BatNoter vs Boost Note
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted notes & knowledge base options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | BatNoter | Boost Note |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 18 · At risk | 15 · At risk |
| Status | Actively maintained | Archived |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | bare-metal, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,421 | ★ 4,047 |
| First released | 2022 | 2016 |
| Replaces | Standard Notes, Evernote | Evernote |
What are BatNoter and Boost Note?
BatNoter
BatNoter is an open-source, Markdown-based note-taking web application that stores all notes in a user's own Git repository. It provides an editor with preview and keeps notes versioned and portable.
- Notes stored in your Git repo
- Markdown editor with preview
- Versioned, portable notes
- Self-hosted backend
Boost Note
Boost Note is an open-source note-taking app aimed at developers, with Markdown editing, code snippet notes, tagging, and syntax highlighting. Notes are stored as files. The upstream app repository is archived and no longer actively developed.
- Markdown and snippet notes
- Tag-based organization
- File-based storage
- Code syntax highlighting
BatNoter vs Boost Note: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Boost Note's repository is archived and no longer developed, while BatNoter is actively maintained. Both projects are written in TypeScript. Licensing differs — MIT for BatNoter versus GPL-3.0 for Boost Note. BatNoter is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Boost Note. Boost Note is the more established project (first released 2016), while BatNoter arrived in 2022. BatNoter lists first-class Docker deployment; Boost Note does not.
Why pick each one
Choose BatNoter if…
- Released under the MIT license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (2.4k GitHub stars)
- Written in TypeScript
Choose Boost Note if…
- Developer-friendly
- Files you control
Watch out for
- Project direction shifted
- No first-party server
Frequently asked questions
Is BatNoter or Boost Note better?
Boost Note is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Boost Note if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are BatNoter and Boost Note free and open-source?
Yes. BatNoter is licensed under MIT and Boost Note under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run BatNoter and Boost Note with Docker?
BatNoter: yes. Boost Note: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, BatNoter or Boost Note?
BatNoter has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Boost Note. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.