MyTetra vs Notesnook
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted notes & knowledge base options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Notesnook
Private, end-to-end encrypted note-taking app
| Feature | MyTetra | Notesnook |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 49 · Fair | 94 · Excellent |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | C++ | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 258 | ★ 14,628 |
| First released | 2010 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Evernote, OneNote | Evernote, OneNote, Notion |
What are MyTetra and Notesnook?
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
Notesnook is an open-source, privacy-focused note-taking app with end-to-end encryption on all notes. Its sync server can be self-hosted so users keep complete control of their encrypted data.
- End-to-end encrypted notes
- Self-hostable sync server
- Rich text editor
- Cross-platform apps
MyTetra vs Notesnook: key differences
MyTetra is written in C++, while Notesnook is built with TypeScript. MyTetra is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Notesnook. MyTetra is the more established project (first released 2010), while Notesnook arrived in 2021. Notesnook has the considerably larger community, at 14,628 GitHub stars versus 258. Notesnook 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 if…
- Strong privacy by default
- Polished apps on all platforms
Watch out for
- Self-hosting is relatively new
- Some features tied to subscription
Frequently asked questions
Is MyTetra or Notesnook better?
Neither is universally better. Notesnook 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 free and open-source?
Yes. MyTetra is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Notesnook under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run MyTetra and Notesnook with Docker?
MyTetra: check the project docs for container support. Notesnook: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, MyTetra or Notesnook?
MyTetra has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Notesnook. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.