Logseq 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.
Logseq
Privacy-first outliner for networked thought
VS
Reor
Archived
AI-powered local-first personal knowledge management app
| Feature | Logseq | Reor |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 100 · Excellent | 15 · At risk |
| Status | Actively maintained | Archived |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Clojure | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | binary, bare-metal | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 45,040 | ★ 8,551 |
| First released | 2020 | 2024 |
| Replaces | Notion, Roam Research | Evernote, Notion |
What are Logseq and Reor?
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
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
Logseq vs Reor: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Reor's repository is archived and no longer developed, while Logseq is actively maintained. Logseq is written in Clojure, while Reor is built with JavaScript. Logseq is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Reor. Logseq is the more established project (first released 2020), while Reor arrived in 2024. Logseq has the considerably larger community, at 45,040 GitHub stars versus 8,551.
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 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 Logseq or Reor 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 Reor free and open-source?
Yes. Logseq is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Reor under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Logseq and Reor with Docker?
Logseq: check the project docs for container support. Reor: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Logseq or Reor?
Logseq has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Reor. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.