Beaver Notes vs QOwnNotes
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 | QOwnNotes |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 82 · Excellent | 90 · Excellent |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | MIT | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,343 | ★ 5,886 |
| First released | 2023 | 2014 |
| Replaces | Evernote, OneNote | Evernote, OneNote |
What are Beaver Notes and QOwnNotes?
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
QOwnNotes
QOwnNotes is an open-source plain-text note-taking and to-do application with Markdown support. It integrates tightly with Nextcloud and ownCloud for syncing notes across devices.
- Plain-text Markdown notes
- Nextcloud and ownCloud sync
- Scripting support
- Note versioning via Nextcloud
Beaver Notes vs QOwnNotes: key differences
Beaver Notes is written in JavaScript, while QOwnNotes is built with C++. Licensing differs — MIT for Beaver Notes versus GPL-2.0 for QOwnNotes. QOwnNotes is the more established project (first released 2014), while Beaver Notes arrived in 2023. QOwnNotes has the considerably larger community, at 5,886 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 QOwnNotes if…
- Pairs well with Nextcloud
- Notes remain plain files
Watch out for
- Desktop only
- Interface feels utilitarian
Frequently asked questions
Is Beaver Notes or QOwnNotes better?
Neither is universally better. QOwnNotes has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Beaver Notes and QOwnNotes free and open-source?
Yes. Beaver Notes is licensed under MIT and QOwnNotes under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Beaver Notes and QOwnNotes with Docker?
Beaver Notes: check the project docs for container support. QOwnNotes: check the project docs for container support.