Memos and SilverBullet are both free, open-source, self-hosted Markdown tools, but they're built for different workflows. Memos is a timeline-first app for…
Best for Memos: Memos fits people who want a lightweight, single-binary deployment for quick daily-log-style Markdown notes with a choice of SQLite, MySQL, or PostgreSQL as the backend.
Best for SilverBullet: SilverBullet fits people who want to build an interconnected, queryable knowledge base with bidirectional links, page templates, and in-note scripting, rather than a simple note timeline.
At a Glance
Memos
SilverBullet
Primary category
Productivity
Productivity
Rating
Not documented
Not documented
Pricing model
Open Source
Free / open source (optional paid SilverBullet+ desktop edition)
Starting price
Free
Free
Free plan
Not documented
Not documented
Free trial
Not documented
Not documented
Platforms
Web
Web
Team collaboration
Not documented
Not documented
AI features
Not documented
Not documented
Public API
Yes
Not documented
Key Differences
Note Model
Memos: Memos is a timeline-first log of quick, titleless Markdown notes with no folders or templates.
SilverBullet: SilverBullet is a full Markdown wiki with wiki-style bidirectional linking, page templates, and outlining - built for structured, interconnected knowledge bases.
A timeline suits rapid, low-friction capture, while a linked wiki suits deliberately structured, cross-referenced knowledge.
Programmability
Memos: A query language or in-note scripting is not documented for Memos, which instead offers REST and gRPC APIs for external integrations.
SilverBullet: SilverBullet includes a built-in query language (SLIQ) to query notes like a lightweight database, plus Space Lua scripting for dynamic content and automation.
In-note querying and scripting let users build dynamic, database-like views without leaving the app.
Deployment Footprint
Memos: Memos runs as a single Go binary in an approximately 20MB Docker image, with SQLite by default or MySQL/PostgreSQL for larger deployments.
SilverBullet: SilverBullet also deploys as a single binary or Docker container, but no database backend choice is documented in the facts.
Database backend flexibility matters for teams anticipating larger-scale, multi-user deployments.
Bidirectional Linking
Memos: Bidirectional linking between notes is not documented for Memos, which organizes content via tags and full-text search instead.
SilverBullet: SilverBullet supports wiki-style bidirectional linking natively in its live-preview Markdown editor.
Bidirectional links let users navigate and discover related notes without manual tagging alone.
Task Management
Memos: Dedicated task-list features are not documented for Memos, which focuses on freeform Markdown timeline entries.
SilverBullet: SilverBullet has built-in support for task lists and outlining directly inside notes.
Native task-list support lets a notes app double as a lightweight to-do system.
Feature-by-Feature
Note Structure & Linking
Feature
Memos
SilverBullet
Bidirectional linking
Not documented
Available
Timeline/log-style capture
Available
Not documented
Page templates
Not documented
Available
Tagging
Available
Not documented
Full-text search
Available
Not documented
Automation & Querying
Feature
Memos
SilverBullet
Built-in database-style query language
Unavailable
Available
In-note scripting
Not documented
Available
REST/gRPC API
Available
Not documented
Task lists/outlining
Not documented
Available
Deployment & Access
Feature
Memos
SilverBullet
Single-binary/Docker deployment
Available
Available
Database backend choice (SQLite/MySQL/PostgreSQL)
Available
Not documented
Zero telemetry by default
Available
Not documented
Browser-based editor
Not documented
Available
Official hosted cloud version
Unavailable
Unavailable
Pricing Compared
Starting price reflects the lowest paid tier, not the full cost for every team size or usage level.
Memos
Self-Hosted (Open Source) — Free N/A
SilverBullet
SilverBullet (Open Source) — $0 Free, self-hosted
Pros & Cons
Memos
Pros
Completely free and open source under the MIT license
Full data ownership through self-hosting, with no vendor lock-in
Lightweight and fast, with a small resource footprint suitable for a Raspberry Pi
Simple, quick-capture timeline interface that is faster than heavier note apps for short-form notes
Active open-source community contributing translations, themes and integrations
Cons
Requires technical comfort with Docker or server administration to self-host
No official managed cloud hosting, so users are responsible for backups and uptime
Timeline-based structure is less suited to long-form documents or deeply nested wikis
Fewer built-in collaboration features than commercial team note tools
No official enterprise support contract or SLA since it is a community project
SilverBullet
Pros
Completely free and open source under the MIT license
Notes stored as plain, portable Markdown files with no lock-in
Powerful Lua scripting for users who want to customize their workflow
Works fully offline as a Progressive Web App
Strong privacy since data never leaves servers the user controls
Cons
Requires self-hosting, which involves technical setup most non-technical users will find difficult
No built-in cloud sync between multiple self-hosted instances without additional configuration
Smaller community and plugin ecosystem than established tools like Obsidian
Lua scripting has a learning curve for users without a programming background
No official mobile apps; access is via the browser-based PWA
Use Cases
Choose Memos: Memos fits people who want a lightweight, single-binary deployment for quick daily-log-style Markdown notes with a choice of SQLite, MySQL, or PostgreSQL as the backend.
Choose SilverBullet: SilverBullet fits people who want to build an interconnected, queryable knowledge base with bidirectional links, page templates, and in-note scripting, rather than a simple note timeline.
Need both: Someone could use Memos as a fast-capture inbox for daily notes and periodically move structured, interlinked material into SilverBullet where SLIQ queries and Space Lua scripting can operate on it - though no documented integration connects the two, so migration would be manual.
Memos
Personal Daily Journaling — Individuals use Memos as a quick-capture timeline for daily thoughts, to-dos and links, similar to a personal microblog.
Self-Hosted Team Notes — Small technical teams deploy a shared Memos instance on internal infrastructure to jot down quick updates and shared references without adopting a paid SaaS tool.
Home Lab and Raspberry Pi Projects — Hobbyists running home labs use Memos as a lightweight self-hosted app alongside other services, since it requires minimal resources.
SilverBullet
Privacy-focused personal knowledge base — Individuals who want full control over their notes self-host SilverBullet to keep all data on their own infrastructure instead of a third-party cloud service.
Developer-built custom workflows — Developers use SilverBullet's Lua scripting environment to build custom commands, templates, and widgets tailored to their own note-taking workflow.
Offline-first note-taking — Users who need reliable offline access rely on SilverBullet's Progressive Web App mode to keep working without an internet connection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do either of these have a query language for notes?
SilverBullet has SLIQ, a built-in query language for treating notes as structured data. This isn't documented for Memos.
Which is better for quick, unstructured daily notes?
Memos, which is purpose-built as a timeline-first, titleless capture tool with no folders or templates.
Which supports scripting inside notes?
SilverBullet, via its Space Lua scripting environment for dynamic content and automation.
Do either offer a hosted cloud version?
No - both require self-hosting; neither documents an official hosted or cloud option.
What database backends does Memos support?
SQLite by default, with MySQL or PostgreSQL available for larger deployments.
Is either app free?
Yes, both Memos and SilverBullet are completely free and open source under the MIT license, with no paid tier.