Mark Text vs Notesnook Sync Server
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted notes & knowledge base options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Mark Text
Real-time preview Markdown editor for the desktop
VS
Notesnook Sync Server
Self-hosted backend for the Notesnook encrypted notes app
| Feature | Mark Text | Notesnook Sync Server |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | C# |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | source | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 59,781 | ★ 905 |
| First released | 2017 | 2023 |
| Replaces | Typora | Evernote, OneNote |
Why pick each one
Choose Mark Text if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Mature project with 59.8k GitHub stars
- Written in TypeScript
Choose Notesnook Sync Server if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in C#
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Mark Text or Notesnook Sync Server better?
Mark Text is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Notesnook Sync Server if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Mark Text and Notesnook Sync Server free and open-source?
Yes. Mark Text is licensed under MIT and Notesnook Sync Server under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Mark Text and Notesnook Sync Server with Docker?
Mark Text: check the project docs for container support. Notesnook Sync Server: yes.