Zettlr vs Notabase
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?
Zettlr
Markdown editor for writers, researchers, and Zettelkasten users
VS
Notabase
Personal knowledge base for networked thinking
| Feature | Zettlr | Notabase |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, binary | source, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 13,354 | ★ 910 |
| First released | 2017 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Notion, Obsidian | Roam Research, Obsidian |
Why pick each one
Choose Notabase if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Written in TypeScript
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Zettlr or Notabase better?
Zettlr is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Notabase if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Zettlr and Notabase free and open-source?
Yes. Zettlr is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Notabase under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Zettlr and Notabase with Docker?
Zettlr: check the project docs for container support. Notabase: check the project docs for container support.