Logseq vs SilverBullet
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
SilverBullet
Hackable note-taking for the self-hosted web
| Feature | Logseq | SilverBullet |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 100 · Excellent | 91 · Excellent |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | Clojure | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | binary, bare-metal | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 45,040 | ★ 6,142 |
| First released | 2020 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Notion, Roam Research | Notion, Obsidian |
What are Logseq and SilverBullet?
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
SilverBullet
SilverBullet is an extensible, Markdown-based note-taking web app that you can run on your own server and access from any browser. It targets users who want a programmable personal knowledge tool. It is deployed via Docker or Deno.
- Markdown-based with live queries
- Extensible via Space Script
- Works offline as a PWA
- Plain file storage
Logseq vs SilverBullet: key differences
Logseq is written in Clojure, while SilverBullet is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Logseq versus MIT for SilverBullet. SilverBullet is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Logseq. Logseq is the more established project (first released 2020), while SilverBullet arrived in 2022. Logseq has the considerably larger community, at 45,040 GitHub stars versus 6,142. SilverBullet lists first-class Docker deployment; Logseq does not.
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 SilverBullet if…
- Highly hackable
- Lightweight
- Files stay portable
Watch out for
- Niche and DIY-oriented
- Smaller community
Frequently asked questions
Is Logseq or SilverBullet 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 SilverBullet free and open-source?
Yes. Logseq is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and SilverBullet under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Logseq and SilverBullet with Docker?
Logseq: check the project docs for container support. SilverBullet: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Logseq or SilverBullet?
SilverBullet has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Logseq. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.