Bangle.io vs Notabase
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 | Notabase |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 79 · Good | 73 · Good |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | source, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,231 | ★ 912 |
| First released | 2021 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Notion, Obsidian | Roam Research, Obsidian |
What are Bangle.io and Notabase?
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
Notabase
Notabase is an open-source personal knowledge base that connects notes through links and block references to support networked thinking. It offers a WYSIWYG editor and can be self-hosted on a Supabase backend.
- Linked notes and block references
- WYSIWYG rich-text editor
- Markdown export
- Self-hostable on Supabase
Bangle.io vs Notabase: key differences
Both projects are written in TypeScript. Bangle.io is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Notabase. Bangle.io lists first-class Docker deployment; Notabase 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 Notabase if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Written in TypeScript
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Bangle.io or Notabase better?
Bangle.io is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Notabase if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Bangle.io and Notabase free and open-source?
Yes. Bangle.io is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Notabase under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Bangle.io and Notabase with Docker?
Bangle.io: yes. Notabase: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Bangle.io or Notabase?
Bangle.io has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Notabase. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.