mdSilo vs SilverBullet
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted notes & knowledge base options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | mdSilo | SilverBullet |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 63 · Good | 91 · Excellent |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | source, binary | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 851 | ★ 6,142 |
| First released | 2022 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Obsidian, Roam Research | Notion, Obsidian |
What are mdSilo and SilverBullet?
mdSilo
mdSilo is an open-source note-taking and personal knowledge management application that supports backlinks, a graph view, and Markdown editing. It can run on the desktop or be self-hosted as a web app for personal use.
- Bidirectional backlinks
- Graph visualization
- Markdown editor
- Built-in RSS reader
SilverBullet
SilverBullet is an extensible, Markdown-based note-taking web app that you can run on your own server and access from any browser. It targets users who want a programmable personal knowledge tool. It is deployed via Docker or Deno.
- Markdown-based with live queries
- Extensible via Space Script
- Works offline as a PWA
- Plain file storage
mdSilo vs SilverBullet: key differences
Both projects are written in TypeScript. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for mdSilo versus MIT for SilverBullet. SilverBullet is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for mdSilo. SilverBullet has the considerably larger community, at 6,142 GitHub stars versus 851. SilverBullet lists first-class Docker deployment; mdSilo does not.
Why pick each one
Choose mdSilo if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in TypeScript
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Choose SilverBullet if…
- Highly hackable
- Lightweight
- Files stay portable
Watch out for
- Niche and DIY-oriented
- Smaller community
Frequently asked questions
Is mdSilo or SilverBullet better?
Neither is universally better. SilverBullet has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are mdSilo and SilverBullet free and open-source?
Yes. mdSilo is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and SilverBullet under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run mdSilo and SilverBullet with Docker?
mdSilo: check the project docs for container support. SilverBullet: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, mdSilo or SilverBullet?
SilverBullet has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for mdSilo. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.