Docmost 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.
Docmost
Open-source collaborative wiki and documentation
VS
Notesnook
Private, end-to-end encrypted note-taking app
| Feature | Docmost | Notesnook |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 96 · Excellent | 94 · Excellent |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 21,773 | ★ 14,628 |
| First released | 2024 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Confluence, Notion | Evernote, OneNote, Notion |
What are Docmost and Notesnook?
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
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
Docmost vs Notesnook: key differences
Both projects are written in TypeScript. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Docmost versus GPL-3.0 for Notesnook. Notesnook is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Docmost. Notesnook is the more established project (first released 2021), while Docmost arrived in 2024.
Why pick each one
Choose Docmost if…
- Clean modern interface
- Good team collaboration
- Active development
Watch out for
- Young project
- Requires Postgres
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 Docmost or Notesnook better?
Neither is universally better. Docmost has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Docmost and Notesnook free and open-source?
Yes. Docmost is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Notesnook under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Docmost and Notesnook with Docker?
Docmost: yes. Notesnook: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Docmost or Notesnook?
Notesnook has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Docmost. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.