SilverBullet

Self-Hosted

Open-source, self-hosted note-taking app with markdown and live collaboration

Overview

SilverBullet is an open-source, self-hosted note-taking and knowledge management tool built for speed and privacy. It supports markdown with live previews, bidirectional links, tags, and embedded queries to organize content. Deployable via Docker or standalone binary, it integrates with Git for version control and offers optional live collaboration. Its lightweight design ensures fast performance, while plugins extend functionality (e.g., AI text generation). Ideal for users wanting full control over their notes without proprietary lock-in.

Self-Hosting Resources

Find Official Image on Docker Hub View Source & Docs

Below is a reference structure for docker-compose.yml. ⚠️ Do NOT run blindly. Replace placeholders with official values.

docker-compose.template.yml TEMPLATE


version: '3'
services:
  silverbullet:
    image: <OFFICIAL_IMAGE_NAME>:latest
    container_name: silverbullet
    ports:
      - "8080:<APP_INTERNAL_PORT>"
    volumes:
      - ./data:/app/data
    restart: unless-stopped

Key Features

Markdown support with live preview
Bidirectional links & knowledge graph
Git integration for version control
Docker/standalone deployment options
Optional live collaboration

Frequently Asked Questions

? Is SilverBullet hard to install?

SilverBullet is straightforward to install: you can use the official Docker image for quick deployment, download a standalone binary for your OS, or deploy it on cloud platforms like Fly.io. No complex dependencies are required for basic setup.

? Is it a good alternative to Notion?

Yes—SilverBullet offers core features like markdown, bidirectional links, and content organization, but with full self-hosting and no data lock-in. It lacks Notion's visual database templates but excels in speed and privacy.

? Is it completely free?

SilverBullet is open-source under the MIT License, so it’s completely free to use, modify, and self-host. There are no paid tiers or hidden costs—all core features are available at no charge.

Top Alternatives

Notion Compare

Evernote Compare

Confluence Search Google

Tool Info

Pricing Open Source

Category Note-taking & Editors

Platform Self-Hosted

Pros

⊕ Privacy-focused (full self-hosting control)
⊕ No subscription fees
⊕ Extensible via plugins
⊕ Fast performance for large note libraries

Cons

⊖ Requires basic server setup or cloud deployment
⊖ Limited native mobile app support (web-based only)
⊖ Advanced AI features need plugin configuration