Notabase vs TriliumNext Notes
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?
Notabase
Personal knowledge base for networked thinking
VS
TriliumNext Notes
Cross-platform hierarchical note taking application with focus on
| Feature | Notabase | TriliumNext Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | source, bare-metal | docker, kubernetes |
| GitHub stars | ★ 910 | ★ 37,298 |
| First released | 2021 | 2026 |
| Replaces | 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
Choose TriliumNext Notes if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Kubernetes-ready with Helm charts available
- Mature project with 37.3k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is Notabase or TriliumNext Notes better?
TriliumNext Notes is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Notabase if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Notabase and TriliumNext Notes free and open-source?
Yes. Notabase is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and TriliumNext Notes under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Notabase and TriliumNext Notes with Docker?
Notabase: check the project docs for container support. TriliumNext Notes: yes.