Open Notebook
NotebookLM on your own server; bring Docker, a model and realistic expectations about citations.
Technical Profile & Specs
verified 2026-08-10
- Cost
- $0 / forever (Open Source)
- License
- MIT
- Hosting Model
- Self-host (your server)
- Platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- Installation
- Deploy the documented Docker Compose stack; source and manual installation paths are also available
- Operational Setup
- Docker is the first hurdle, followed by supplying at least one provider API key or setting up Ollama and assigning models to the required roles
- Where Your Data Lives
- Uploaded sources, generated audio, and checkpoints live in the mounted ./data directory, while notebook records and indexes live in the mounted SurrealDB data directory
- The Catch / Trade-off
- It offers ownership and model choice, but Docker, provider configuration, and less mature citation and comparison polish are the price of leaving Afforai.
Replaces 3 paid apps
Open Notebook FAQ
Common questions
Is Open Notebook free and open source?+
Open Notebook is an open-source tool licensed under MIT that runs on self-host. NotebookLM on your own server; bring Docker, a model and realistic expectations about citations.
What paid software does Open Notebook replace?+
Open Notebook serves as a free replacement for 3 paid SaaS applications: Afforai, Lateral, Saner.AI.
How do you install and set up Open Notebook?+
Installation: Deploy the documented Docker Compose stack; source and manual installation paths are also available. Setup notes: Docker is the first hurdle, followed by supplying at least one provider API key or setting up Ollama and assigning models to the required roles
What is the catch or trade-off with Open Notebook?+
It offers ownership and model choice, but Docker, provider configuration, and less mature citation and comparison polish are the price of leaving Afforai.