Logseq vs mdSilo
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted notes & knowledge base options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Logseq
Privacy-first outliner for networked thought
VS
mdSilo
Networked note-taking and knowledge base app
| Feature | Logseq | mdSilo |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 100 · Excellent | 63 · Good |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Clojure | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | binary, bare-metal | source, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 45,040 | ★ 851 |
| First released | 2020 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Notion, Roam Research | Obsidian, Roam Research |
What are Logseq and mdSilo?
Logseq
Logseq is a privacy-first, local-first outliner for knowledge management and networked note-taking using plain Markdown files. It targets users who want a graph-based personal knowledge tool. It runs as a desktop app with optional file syncing.
- Outliner with bidirectional links
- Plain Markdown file storage
- Graph view of notes
- Plugin marketplace
mdSilo
mdSilo is an open-source note-taking and personal knowledge management application that supports backlinks, a graph view, and Markdown editing. It can run on the desktop or be self-hosted as a web app for personal use.
- Bidirectional backlinks
- Graph visualization
- Markdown editor
- Built-in RSS reader
Logseq vs mdSilo: key differences
Logseq is written in Clojure, while mdSilo is built with TypeScript. Logseq is the more established project (first released 2020), while mdSilo arrived in 2022. Logseq has the considerably larger community, at 45,040 GitHub stars versus 851.
Why pick each one
Choose Logseq if…
- Local-first and private
- Great for linked thinking
- Files stay portable
Watch out for
- Not a hosted server
- Performance dips on huge graphs
Choose mdSilo if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in TypeScript
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Logseq or mdSilo better?
Neither is universally better. Logseq has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Logseq and mdSilo free and open-source?
Yes. Logseq is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and mdSilo under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Logseq and mdSilo with Docker?
Logseq: check the project docs for container support. mdSilo: check the project docs for container support.