Laverna vs VNote
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 | VNote |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 24 · At risk | 94 · Excellent |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | MPL-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | JavaScript | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | bare-metal, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 9,171 | ★ 12,977 |
| First released | 2014 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Evernote, Simplenote | Evernote, OneNote |
What are Laverna and VNote?
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
VNote
VNote is a Markdown-based note-taking application focused on developers, offering folder-based notebooks, syntax highlighting, and Vim-style editing. Notes are plain files that can be synced through external tools.
- Folder-based notebooks
- Vim editing mode
- Markdown with diagrams
- Code-friendly themes
Laverna vs VNote: key differences
Laverna is written in JavaScript, while VNote is built with C++. Licensing differs — MPL-2.0 for Laverna versus MIT for VNote. Laverna is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for VNote. Laverna is the more established project (first released 2014), while VNote arrived in 2017.
Why pick each one
Choose Laverna if…
- Strong privacy focus
- No backend required
Watch out for
- Development has stalled
- Aging codebase
Choose VNote if…
- Fast native app
- Plain file storage
Watch out for
- Desktop only
- No built-in sync
Frequently asked questions
Is Laverna or VNote better?
Neither is universally better. VNote has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Laverna and VNote free and open-source?
Yes. Laverna is licensed under MPL-2.0 and VNote under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Laverna and VNote with Docker?
Laverna: check the project docs for container support. VNote: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Laverna or VNote?
Laverna has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for VNote. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.