Markor Sync vs Trilium Notes Next
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 | Trilium Notes Next |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 88 · Excellent | 15 · At risk |
| Status | Actively maintained | Archived |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | Apache-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Java | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, binary | docker, binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 6,170 | ★ 2,926 |
| First released | 2017 | 2024 |
| Replaces | Google Keep, Evernote | Evernote, OneNote, Notion |
What are Markor Sync and Trilium Notes Next?
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
Trilium Notes Next
TriliumNext is the actively maintained community continuation of Trilium Notes, a hierarchical note-taking application for building large personal knowledge bases. It supports rich text, code notes, and scripting.
- Hierarchical note tree
- Rich text and code notes
- Scripting and automation
- Note encryption
Markor Sync vs Trilium Notes Next: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Trilium Notes Next's repository is archived and no longer developed, while Markor Sync is actively maintained. Markor Sync is written in Java, while Trilium Notes Next is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — Apache-2.0 for Markor Sync versus AGPL-3.0 for Trilium Notes Next. Markor Sync is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Trilium Notes Next. Markor Sync is the more established project (first released 2017), while Trilium Notes Next arrived in 2024. Markor Sync has the considerably larger community, at 6,170 GitHub stars versus 2,926. Trilium Notes Next 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 Trilium Notes Next if…
- Excellent for large knowledge bases
- Powerful and extensible
Watch out for
- Steeper learning curve
- Primarily single-user
Frequently asked questions
Is Markor Sync or Trilium Notes Next better?
Markor Sync is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Trilium Notes Next if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Markor Sync and Trilium Notes Next free and open-source?
Yes. Markor Sync is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Trilium Notes Next under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Markor Sync and Trilium Notes Next with Docker?
Markor Sync: check the project docs for container support. Trilium Notes Next: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Markor Sync or Trilium Notes Next?
Markor Sync has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Trilium Notes Next. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.