QuillPad vs TriliumNext Notes
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted notes & knowledge base options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
QuillPad
Minimal note-taking app with notebooks and tags
VS
TriliumNext Notes
Cross-platform hierarchical note taking application with focus on
| Feature | QuillPad | TriliumNext Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Kotlin | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | source | docker, kubernetes |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,354 | ★ 37,298 |
| First released | 2022 | 2026 |
| Replaces | Google Keep, OneNote | — |
Why pick each one
Choose QuillPad if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (1.4k GitHub stars)
- Written in Kotlin
Choose TriliumNext Notes if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Kubernetes-ready with Helm charts available
- Mature project with 37.3k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is QuillPad or TriliumNext Notes better?
Neither is universally better. TriliumNext Notes has the larger community, while QuillPad is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are QuillPad and TriliumNext Notes free and open-source?
Yes. QuillPad is licensed under GPL-3.0 and TriliumNext Notes under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run QuillPad and TriliumNext Notes with Docker?
QuillPad: check the project docs for container support. TriliumNext Notes: yes.