Markor Sync vs Trilium Notes
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted notes & knowledge base options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Trilium Notes
Hierarchical note-taking for building knowledge bases
| Feature | Markor Sync | Trilium Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | ≈5-minute setup |
| Health score | 88 · Excellent | 99 · Excellent |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | Apache-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Java | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, binary | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 6,170 | ★ 37,958 |
| First released | 2017 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Google Keep, Evernote | Evernote, Notion |
What are Markor Sync and Trilium 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
Trilium Notes
Trilium Notes is a hierarchical note-taking application designed for building large personal knowledge bases with rich linking and scripting. It targets power users who want a structured second brain. It is deployed via Docker as a server with desktop and web clients.
- Deep hierarchical note tree
- Note attributes and relations
- Scripting and automation
- Encrypted protected notes
Markor Sync vs Trilium Notes: key differences
Markor Sync is written in Java, while Trilium Notes is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — Apache-2.0 for Markor Sync versus AGPL-3.0 for Trilium Notes. Markor Sync is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Trilium Notes. Trilium Notes has the considerably larger community, at 37,958 GitHub stars versus 6,170. Trilium Notes 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 if…
- Powerful for big knowledge bases
- Flexible structure
- Scriptable
Watch out for
- Steep learning curve
- Single-user oriented
Frequently asked questions
Is Markor Sync or Trilium Notes better?
Neither is universally better. Trilium Notes has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Markor Sync and Trilium Notes free and open-source?
Yes. Markor Sync is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Trilium Notes under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Markor Sync and Trilium Notes with Docker?
Markor Sync: check the project docs for container support. Trilium Notes: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Markor Sync or Trilium Notes?
Markor Sync has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Trilium Notes. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.