Markor Sync vs WizNote
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 | WizNote |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 88 · Excellent | 18 · At risk |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | Apache-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Java | C |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, binary | docker, binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 6,170 | ★ 2,660 |
| First released | 2017 | 2011 |
| Replaces | Google Keep, Evernote | Evernote, OneNote |
What are Markor Sync and WizNote?
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
WizNote
WizNote is a cross-platform note-taking app with desktop and mobile clients. The Qt desktop client is open source; the self-hostable sync server is distributed as a closed-source Docker image with a free tier for small teams.
- Cross-platform note clients
- Self-hostable sync server
- Rich note formatting
- Attachment support
Markor Sync vs WizNote: key differences
Markor Sync is written in Java, while WizNote is built with C. Licensing differs — Apache-2.0 for Markor Sync versus GPL-3.0 for WizNote. Markor Sync is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 512 MB for WizNote. WizNote is the more established project (first released 2011), while Markor Sync arrived in 2017. Markor Sync has the considerably larger community, at 6,170 GitHub stars versus 2,660. WizNote 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 WizNote if…
- Mature multi-platform apps
- Server can be self-hosted
Watch out for
- Documentation strongest in Chinese
- Client and server are separate projects
Frequently asked questions
Is Markor Sync or WizNote better?
Markor Sync is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider WizNote if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Markor Sync and WizNote free and open-source?
Yes. Markor Sync is licensed under Apache-2.0 and WizNote under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Markor Sync and WizNote with Docker?
Markor Sync: check the project docs for container support. WizNote: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Markor Sync or WizNote?
Markor Sync has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for WizNote. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.