Markor Sync vs nb Notes
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted notes & knowledge base options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Markor Sync | nb Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 88 · Excellent | 92 · Excellent |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | Apache-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Java | Shell |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 32 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, binary | bare-metal, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 6,170 | ★ 8,410 |
| First released | 2017 | 2019 |
| Replaces | Google Keep, Evernote | Evernote, Notion |
What are Markor Sync and nb Notes?
Markor Sync
Markor is a text and Markdown notes editor that works directly on local files, making it ideal for folders synchronized by tools like Syncthing. It supports to-do lists, Zim wiki, and todo.txt formats.
- Works on plain files
- Markdown and todo.txt
- No accounts needed
- Offline editing
nb Notes
nb is a command-line and local web tool for plain-text note-taking, bookmarking, and archiving with Git-backed versioning and syncing. It works entirely in the terminal and supports encryption.
- Plain-text notes and bookmarks
- Git-backed sync
- Optional encryption
- Tagging and search
Markor Sync vs nb Notes: key differences
Markor Sync is written in Java, while nb Notes is built with Shell. Licensing differs — Apache-2.0 for Markor Sync versus AGPL-3.0 for nb Notes. Nb Notes is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 64 MB for Markor Sync. Markor Sync is the more established project (first released 2017), while nb Notes arrived in 2019.
Why pick each one
Choose Markor Sync if…
- Pairs with any sync tool
- Privacy respecting
Watch out for
- Android only
- Manual sync setup
Choose nb Notes if…
- Powerful for terminal users
- Versioned with Git
Watch out for
- Command-line only
- No graphical client
Frequently asked questions
Is Markor Sync or nb Notes better?
Neither is universally better. nb Notes has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Markor Sync and nb Notes free and open-source?
Yes. Markor Sync is licensed under Apache-2.0 and nb Notes under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Markor Sync and nb Notes with Docker?
Markor Sync: check the project docs for container support. nb Notes: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Markor Sync or nb Notes?
nb Notes has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 64 MB for Markor Sync. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.