Laverna vs WizNote
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 | WizNote |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 24 · At risk | 18 · At risk |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | MPL-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | C |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | docker, binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 9,171 | ★ 2,660 |
| First released | 2014 | 2011 |
| Replaces | Evernote, Simplenote | Evernote, OneNote |
What are Laverna and WizNote?
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
WizNote
WizNote is a cross-platform note-taking app with desktop and mobile clients. The Qt desktop client is open source; the self-hostable sync server is distributed as a closed-source Docker image with a free tier for small teams.
- Cross-platform note clients
- Self-hostable sync server
- Rich note formatting
- Attachment support
Laverna vs WizNote: key differences
Laverna is written in JavaScript, while WizNote is built with C. Licensing differs — MPL-2.0 for Laverna versus GPL-3.0 for WizNote. Laverna is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for WizNote. WizNote is the more established project (first released 2011), while Laverna arrived in 2014. Laverna has the considerably larger community, at 9,171 GitHub stars versus 2,660. WizNote 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 WizNote if…
- Mature multi-platform apps
- Server can be self-hosted
Watch out for
- Documentation strongest in Chinese
- Client and server are separate projects
Frequently asked questions
Is Laverna or WizNote better?
Laverna is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider WizNote if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Laverna and WizNote free and open-source?
Yes. Laverna is licensed under MPL-2.0 and WizNote under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Laverna and WizNote with Docker?
Laverna: check the project docs for container support. WizNote: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Laverna or WizNote?
Laverna has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for WizNote. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.