Bangle.io vs mdSilo
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted notes & knowledge base options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Bangle.io | mdSilo |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 79 · Good | 63 · Good |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | source, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,231 | ★ 851 |
| First released | 2021 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Notion, Obsidian | Obsidian, Roam Research |
What are Bangle.io and mdSilo?
Bangle.io
Bangle.io is a local-first web app for taking Markdown notes. It stores notes in the browser or a local folder via the file system API, supports WYSIWYG-style editing and backlinks, and works fully offline without a server.
- Local-first Markdown notes
- WYSIWYG editing
- Backlinks and tags
- Works offline in browser
mdSilo
mdSilo is an open-source note-taking and personal knowledge management application that supports backlinks, a graph view, and Markdown editing. It can run on the desktop or be self-hosted as a web app for personal use.
- Bidirectional backlinks
- Graph visualization
- Markdown editor
- Built-in RSS reader
Bangle.io vs mdSilo: key differences
Both projects are written in TypeScript. Bangle.io is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for mdSilo. Bangle.io lists first-class Docker deployment; mdSilo does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Bangle.io if…
- Owns your files
- No server required
Watch out for
- Browser storage limits
- Small plugin ecosystem
Choose mdSilo if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in TypeScript
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Bangle.io or mdSilo better?
Neither is universally better. Bangle.io has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Bangle.io and mdSilo free and open-source?
Yes. Bangle.io is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and mdSilo under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Bangle.io and mdSilo with Docker?
Bangle.io: yes. mdSilo: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Bangle.io or mdSilo?
Bangle.io has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for mdSilo. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.