Anytype 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.
Anytype
Local-first encrypted knowledge workspace
VS
SilverBullet
Hackable note-taking for the self-hosted web
| Feature | Anytype | SilverBullet |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 92 · Excellent | 91 · Excellent |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 8,844 | ★ 6,137 |
| First released | 2023 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Notion | Notion, Obsidian |
What are Anytype and SilverBullet?
Anytype
Anytype is a local-first, encrypted knowledge management app for notes, tasks, and objects with a flexible data model. It targets users wanting a private Notion-like tool. It uses peer-to-peer sync and an optional self-hosted sync node.
- Local-first encrypted storage
- Flexible object-based model
- Peer-to-peer sync
- Self-hostable sync node
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
Anytype vs SilverBullet: key differences
Both projects are written in TypeScript. SilverBullet is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Anytype.
Why pick each one
Choose Anytype if…
- Strong privacy model
- Flexible structure
- Works offline
Watch out for
- Self-hosting sync is advanced
- Ecosystem still young
Choose SilverBullet if…
- Highly hackable
- Lightweight
- Files stay portable
Watch out for
- Niche and DIY-oriented
- Smaller community
Frequently asked questions
Is Anytype or SilverBullet better?
Neither is universally better. Anytype 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 Anytype and SilverBullet free and open-source?
Yes. Anytype is licensed under MIT and SilverBullet under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Anytype and SilverBullet with Docker?
Anytype: yes. SilverBullet: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Anytype or SilverBullet?
SilverBullet has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Anytype. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.