Boost Note 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 | Boost Note | QOwnNotes |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 15 · At risk | 90 · Excellent |
| Status | Archived | Actively maintained |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, binary | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,046 | ★ 5,886 |
| First released | 2016 | 2014 |
| Replaces | Evernote | Evernote, OneNote |
What are Boost Note and QOwnNotes?
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
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
Boost Note vs QOwnNotes: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Boost Note's repository is archived and no longer developed, while QOwnNotes is actively maintained. Boost Note is written in TypeScript, while QOwnNotes is built with C++. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Boost Note versus GPL-2.0 for QOwnNotes. QOwnNotes is the more established project (first released 2014), 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 QOwnNotes if…
- Pairs well with Nextcloud
- Notes remain plain files
Watch out for
- Desktop only
- Interface feels utilitarian
Frequently asked questions
Is Boost Note 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 Boost Note and QOwnNotes free and open-source?
Yes. Boost Note is licensed under GPL-3.0 and QOwnNotes under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Boost Note and QOwnNotes with Docker?
Boost Note: check the project docs for container support. QOwnNotes: check the project docs for container support.