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If you want your notes on a server you control instead of relying on a patchwork of sync services, start with SilverBullet and TriliumNext Notes. SilverBullet is the closer match for people who want ordinary Markdown files and browser access. TriliumNext is worth considering for a more structured knowledge base with desktop-to-server synchronization, but its documented Markdown import and export do not establish that its notes are stored as plain Markdown files.
Both projects document Docker deployments. That makes getting a server running relatively direct, not maintenance-free: SilverBullet’s setup guide also calls out TLS and filesystem considerations.
Which self-hosted Obsidian alternative fits your workflow?
| What matters most | Better fit | What the project documents |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping notes as ordinary Markdown files | SilverBullet | SilverBullet describes notes as Markdown files in a folder. SilverBullet |
| Browser access to a self-hosted app | SilverBullet | It runs as a web app and supports installation as a PWA. SilverBullet |
| Desktop use with a self-hosted sync server | TriliumNext Notes | Its documentation describes local desktop use and synchronization with a self-hosted server. TriliumNext documentation |
| Markdown import and export | TriliumNext Notes | The project lists Markdown import and export; that does not establish Markdown-native storage. TriliumNext repository |
1. SilverBullet: the closest fit for Markdown files and browser access
SilverBullet is an open-source, self-hosted knowledge-management system built around Markdown notes in a folder. You can run the server and open it in a modern desktop or mobile browser, or use its desktop app with a local folder that syncs to the server. Its project page also describes PWA installation, offline use, and syncing when you reconnect. SilverBullet project
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The official server page gives a Docker command that maps port 3000 and mounts a local data folder. The installation guide also documents a single-binary option, supports Intel-compatible 64-bit and ARM 64-bit server hardware, and says a few hundred megabytes of RAM is sufficient. That is a qualitative resource estimate, not a benchmark. SilverBullet server SilverBullet installation guide
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SilverBullet’s project describes its setup as “One container. Point it at a folder and you’re running.” Treat that as the project’s description of the quick start, not a promise that every deployment is effortless. SilverBullet server
Practical caveats before you expose it to your devices
- Put TLS in front of the server. SilverBullet recommends a TLS layer for encrypted connections and the full feature set. Plain HTTP on a local network has limitations. SilverBullet installation guide
- Use a suitable filesystem. The guide recommends a case-sensitive filesystem where possible. Sync depends on reliable file-modification timestamps, so filesystem behavior or external processes that change timestamps can cause problems. SilverBullet installation guide
- Choose the access model that suits you. The browser app is the simplest route; the project also documents a desktop app, local folders, and desktop-to-server synchronization. SilverBullet project
2. TriliumNext Notes: a structured knowledge base with desktop/server sync
TriliumNext is a reasonable choice if you want a broader personal knowledge base and expect to work in a desktop app that synchronizes with a server you operate. Its getting-started documentation supplies a Docker command that mounts a data directory and describes deploying the server on your own server or VPS. TriliumNext getting started
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What Markdown support means here
The project lists Markdown import and export, as well as a rich editor with Markdown autoformat. Those features can help move content in and out, but the available project documentation does not establish that TriliumNext stores its notes as ordinary Markdown files in a folder. If filesystem-level access to every note is a requirement, SilverBullet has the clearer documented fit. TriliumNext repository
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The reviewed documentation establishes desktop/server synchronization but does not give enough detail to compare offline guarantees or conflict handling with SilverBullet. Do not assume the two apps behave identically when multiple devices edit the same note.
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What to check before moving an Obsidian vault
Neither recommendation should be treated as a guarantee of full Obsidian-vault migration. The available documentation does not establish that either app imports every link, plugin, metadata field, and attachment intact, nor does it establish Obsidian plugin compatibility or exact feature parity.
- Make a separate copy of your vault and test with that copy, not your only working set.
- Import a representative sample that includes linked notes, attachments, metadata, and any plugin-dependent content you rely on.
- Check the results in the destination app: links, formatting, attachments, and any workflows you need.
- Confirm how you can export or recover your notes before moving the full vault.
Why these two are plausible replacements
Obsidian’s own sync guidance lists first-party sync, third-party cloud services, local sync such as Syncthing, and version control such as Git; it also notes limitations on some platforms. SilverBullet and TriliumNext offer another approach: run a server you control, with different trade-offs in note storage and access. Obsidian Sync guidance
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