nb Notes 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 | nb Notes | Zettlr |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| 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 | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, binary | bare-metal, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 8,410 | ★ 13,577 |
| First released | 2019 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Evernote, Notion | Notion, Obsidian |
What are nb Notes and Zettlr?
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
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
nb Notes vs Zettlr: key differences
Nb Notes is written in Shell, while Zettlr is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for nb Notes versus GPL-3.0 for Zettlr. Nb Notes is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Zettlr. Zettlr is the more established project (first released 2017), while nb Notes arrived in 2019.
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 Zettlr if…
- Strong academic features
- Plain Markdown files
Watch out for
- Desktop only
- No native sync server
Frequently asked questions
Is nb Notes or Zettlr better?
Neither is universally better. Zettlr has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are nb Notes and Zettlr free and open-source?
Yes. nb Notes is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Zettlr under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run nb Notes and Zettlr with Docker?
nb Notes: check the project docs for container support. Zettlr: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, nb Notes or Zettlr?
nb Notes has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Zettlr. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.