AFFiNE vs SilverBullet
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted notes & knowledge base options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
AFFiNE
Workspace for docs, whiteboards and databases
VS
SilverBullet
Hackable note-taking for the self-hosted web
| Feature | AFFiNE | SilverBullet |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 100 · Excellent | 91 · Excellent |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 72,916 | ★ 6,142 |
| First released | 2022 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Notion, Miro | Notion, Obsidian |
What are AFFiNE and SilverBullet?
AFFiNE
AFFiNE is an open-source knowledge base that combines documents, whiteboards, and databases in a single workspace. It targets users wanting an all-in-one alternative to Notion and Miro. It is deployed via Docker.
- Docs, whiteboard and database in one
- Local-first data model
- Real-time collaboration
- Edgeless canvas mode
SilverBullet
SilverBullet is an extensible, Markdown-based note-taking web app that you can run on your own server and access from any browser. It targets users who want a programmable personal knowledge tool. It is deployed via Docker or Deno.
- Markdown-based with live queries
- Extensible via Space Script
- Works offline as a PWA
- Plain file storage
AFFiNE vs SilverBullet: key differences
Both projects are written in TypeScript. SilverBullet is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for AFFiNE. AFFiNE has the considerably larger community, at 72,916 GitHub stars versus 6,142.
Why pick each one
Choose AFFiNE if…
- Versatile workspace
- Local-first design
- Modern UI
Watch out for
- Self-hosting still maturing
- Resource intensive
Choose SilverBullet if…
- Highly hackable
- Lightweight
- Files stay portable
Watch out for
- Niche and DIY-oriented
- Smaller community
Frequently asked questions
Is AFFiNE or SilverBullet better?
Neither is universally better. AFFiNE has the larger community, while SilverBullet is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are AFFiNE and SilverBullet free and open-source?
Yes. AFFiNE is licensed under MIT and SilverBullet under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run AFFiNE and SilverBullet with Docker?
AFFiNE: yes. SilverBullet: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, AFFiNE or SilverBullet?
SilverBullet has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for AFFiNE. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.