nb Notes 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 | nb Notes | Notesnook |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 92 · Excellent | 94 · Excellent |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Shell | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, binary | docker, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 8,410 | ★ 14,628 |
| First released | 2019 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Evernote, Notion | Evernote, OneNote, Notion |
What are nb Notes and Notesnook?
nb Notes
nb is a command-line and local web tool for plain-text note-taking, bookmarking, and archiving with Git-backed versioning and syncing. It works entirely in the terminal and supports encryption.
- Plain-text notes and bookmarks
- Git-backed sync
- Optional encryption
- Tagging and search
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
nb Notes vs Notesnook: key differences
Nb Notes is written in Shell, while Notesnook is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for nb Notes versus GPL-3.0 for Notesnook. Nb Notes is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Notesnook. Nb Notes is the more established project (first released 2019), while Notesnook arrived in 2021. Notesnook lists first-class Docker deployment; nb Notes does not.
Why pick each one
Choose nb Notes if…
- Powerful for terminal users
- Versioned with Git
Watch out for
- Command-line only
- No graphical client
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 nb Notes or Notesnook better?
Neither is universally better. Notesnook has the larger community, while nb Notes is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are nb Notes and Notesnook free and open-source?
Yes. nb Notes is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Notesnook under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run nb Notes and Notesnook with Docker?
nb Notes: check the project docs for container support. Notesnook: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, nb Notes or Notesnook?
nb Notes has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Notesnook. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.