QOwnNotes vs WizNote
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted notes & knowledge base options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | QOwnNotes | WizNote |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 90 · Excellent | 18 · At risk |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | GPL-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | C++ | C |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 5,886 | ★ 2,660 |
| First released | 2014 | 2011 |
| Replaces | Evernote, OneNote | Evernote, OneNote |
What are QOwnNotes and WizNote?
QOwnNotes
QOwnNotes is an open-source plain-text note-taking and to-do application with Markdown support. It integrates tightly with Nextcloud and ownCloud for syncing notes across devices.
- Plain-text Markdown notes
- Nextcloud and ownCloud sync
- Scripting support
- Note versioning via Nextcloud
WizNote
WizNote is a cross-platform note-taking app with desktop and mobile clients. The Qt desktop client is open source; the self-hostable sync server is distributed as a closed-source Docker image with a free tier for small teams.
- Cross-platform note clients
- Self-hostable sync server
- Rich note formatting
- Attachment support
QOwnNotes vs WizNote: key differences
QOwnNotes is written in C++, while WizNote is built with C. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for QOwnNotes versus GPL-3.0 for WizNote. QOwnNotes is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for WizNote. WizNote is the more established project (first released 2011), while QOwnNotes arrived in 2014. QOwnNotes has the considerably larger community, at 5,886 GitHub stars versus 2,660. WizNote lists first-class Docker deployment; QOwnNotes does not.
Why pick each one
Choose QOwnNotes if…
- Pairs well with Nextcloud
- Notes remain plain files
Watch out for
- Desktop only
- Interface feels utilitarian
Choose WizNote if…
- Mature multi-platform apps
- Server can be self-hosted
Watch out for
- Documentation strongest in Chinese
- Client and server are separate projects
Frequently asked questions
Is QOwnNotes or WizNote better?
QOwnNotes is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider WizNote if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are QOwnNotes and WizNote free and open-source?
Yes. QOwnNotes is licensed under GPL-2.0 and WizNote under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run QOwnNotes and WizNote with Docker?
QOwnNotes: check the project docs for container support. WizNote: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, QOwnNotes or WizNote?
QOwnNotes has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for WizNote. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.