Beaver Notes vs Notesnook Sync Server
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 | Notesnook Sync Server |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 82 · Excellent | 78 · Good |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | C# |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,343 | ★ 925 |
| First released | 2023 | 2023 |
| Replaces | Evernote, OneNote | Evernote, OneNote |
What are Beaver Notes and Notesnook Sync Server?
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
Notesnook Sync Server
The Notesnook sync server is the self-hostable backend for the Notesnook end-to-end encrypted note-taking application. It allows users to keep their encrypted note data fully under their own control.
- Self-hosted sync backend
- End-to-end encryption
- Cross-platform clients
- Open-source server
Beaver Notes vs Notesnook Sync Server: key differences
Beaver Notes is written in JavaScript, while Notesnook Sync Server is built with C#. Licensing differs — MIT for Beaver Notes versus AGPL-3.0 for Notesnook Sync Server. Beaver Notes is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Notesnook Sync Server. Notesnook Sync Server lists first-class Docker deployment; Beaver Notes does not.
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 Notesnook Sync Server if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in C#
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Beaver Notes or Notesnook Sync Server better?
Beaver Notes is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Notesnook Sync Server if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Beaver Notes and Notesnook Sync Server free and open-source?
Yes. Beaver Notes is licensed under MIT and Notesnook Sync Server under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Beaver Notes and Notesnook Sync Server with Docker?
Beaver Notes: check the project docs for container support. Notesnook Sync Server: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Beaver Notes or Notesnook Sync Server?
Beaver Notes has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Notesnook Sync Server. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.