Bangle.io vs Zettlr
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 | Zettlr |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 79 · Good | 94 · Excellent |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | bare-metal, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,231 | ★ 13,577 |
| First released | 2021 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Notion, Obsidian | Notion, Obsidian |
What are Bangle.io and Zettlr?
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
Zettlr
Zettlr is a desktop Markdown editor designed for academic writing and Zettelkasten note management, with citation support and internal linking. While desktop-first, it works on plain Markdown folders that can sync between machines.
- Zettelkasten linking
- Citation manager support
- Multi-format export
- Folder-based projects
Bangle.io vs Zettlr: key differences
Both projects are written in TypeScript. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Bangle.io versus GPL-3.0 for Zettlr. Bangle.io is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Zettlr. Zettlr is the more established project (first released 2017), while Bangle.io arrived in 2021. Zettlr has the considerably larger community, at 13,577 GitHub stars versus 1,231. Bangle.io lists first-class Docker deployment; Zettlr 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 Zettlr if…
- Strong academic features
- Plain Markdown files
Watch out for
- Desktop only
- No native sync server
Frequently asked questions
Is Bangle.io or Zettlr better?
Neither is universally better. Zettlr has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Bangle.io and Zettlr free and open-source?
Yes. Bangle.io is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Zettlr under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Bangle.io and Zettlr with Docker?
Bangle.io: yes. Zettlr: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Bangle.io or Zettlr?
Bangle.io has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Zettlr. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.