Outline Desktop 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?
Outline Desktop
Markdown wiki and knowledge base for teams
VS
Notabase
Personal knowledge base for networked thinking
| Feature | Outline Desktop | Notabase |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | source, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,228 | ★ 910 |
| First released | 2021 | 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 Outline Desktop or Notabase better?
Outline Desktop 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 Outline Desktop and Notabase free and open-source?
Yes. Outline Desktop is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Notabase under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Outline Desktop and Notabase with Docker?
Outline Desktop: yes. Notabase: check the project docs for container support.