Notesnook 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.
Notesnook
Private, end-to-end encrypted note-taking app
VS
Zettlr
Markdown editor for writers, researchers, and Zettelkasten users
| Feature | Notesnook | Zettlr |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 94 · Excellent | 94 · Excellent |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | bare-metal, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 14,628 | ★ 13,577 |
| First released | 2021 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Evernote, OneNote, Notion | Notion, Obsidian |
What are Notesnook and Zettlr?
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
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
Notesnook vs Zettlr: key differences
Both projects are written in TypeScript. Zettlr is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Notesnook. Zettlr is the more established project (first released 2017), while Notesnook arrived in 2021. Notesnook lists first-class Docker deployment; Zettlr 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 Zettlr if…
- Strong academic features
- Plain Markdown files
Watch out for
- Desktop only
- No native sync server
Frequently asked questions
Is Notesnook or Zettlr better?
Neither is universally better. Notesnook has the larger community, while Zettlr is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Notesnook and Zettlr free and open-source?
Yes. Notesnook is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Zettlr under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Notesnook and Zettlr with Docker?
Notesnook: yes. Zettlr: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Notesnook or Zettlr?
Zettlr 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.