Docmost vs Notable
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted notes & knowledge base options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Docmost
Open-source collaborative wiki and documentation
VS
Notable
Markdown-based note-taking app for plain files
| Feature | Docmost | Notable |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 96 · Excellent | 28 · At risk |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker | binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 21,773 | ★ 23,496 |
| First released | 2024 | 2018 |
| Replaces | Confluence, Notion | Evernote, Notion |
What are Docmost and Notable?
Docmost
Docmost is an open-source collaborative documentation and wiki software for teams to create and organize knowledge. It targets organizations seeking a self-hosted Confluence alternative. It is deployed via Docker with PostgreSQL.
- Real-time collaborative editing
- Spaces and nested pages
- Permissions and SSO
- Diagrams and embeds
Notable
Notable is a note-taking application that stores notes as plain Markdown files on disk. It offers a clean editor, tags, and full-text search while keeping all data in portable files.
- Plain Markdown file storage
- Tag-based organization
- Full-text search
- Clean editor
Docmost vs Notable: key differences
Both projects are written in TypeScript. Notable is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Docmost. Notable is the more established project (first released 2018), while Docmost arrived in 2024. Docmost lists first-class Docker deployment; Notable does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Docmost if…
- Clean modern interface
- Good team collaboration
- Active development
Watch out for
- Young project
- Requires Postgres
Choose Notable if…
- Notes stay as portable files
- Simple and focused
Watch out for
- Development has slowed
- Desktop only
Frequently asked questions
Is Docmost or Notable better?
Notable is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Docmost if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Docmost and Notable free and open-source?
Yes. Docmost is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Notable under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Docmost and Notable with Docker?
Docmost: yes. Notable: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Docmost or Notable?
Notable has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Docmost. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.