Laverna vs Reor
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted notes & knowledge base options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Laverna | Reor |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 24 · At risk | 15 · At risk |
| Status | Actively maintained | Archived |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | MPL-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 9,171 | ★ 8,551 |
| First released | 2014 | 2024 |
| Replaces | Evernote, Simplenote | Evernote, Notion |
What are Laverna and Reor?
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
Reor
Reor is an open-source, private, local-first AI note-taking application. It automatically links related notes, runs AI models locally, and stores everything as plain Markdown files on your machine.
- Local AI models
- Automatic note linking
- Plain Markdown storage
- Semantic search
Laverna vs Reor: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Reor's repository is archived and no longer developed, while Laverna is actively maintained. Both projects are written in JavaScript. Licensing differs — MPL-2.0 for Laverna versus AGPL-3.0 for Reor. Laverna is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Reor. Laverna is the more established project (first released 2014), while Reor arrived in 2024.
Why pick each one
Choose Laverna if…
- Strong privacy focus
- No backend required
Watch out for
- Development has stalled
- Aging codebase
Choose Reor if…
- AI features without sending data away
- Notes stay as portable files
Watch out for
- AI features need more RAM
- Younger project
Frequently asked questions
Is Laverna or Reor better?
Neither is universally better. Laverna has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Laverna and Reor free and open-source?
Yes. Laverna is licensed under MPL-2.0 and Reor under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Laverna and Reor with Docker?
Laverna: check the project docs for container support. Reor: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Laverna or Reor?
Laverna has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Reor. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.