Logseq vs Notabase
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
Notabase
Personal knowledge base for networked thinking
| Feature | Logseq | Notabase |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 100 · Excellent | 73 · Good |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Clojure | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | binary, bare-metal | source, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 45,040 | ★ 912 |
| First released | 2020 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Notion, Roam Research | Roam Research, Obsidian |
What are Logseq and Notabase?
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
Notabase
Notabase is an open-source personal knowledge base that connects notes through links and block references to support networked thinking. It offers a WYSIWYG editor and can be self-hosted on a Supabase backend.
- Linked notes and block references
- WYSIWYG rich-text editor
- Markdown export
- Self-hostable on Supabase
Logseq vs Notabase: key differences
Logseq is written in Clojure, while Notabase is built with TypeScript. Logseq is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Notabase. Logseq has the considerably larger community, at 45,040 GitHub stars versus 912.
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 Notabase if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Written in TypeScript
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Logseq or Notabase better?
Logseq is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Notabase if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Logseq and Notabase free and open-source?
Yes. Logseq is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Notabase under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Logseq and Notabase with Docker?
Logseq: check the project docs for container support. Notabase: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Logseq or Notabase?
Logseq has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Notabase. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.