CherryTree vs Reor
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 | Reor |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 89 · Excellent | 15 · At risk |
| Status | Actively maintained | Archived |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | C++ | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,951 | ★ 8,551 |
| First released | 2009 | 2024 |
| Replaces | OneNote, Evernote | Evernote, Notion |
What are CherryTree and Reor?
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
Reor
Reor is an open-source, private, local-first AI note-taking application. It automatically links related notes, runs AI models locally, and stores everything as plain Markdown files on your machine.
- Local AI models
- Automatic note linking
- Plain Markdown storage
- Semantic search
CherryTree vs Reor: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Reor's repository is archived and no longer developed, while CherryTree is actively maintained. CherryTree is written in C++, while Reor is built with JavaScript. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for CherryTree versus AGPL-3.0 for Reor. CherryTree is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Reor. CherryTree is the more established project (first released 2009), while Reor arrived in 2024. Reor has the considerably larger community, at 8,551 GitHub stars versus 3,951.
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 Reor if…
- AI features without sending data away
- Notes stay as portable files
Watch out for
- AI features need more RAM
- Younger project
Frequently asked questions
Is CherryTree or Reor better?
Neither is universally better. Reor has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are CherryTree and Reor free and open-source?
Yes. CherryTree is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Reor under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run CherryTree and Reor with Docker?
CherryTree: check the project docs for container support. Reor: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, CherryTree or Reor?
CherryTree has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Reor. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.