Reor vs SilverBullet
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted notes & knowledge base options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Reor | SilverBullet |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 15 · At risk | 91 · Excellent |
| Status | Archived | Actively maintained |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | JavaScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 8,551 | ★ 6,142 |
| First released | 2024 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Evernote, Notion | Notion, Obsidian |
What are Reor and SilverBullet?
Reor
Reor is an open-source, private, local-first AI note-taking application. It automatically links related notes, runs AI models locally, and stores everything as plain Markdown files on your machine.
- Local AI models
- Automatic note linking
- Plain Markdown storage
- Semantic search
SilverBullet
SilverBullet is an extensible, Markdown-based note-taking web app that you can run on your own server and access from any browser. It targets users who want a programmable personal knowledge tool. It is deployed via Docker or Deno.
- Markdown-based with live queries
- Extensible via Space Script
- Works offline as a PWA
- Plain file storage
Reor vs SilverBullet: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Reor's repository is archived and no longer developed, while SilverBullet is actively maintained. Reor is written in JavaScript, while SilverBullet is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Reor versus MIT for SilverBullet. SilverBullet is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Reor. SilverBullet is the more established project (first released 2022), while Reor arrived in 2024. SilverBullet lists first-class Docker deployment; Reor does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Reor if…
- AI features without sending data away
- Notes stay as portable files
Watch out for
- AI features need more RAM
- Younger project
Choose SilverBullet if…
- Highly hackable
- Lightweight
- Files stay portable
Watch out for
- Niche and DIY-oriented
- Smaller community
Frequently asked questions
Is Reor or SilverBullet better?
Neither is universally better. Reor has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Reor and SilverBullet free and open-source?
Yes. Reor is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and SilverBullet under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Reor and SilverBullet with Docker?
Reor: check the project docs for container support. SilverBullet: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Reor or SilverBullet?
SilverBullet has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Reor. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.