Dnote 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 | Dnote | WizNote |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 78 · Good | 18 · At risk |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Go | C |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary, source | docker, binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,084 | ★ 2,660 |
| First released | 2017 | 2011 |
| Replaces | Evernote, Simplenote | Evernote, OneNote |
What are Dnote and WizNote?
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
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
Dnote vs WizNote: key differences
Dnote is written in Go, while WizNote is built with C. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Dnote versus GPL-3.0 for WizNote. Dnote is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for WizNote. WizNote is the more established project (first released 2011), while Dnote arrived in 2017.
Why pick each one
Choose Dnote if…
- Stays out of the way for developers
- Quick capture from terminal
Watch out for
- Terminal-first workflow
- Limited rich formatting
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 Dnote or WizNote better?
Dnote is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider WizNote if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Dnote and WizNote free and open-source?
Yes. Dnote is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and WizNote under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Dnote and WizNote with Docker?
Dnote: yes. WizNote: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Dnote or WizNote?
Dnote has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for WizNote. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.