CherryTree vs Dnote
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted notes & knowledge base options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | CherryTree | Dnote |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 89 · Excellent | 78 · Good |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | C++ | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,951 | ★ 3,084 |
| First released | 2009 | 2017 |
| Replaces | OneNote, Evernote | Evernote, Simplenote |
What are CherryTree and Dnote?
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
Dnote
Dnote is an open-source, simple command-line notebook for programmers and terminal users. It captures quick notes without breaking focus and can sync through a self-hostable server.
- Command-line note capture
- Self-hostable sync server
- Browser extension
- Spaced-repetition digests
CherryTree vs Dnote: key differences
CherryTree is written in C++, while Dnote is built with Go. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for CherryTree versus AGPL-3.0 for Dnote. CherryTree is the more established project (first released 2009), while Dnote arrived in 2017. Dnote lists first-class Docker deployment; CherryTree does not.
Why pick each one
Choose CherryTree if…
- Highly portable single-file notes
- Good for structured notes
Watch out for
- Desktop only
- No built-in sync
Choose Dnote if…
- Stays out of the way for developers
- Quick capture from terminal
Watch out for
- Terminal-first workflow
- Limited rich formatting
Frequently asked questions
Is CherryTree or Dnote better?
Neither is universally better. CherryTree has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are CherryTree and Dnote free and open-source?
Yes. CherryTree is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Dnote under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run CherryTree and Dnote with Docker?
CherryTree: check the project docs for container support. Dnote: yes.