Notabase vs Zettlr
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 | Zettlr |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 73 · Good | 94 · Excellent |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | source, bare-metal | bare-metal, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 912 | ★ 13,577 |
| First released | 2021 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Roam Research, Obsidian | Notion, Obsidian |
What are Notabase and Zettlr?
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
Zettlr
Zettlr is a desktop Markdown editor designed for academic writing and Zettelkasten note management, with citation support and internal linking. While desktop-first, it works on plain Markdown folders that can sync between machines.
- Zettelkasten linking
- Citation manager support
- Multi-format export
- Folder-based projects
Notabase vs Zettlr: key differences
Both projects are written in TypeScript. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Notabase versus GPL-3.0 for Zettlr. Zettlr is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Notabase. Zettlr is the more established project (first released 2017), while Notabase arrived in 2021. Zettlr has the considerably larger community, at 13,577 GitHub stars versus 912.
Why pick each one
Choose Notabase if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Written in TypeScript
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Choose Zettlr if…
- Strong academic features
- Plain Markdown files
Watch out for
- Desktop only
- No native sync server
Frequently asked questions
Is Notabase or Zettlr better?
Zettlr 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 Zettlr free and open-source?
Yes. Notabase is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Zettlr under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Notabase and Zettlr with Docker?
Notabase: check the project docs for container support. Zettlr: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Notabase or Zettlr?
Zettlr has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Notabase. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.