CherryTree vs Notesnook
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted notes & knowledge base options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Notesnook
Private, end-to-end encrypted note-taking app
| Feature | CherryTree | Notesnook |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 89 · Excellent | 94 · Excellent |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | C++ | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,951 | ★ 14,628 |
| First released | 2009 | 2021 |
| Replaces | OneNote, Evernote | Evernote, OneNote, Notion |
What are CherryTree and Notesnook?
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
Notesnook
Notesnook is an open-source, privacy-focused note-taking app with end-to-end encryption on all notes. Its sync server can be self-hosted so users keep complete control of their encrypted data.
- End-to-end encrypted notes
- Self-hostable sync server
- Rich text editor
- Cross-platform apps
CherryTree vs Notesnook: key differences
CherryTree is written in C++, while Notesnook is built with TypeScript. CherryTree is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Notesnook. CherryTree is the more established project (first released 2009), while Notesnook arrived in 2021. Notesnook has the considerably larger community, at 14,628 GitHub stars versus 3,951. Notesnook 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 Notesnook if…
- Strong privacy by default
- Polished apps on all platforms
Watch out for
- Self-hosting is relatively new
- Some features tied to subscription
Frequently asked questions
Is CherryTree or Notesnook better?
Neither is universally better. Notesnook has the larger community, while CherryTree is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are CherryTree and Notesnook free and open-source?
Yes. CherryTree is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Notesnook under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run CherryTree and Notesnook with Docker?
CherryTree: check the project docs for container support. Notesnook: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, CherryTree or Notesnook?
CherryTree has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Notesnook. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.