Laverna 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.
Notesnook
Private, end-to-end encrypted note-taking app
| Feature | Laverna | Notesnook |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 24 · At risk | 94 · Excellent |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | MPL-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | docker, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 9,171 | ★ 14,628 |
| First released | 2014 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Evernote, Simplenote | Evernote, OneNote, Notion |
What are Laverna and Notesnook?
Laverna
Laverna is an open-source, web-based note-taking application with Markdown support and client-side encryption. It can store notes locally or sync via Dropbox or remoteStorage and can be self-hosted as a static app.
- Client-side encryption
- Markdown editor
- Offline support
- Static self-hosted app
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
Laverna vs Notesnook: key differences
Laverna is written in JavaScript, while Notesnook is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — MPL-2.0 for Laverna versus GPL-3.0 for Notesnook. Laverna is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Notesnook. Laverna is the more established project (first released 2014), while Notesnook arrived in 2021. Notesnook lists first-class Docker deployment; Laverna does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Laverna if…
- Strong privacy focus
- No backend required
Watch out for
- Development has stalled
- Aging codebase
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 Laverna or Notesnook better?
Neither is universally better. Notesnook has the larger community, while Laverna is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Laverna and Notesnook free and open-source?
Yes. Laverna is licensed under MPL-2.0 and Notesnook under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Laverna and Notesnook with Docker?
Laverna: check the project docs for container support. Notesnook: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Laverna or Notesnook?
Laverna has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Notesnook. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.