Boost Note 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 | Boost Note | CherryTree |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 15 · At risk | 89 · Excellent |
| Status | Archived | Actively maintained |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, binary | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,046 | ★ 3,951 |
| First released | 2016 | 2009 |
| Replaces | Evernote | OneNote, Evernote |
What are Boost Note and CherryTree?
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
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
Boost Note vs CherryTree: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Boost Note's repository is archived and no longer developed, while CherryTree is actively maintained. Boost Note is written in TypeScript, while CherryTree is built with C++. CherryTree is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Boost Note. CherryTree is the more established project (first released 2009), while Boost Note arrived in 2016.
Why pick each one
Choose Boost Note if…
- Developer-friendly
- Files you control
Watch out for
- Project direction shifted
- No first-party server
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 Boost Note or CherryTree better?
Neither is universally better. Boost Note has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Boost Note and CherryTree free and open-source?
Yes. Boost Note is licensed under GPL-3.0 and CherryTree under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Boost Note and CherryTree with Docker?
Boost Note: check the project docs for container support. CherryTree: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Boost Note or CherryTree?
CherryTree 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.