Markor Sync vs Notesnook
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted notes & knowledge base options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Notesnook
Private, end-to-end encrypted note-taking app
| Feature | Markor Sync | Notesnook |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 88 · Excellent | 94 · Excellent |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | Apache-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Java | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, binary | docker, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 6,170 | ★ 14,628 |
| First released | 2017 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Google Keep, Evernote | Evernote, OneNote, Notion |
What are Markor Sync and Notesnook?
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
Notesnook
Notesnook is an open-source, privacy-focused note-taking app with end-to-end encryption on all notes. Its sync server can be self-hosted so users keep complete control of their encrypted data.
- End-to-end encrypted notes
- Self-hostable sync server
- Rich text editor
- Cross-platform apps
Markor Sync vs Notesnook: key differences
Markor Sync is written in Java, while Notesnook is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — Apache-2.0 for Markor Sync versus GPL-3.0 for Notesnook. Markor Sync is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Notesnook. Markor Sync is the more established project (first released 2017), while Notesnook arrived in 2021. Notesnook has the considerably larger community, at 14,628 GitHub stars versus 6,170. Notesnook lists first-class Docker deployment; Markor Sync does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Markor Sync if…
- Pairs with any sync tool
- Privacy respecting
Watch out for
- Android only
- Manual sync setup
Choose Notesnook if…
- Strong privacy by default
- Polished apps on all platforms
Watch out for
- Self-hosting is relatively new
- Some features tied to subscription
Frequently asked questions
Is Markor Sync or Notesnook better?
Neither is universally better. Notesnook has the larger community, while Markor Sync is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Markor Sync and Notesnook free and open-source?
Yes. Markor Sync is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Notesnook under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Markor Sync and Notesnook with Docker?
Markor Sync: check the project docs for container support. Notesnook: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Markor Sync or Notesnook?
Markor Sync has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Notesnook. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.