Notesnook vs Obsidian
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
Obsidian
Local-first knowledge base on a folder of Markdown files
| Feature | Notesnook | Obsidian |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 94 · Excellent | 96 · Excellent |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Proprietary |
| Language | TypeScript | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 14,628 | ★ 21,797 |
| First released | 2021 | 2020 |
| Replaces | Evernote, OneNote, Notion | Evernote, Notion, OneNote |
What are Notesnook and Obsidian?
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
Obsidian
Obsidian is a powerful personal knowledge base that works on a local folder of plain Markdown files. While the app is proprietary, your notes remain fully local and portable, and self-hosted sync is possible via plugins.
- Plain Markdown file storage
- Bidirectional links and graph view
- Large community plugin ecosystem
- Local-first and private
Notesnook vs Obsidian: key differences
Notesnook is written in TypeScript, while Obsidian is built with JavaScript. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Notesnook versus Proprietary for Obsidian. Obsidian is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Notesnook. Notesnook lists first-class Docker deployment; Obsidian does not.
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 Obsidian if…
- Notes stay portable and local
- Highly extensible
Watch out for
- Core app is closed source
- Official sync is a paid service
Frequently asked questions
Is Notesnook or Obsidian better?
Obsidian is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Notesnook if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Notesnook and Obsidian free and open-source?
Yes. Notesnook is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Obsidian under Proprietary. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Notesnook and Obsidian with Docker?
Notesnook: yes. Obsidian: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Notesnook or Obsidian?
Obsidian has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Notesnook. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.