Flatnotes vs Markor Sync
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted notes & knowledge base options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Flatnotes
Self-hosted, database-less note-taking web app
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Markor Sync
Plain-text and Markdown notes editor for synced folders
| Feature | Flatnotes | Markor Sync |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 88 · Excellent | 88 · Excellent |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Vue | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | bare-metal, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,230 | ★ 6,170 |
| First released | 2021 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Evernote, Simplenote | Google Keep, Evernote |
What are Flatnotes and Markor Sync?
Flatnotes
Flatnotes is a self-hosted web application for taking notes, with a focus on simplicity and storing all notes as flat Markdown files. It has no database and keeps notes easy to back up and access.
- Flat Markdown file storage
- No database required
- Full-text search
- Clean minimal interface
Markor Sync
Markor is a text and Markdown notes editor that works directly on local files, making it ideal for folders synchronized by tools like Syncthing. It supports to-do lists, Zim wiki, and todo.txt formats.
- Works on plain files
- Markdown and todo.txt
- No accounts needed
- Offline editing
Flatnotes vs Markor Sync: key differences
Flatnotes is written in Vue, while Markor Sync is built with Java. Licensing differs — MIT for Flatnotes versus Apache-2.0 for Markor Sync. Markor Sync is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Flatnotes. Markor Sync is the more established project (first released 2017), while Flatnotes arrived in 2021. Flatnotes lists first-class Docker deployment; Markor Sync does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Flatnotes if…
- Trivial to back up
- Very lightweight
Watch out for
- Basic feature set
- Single-user oriented
Choose Markor Sync if…
- Pairs with any sync tool
- Privacy respecting
Watch out for
- Android only
- Manual sync setup
Frequently asked questions
Is Flatnotes or Markor Sync better?
Neither is universally better. Markor Sync has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Flatnotes and Markor Sync free and open-source?
Yes. Flatnotes is licensed under MIT and Markor Sync under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Flatnotes and Markor Sync with Docker?
Flatnotes: yes. Markor Sync: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Flatnotes or Markor Sync?
Markor Sync has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for Flatnotes. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.