Boost Note vs Markor Sync
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 | Markor Sync |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 15 · At risk | 88 · Excellent |
| Status | Archived | Actively maintained |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, binary | bare-metal, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,046 | ★ 6,170 |
| First released | 2016 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Evernote | Google Keep, Evernote |
What are Boost Note and Markor Sync?
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
Markor Sync
Markor is a text and Markdown notes editor that works directly on local files, making it ideal for folders synchronized by tools like Syncthing. It supports to-do lists, Zim wiki, and todo.txt formats.
- Works on plain files
- Markdown and todo.txt
- No accounts needed
- Offline editing
Boost Note vs Markor Sync: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Boost Note's repository is archived and no longer developed, while Markor Sync is actively maintained. Boost Note is written in TypeScript, while Markor Sync is built with Java. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Boost Note versus Apache-2.0 for Markor Sync. Markor Sync is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Boost Note.
Why pick each one
Choose Boost Note if…
- Developer-friendly
- Files you control
Watch out for
- Project direction shifted
- No first-party server
Choose Markor Sync if…
- Pairs with any sync tool
- Privacy respecting
Watch out for
- Android only
- Manual sync setup
Frequently asked questions
Is Boost Note or Markor Sync better?
Neither is universally better. Markor Sync has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Boost Note and Markor Sync free and open-source?
Yes. Boost Note is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Markor Sync under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Boost Note and Markor Sync with Docker?
Boost Note: check the project docs for container support. Markor Sync: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Boost Note or Markor Sync?
Markor Sync has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Boost Note. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.