Notabase 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 | Notabase | SilverBullet |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 73 · Good | 91 · Excellent |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | source, bare-metal | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 912 | ★ 6,142 |
| First released | 2021 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Roam Research, Obsidian | Notion, Obsidian |
What are Notabase and SilverBullet?
Notabase
Notabase is an open-source personal knowledge base that connects notes through links and block references to support networked thinking. It offers a WYSIWYG editor and can be self-hosted on a Supabase backend.
- Linked notes and block references
- WYSIWYG rich-text editor
- Markdown export
- Self-hostable on Supabase
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
Notabase vs SilverBullet: key differences
Both projects are written in TypeScript. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Notabase versus MIT for SilverBullet. SilverBullet is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Notabase. SilverBullet has the considerably larger community, at 6,142 GitHub stars versus 912. SilverBullet lists first-class Docker deployment; Notabase does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Notabase if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Written in TypeScript
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Choose SilverBullet if…
- Highly hackable
- Lightweight
- Files stay portable
Watch out for
- Niche and DIY-oriented
- Smaller community
Frequently asked questions
Is Notabase or SilverBullet better?
SilverBullet 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 Notabase and SilverBullet free and open-source?
Yes. Notabase is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and SilverBullet under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Notabase and SilverBullet with Docker?
Notabase: check the project docs for container support. SilverBullet: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Notabase or SilverBullet?
SilverBullet has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Notabase. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.