MyTetra 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.
| Feature | MyTetra | Notesnook Sync Server |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 49 · Fair | 78 · Good |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | C++ | C# |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 258 | ★ 925 |
| First released | 2010 | 2023 |
| Replaces | Evernote, OneNote | Evernote, OneNote |
What are MyTetra and Notesnook Sync Server?
MyTetra
MyTetra is an open-source manager for hierarchical notes and code snippets, designed for building a personal knowledge base. It stores data in a portable XML structure that can be synced with any tool.
- Hierarchical note tree
- Code snippet storage
- Portable XML data
- Syncable with external tools
Notesnook Sync Server
The Notesnook sync server is the self-hostable backend for the Notesnook end-to-end encrypted note-taking application. It allows users to keep their encrypted note data fully under their own control.
- Self-hosted sync backend
- End-to-end encryption
- Cross-platform clients
- Open-source server
MyTetra vs Notesnook Sync Server: key differences
MyTetra is written in C++, while Notesnook Sync Server is built with C#. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for MyTetra versus AGPL-3.0 for Notesnook Sync Server. MyTetra is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Notesnook Sync Server. MyTetra is the more established project (first released 2010), while Notesnook Sync Server arrived in 2023. Notesnook Sync Server has the considerably larger community, at 925 GitHub stars versus 258. Notesnook Sync Server lists first-class Docker deployment; MyTetra does not.
Why pick each one
Choose MyTetra if…
- Good for code snippet libraries
- Portable data format
Watch out for
- Dated interface
- Small community
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 MyTetra or Notesnook Sync Server better?
Neither is universally better. Notesnook Sync Server has the larger community, while MyTetra is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are MyTetra and Notesnook Sync Server free and open-source?
Yes. MyTetra is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Notesnook Sync Server under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run MyTetra and Notesnook Sync Server with Docker?
MyTetra: check the project docs for container support. Notesnook Sync Server: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, MyTetra or Notesnook Sync Server?
MyTetra has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Notesnook Sync Server. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.