQ

How much does Zim cost?

Free — listed in this directory as a free tool, with no paid plan required to use it. Current plans and prices are listed on the official site (zim-wiki.org).

What is Zim used for?

Graphical desktop wiki for notes, journals, and tasks Its focus areas in the Productivity & Notes category: desktop wiki, notes, outliner.

Where can I try Zim?

On its official site, zim-wiki.org — the Visit Official Site button above goes straight there.

Zim vs alternatives

	Zim	Dynalist	Notion	Obsidian
Pricing	Free — listed in this directory as a free tool, with no paid plan required to use it.	Freemium — a free tier lets you start, and paid plans are available if you need more.	Freemium — a free tier lets you start, and paid plans are available if you need more.	Free — listed in this directory as a free tool, with no paid plan required to use it.
Focus areas	desktop wiki, notes, outliner	outliner, notes, markdown	notes, wiki, project management	notes, markdown, knowledge management
Official site	zim-wiki.org	dynalist.io	notion.com	obsidian.md
Directory status	Listed	Listed	Featured listing	Featured listing

Side-by-side from each listing's own directory data. Full alternative cards are below.

About the Productivity & Notes category

Notes, tasks, and project tools that keep you organized and focused. The Productivity & Notes category on Tools Hub currently lists 2092 tools. Alongside Zim, it includes Inkdrop, Simplenote, KanbanFlow, Timing.

FreeProductivity & Notesdesktop-wikinotesoutliner

Alternatives to Zim

Tools in the same Productivity & Notes category that share focus areas with Zim — worth comparing before you commit:

Productivity & Notes

Dynalist

Outliner for notes, documents and projects with linking and Markdown

Freemiumoutlinernotesmarkdown

Productivity & Notes

Notion

The all-in-one workspace for notes, docs, and projects.

Freemiumnoteswikiproject-management

Productivity & Notes

Obsidian

A second brain built on local Markdown files.

Freenotesmarkdownknowledge-management

Productivity & Notes

AFFiNE

Open-source workspace merging docs, canvas and tables

Freemiumnotesopen-sourcecanvasworkspace

Productivity & Notes

Amplenote

Notes, tasks, calendar and jots in one system

Freemiumnotestaskscalendarpkm

Productivity & Notes

Anytype

Local-first, encrypted workspace pitched as a private Notion alternative.

Freemiumnoteslocal-firstprivacy

More in Productivity & Notes

Comparing tools in the Productivity & Notes category? These related listings are worth a look: Inkdrop — AI-native Markdown notes for developers, beautifully organized; Simplenote — The simplest way to keep notes; KanbanFlow — Kanban board with Pomodoro time tracking.