nb Notes 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 | nb Notes | SilverBullet |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 92 · Excellent | 91 · Excellent |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | Shell | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, binary | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 8,410 | ★ 6,142 |
| First released | 2019 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Evernote, Notion | Notion, Obsidian |
What are nb Notes and SilverBullet?
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
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
nb Notes vs SilverBullet: key differences
Nb Notes is written in Shell, while SilverBullet is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for nb Notes versus MIT for SilverBullet. Nb Notes is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 128 MB for SilverBullet. Nb Notes is the more established project (first released 2019), while SilverBullet arrived in 2022. SilverBullet 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 SilverBullet if…
- Highly hackable
- Lightweight
- Files stay portable
Watch out for
- Niche and DIY-oriented
- Smaller community
Frequently asked questions
Is nb Notes or SilverBullet better?
Neither is universally better. nb Notes has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are nb Notes and SilverBullet free and open-source?
Yes. nb Notes is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and SilverBullet under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run nb Notes and SilverBullet with Docker?
nb Notes: check the project docs for container support. SilverBullet: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, nb Notes or SilverBullet?
nb Notes has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for SilverBullet. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.