Beaver Notes vs CherryTree
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted notes & knowledge base options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Beaver Notes | CherryTree |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 82 · Excellent | 89 · Excellent |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,343 | ★ 3,951 |
| First released | 2023 | 2009 |
| Replaces | Evernote, OneNote | OneNote, Evernote |
What are Beaver Notes and CherryTree?
Beaver Notes
File-over-app note tools include several options; Beaver Notes is an open-source, privacy-focused note-taking application that stores notes locally. It offers a clean editor with tags, folders, and Markdown.
- Local-first note storage
- Markdown editor
- Tags and folders
- Cross-platform apps
CherryTree
Cherrytree is an open-source hierarchical note-taking application featuring rich text and syntax highlighting. It stores everything in a single XML or SQLite file, making it easy to back up and move.
- Hierarchical note tree
- Rich text and code highlighting
- Single-file XML or SQLite storage
- Password protection
Beaver Notes vs CherryTree: key differences
Beaver Notes is written in JavaScript, while CherryTree is built with C++. Licensing differs — MIT for Beaver Notes versus GPL-3.0 for CherryTree. CherryTree is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Beaver Notes. CherryTree is the more established project (first released 2009), while Beaver Notes arrived in 2023. CherryTree has the considerably larger community, at 3,951 GitHub stars versus 1,343.
Why pick each one
Choose Beaver Notes if…
- Privacy-focused and local
- Clean modern interface
Watch out for
- Younger project
- Sync requires external tools
Choose CherryTree if…
- Highly portable single-file notes
- Good for structured notes
Watch out for
- Desktop only
- No built-in sync
Frequently asked questions
Is Beaver Notes or CherryTree better?
Neither is universally better. CherryTree has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Beaver Notes and CherryTree free and open-source?
Yes. Beaver Notes is licensed under MIT and CherryTree under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Beaver Notes and CherryTree with Docker?
Beaver Notes: check the project docs for container support. CherryTree: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Beaver Notes or CherryTree?
CherryTree has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Beaver Notes. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.