Boost Note vs WizNote
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 | WizNote |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 15 · At risk | 18 · At risk |
| Status | Archived | Actively maintained |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | C |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, binary | docker, binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,046 | ★ 2,660 |
| First released | 2016 | 2011 |
| Replaces | Evernote | Evernote, OneNote |
What are Boost Note and WizNote?
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
WizNote
WizNote is a cross-platform note-taking app with desktop and mobile clients. The Qt desktop client is open source; the self-hostable sync server is distributed as a closed-source Docker image with a free tier for small teams.
- Cross-platform note clients
- Self-hostable sync server
- Rich note formatting
- Attachment support
Boost Note vs WizNote: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Boost Note's repository is archived and no longer developed, while WizNote is actively maintained. Boost Note is written in TypeScript, while WizNote is built with C. Boost Note is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for WizNote. WizNote is the more established project (first released 2011), while Boost Note arrived in 2016. WizNote lists first-class Docker deployment; Boost Note does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Boost Note if…
- Developer-friendly
- Files you control
Watch out for
- Project direction shifted
- No first-party server
Choose WizNote if…
- Mature multi-platform apps
- Server can be self-hosted
Watch out for
- Documentation strongest in Chinese
- Client and server are separate projects
Frequently asked questions
Is Boost Note or WizNote better?
Boost Note is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Boost Note if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Boost Note and WizNote free and open-source?
Yes. Boost Note is licensed under GPL-3.0 and WizNote under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Boost Note and WizNote with Docker?
Boost Note: check the project docs for container support. WizNote: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Boost Note or WizNote?
Boost Note has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for WizNote. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.