Notesnook vs Notesnook Sync Server
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
VS
Notesnook Sync Server
Self-hosted backend for the Notesnook encrypted notes app
| Feature | Notesnook | Notesnook Sync Server |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 94 · Excellent | 78 · Good |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | C# |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 14,628 | ★ 925 |
| First released | 2021 | 2023 |
| Replaces | Evernote, OneNote, Notion | Evernote, OneNote |
What are Notesnook and Notesnook Sync Server?
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
Notesnook Sync Server
The Notesnook sync server is the self-hostable backend for the Notesnook end-to-end encrypted note-taking application. It allows users to keep their encrypted note data fully under their own control.
- Self-hosted sync backend
- End-to-end encryption
- Cross-platform clients
- Open-source server
Notesnook vs Notesnook Sync Server: key differences
Notesnook is written in TypeScript, while Notesnook Sync Server is built with C#. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Notesnook versus AGPL-3.0 for Notesnook Sync Server. Notesnook is the more established project (first released 2021), while Notesnook Sync Server arrived in 2023. Notesnook has the considerably larger community, at 14,628 GitHub stars versus 925.
Why pick each one
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
Choose Notesnook Sync Server if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in C#
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Notesnook or Notesnook Sync Server better?
Neither is universally better. Notesnook has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Notesnook and Notesnook Sync Server free and open-source?
Yes. Notesnook is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Notesnook Sync Server under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Notesnook and Notesnook Sync Server with Docker?
Notesnook: yes. Notesnook Sync Server: yes.