CherryTree vs Trilium Notes
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted notes & knowledge base options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Trilium Notes
Hierarchical note-taking for building knowledge bases
| Feature | CherryTree | Trilium Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | ≈5-minute setup |
| Health score | 89 · Excellent | 99 · Excellent |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | C++ | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,951 | ★ 37,958 |
| First released | 2009 | 2017 |
| Replaces | OneNote, Evernote | Evernote, Notion |
What are CherryTree and Trilium Notes?
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
Trilium Notes
Trilium Notes is a hierarchical note-taking application designed for building large personal knowledge bases with rich linking and scripting. It targets power users who want a structured second brain. It is deployed via Docker as a server with desktop and web clients.
- Deep hierarchical note tree
- Note attributes and relations
- Scripting and automation
- Encrypted protected notes
CherryTree vs Trilium Notes: key differences
CherryTree is written in C++, while Trilium Notes is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for CherryTree versus AGPL-3.0 for Trilium Notes. CherryTree is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Trilium Notes. CherryTree is the more established project (first released 2009), while Trilium Notes arrived in 2017. Trilium Notes has the considerably larger community, at 37,958 GitHub stars versus 3,951. Trilium Notes 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 Trilium Notes if…
- Powerful for big knowledge bases
- Flexible structure
- Scriptable
Watch out for
- Steep learning curve
- Single-user oriented
Frequently asked questions
Is CherryTree or Trilium Notes better?
Neither is universally better. Trilium Notes has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are CherryTree and Trilium Notes free and open-source?
Yes. CherryTree is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Trilium Notes under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run CherryTree and Trilium Notes with Docker?
CherryTree: check the project docs for container support. Trilium Notes: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, CherryTree or Trilium Notes?
CherryTree has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Trilium Notes. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.