SilverBullet is a free, open-source, self-hosted Markdown notes app with Lua scripting and wiki-style linking. See features, pricing and alternatives.
SilverBullet is a free, open-source, self-hosted personal knowledge management application built on plain Markdown files. It was created by developer Zef Hemel and first released in 2022, and is described as a programmable, private, browser-based personal knowledge database.
Rather than storing notes in a proprietary format on someone else's servers, SilverBullet keeps a user's entire note collection, called a 'Space,' as plain Markdown files on disk on a server the user controls, distributed as a single self-contained binary or Docker container.
The tool is positioned for technically comfortable users who value data ownership, self-hosting, and scriptability over the convenience of a fully managed SaaS note app such as Notion.
SilverBullet provides a live-preview Markdown editor combined with wiki-style bidirectional linking, using double-bracket page links and automatic linked mentions to surface where a page is referenced elsewhere.
A built-in database and query language lets users treat their notes as structured, queryable data, enabling dashboards, task lists, and dynamic views built directly from Markdown content.
SilverBullet integrates a full Lua scripting environment that runs in the browser, allowing users to write custom commands, page templates, and interactive widgets to extend the editor's behavior.
SilverBullet's core application is free and open source under the MIT license, with no cost to download, self-host, or use indefinitely.
Because it is self-hosted, users are responsible for their own hosting costs, such as a VPS, home server, or Raspberry Pi, rather than paying a subscription to the SilverBullet project.
A separate commercial product, SilverBullet+, offers a packaged desktop edition for users who prefer a paid, pre-built experience, though the underlying open-source SilverBullet project remains free for anyone who wants to self-host it.
Yes, the core SilverBullet application is free and open source under the MIT license. A separate paid SilverBullet+ desktop edition also exists for users who want a packaged product.
Yes, SilverBullet is a self-hosted application; you install it on your own server, VPS, or device such as a Raspberry Pi rather than using a hosted SaaS version.
SilverBullet was created by developer Zef Hemel and was first released in 2022.
Notes are stored as plain Markdown files on disk in what SilverBullet calls a 'Space,' giving users full ownership and portability of their data.
Yes, SilverBullet includes a fully integrated Lua scripting environment for writing custom commands, templates, and widgets.
Yes, SilverBullet runs as a Progressive Web App and supports fully offline operation once installed, syncing when a connection is available.
Yes, SilverBullet supports wiki-style bidirectional linking using double-bracket page links and shows linked mentions automatically.
Both are Markdown-based knowledge tools, but SilverBullet is server-based and self-hosted with browser access and Lua scripting, while Obsidian is primarily a local desktop and mobile app with a plugin-based JavaScript ecosystem.