BatNoter vs VNote
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 | VNote |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 18 · At risk | 94 · Excellent |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | TypeScript | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | bare-metal, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,421 | ★ 12,977 |
| First released | 2022 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Standard Notes, Evernote | Evernote, OneNote |
What are BatNoter and VNote?
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
VNote
VNote is a Markdown-based note-taking application focused on developers, offering folder-based notebooks, syntax highlighting, and Vim-style editing. Notes are plain files that can be synced through external tools.
- Folder-based notebooks
- Vim editing mode
- Markdown with diagrams
- Code-friendly themes
BatNoter vs VNote: key differences
BatNoter is written in TypeScript, while VNote is built with C++. BatNoter is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for VNote. VNote is the more established project (first released 2017), while BatNoter arrived in 2022. VNote has the considerably larger community, at 12,977 GitHub stars versus 2,421. BatNoter lists first-class Docker deployment; VNote 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 VNote if…
- Fast native app
- Plain file storage
Watch out for
- Desktop only
- No built-in sync
Frequently asked questions
Is BatNoter or VNote better?
VNote is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider BatNoter if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are BatNoter and VNote free and open-source?
Yes. BatNoter is licensed under MIT and VNote under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run BatNoter and VNote with Docker?
BatNoter: yes. VNote: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, BatNoter or VNote?
BatNoter has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for VNote. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.