Obsidian vs Zennotes
ZenNotes is the stronger choice for users who require an MIT-licensed, self-hostable, keyboard/Vim-first Markdown workspace and are willing to operate their own synchronization or remote-access setup. Obsidian remains the safer choice for users who need its documented encrypted cross-device Sync, real-time shared vaults, graph view, or hosted publishing; the supplied ZenNotes material documents backlinks and search,但
Decision guide
The practical reasons to choose either option, based on documented capabilities.
Choose Zennotes if
- Vim-oriented writers managing local Markdown vaults
- Users requiring an MIT-licensed, modifiable notes application
- Home-server or LAN users wanting browser access to a self-hosted vault via Docker or a Go server from source组成偏好者起步不久后会自然获得便利发达的逐渐演进支持范围较小但可尝试开放源码整合工具，适合刚接触数字园艺建设的人群或开发者自定义环境中的爱好者。
Stay with Obsidian if
- Teams need shared vault invitations and real-time note updates
- You need AES-256 end-to-end encrypted synchronization with managed version history
- You rely on a graph view; ZenNotes documents backlinks but not a graph visualization传统写作方式会更适合专注文本编辑的人。若依赖空间化关系展示，原产品更稳妥。
Deployment and operations
ZenNotes is MIT-licensed and available as Electron desktop builds for macOS, Windows, and Linux. It also provides a self-hosted browser app backed by a Go server; Docker is supported, while Kubernetes support is not documented. Source builds require Node.js 22+, npm, and Go 1.22+ for the server path. The documented Docker default binds to 127.0.0.1, generates an authentication token, and is intended to sit behind a reverse proxy, VPN, or private-network gate rather than exposing the raw server直接
Migration considerations
ZenNotes reads ordinary Markdown files directly and explicitly supports Obsidian-style flat vaults, loose files, wiki links, backlinks, Obsidian-style callouts, and ![[image.png]] embeds. An existing vault can therefore be pointed at ZenNotes without a database import, but the supplied evidence does not establish compatibility with Obsidian plugins, settings, graph data, Sync, or Publish configurations; back up the vault and validate those elements before switching.
Feature fit
What Zennotes covers
- Local Markdown vaults
- Wiki links and backlinks
- Vault-wide full-text search
- Daily notes
- Tags and tasks
- Local file embeds
- Desktop applications
What’s different or missing
- Documented graph visualization
- Managed encrypted sync service
- Real-time shared-vault collaboration
- Hosted web publishing
- Documented Obsidian plugin compatibility
Project snapshot
- GitHub stars
- 2,308
- Contributors
- 15
- Language
- TypeScript
- Last commit
- Aug 14, 2026
- Latest release
- Aug 14, 2026
Categories: Document Collaboration, Knowledge Management, Note Taking, File Sync & Storage, Project Management
Sources and editorial review12 linked sources
Public documentation supports this comparison. Automation assists collection and classification; editorial standards and corrections remain the responsibility of Kris.
ZenNotes is a keyboard-first Markdown notes app with a shared product core and multiple runtimes.
readme · github.comEvery note is a normal `.md` file inside a chosen vault. ZenNotes does not store note content in a hidden database.
readme · github.comZenNotes includes: note search by title and path; vault-wide text search; tags view; tasks view; archive view; trash view; quick notes view.
readme · github.comPreview and split mode support: GitHub-flavored Markdown, KaTeX math, Mermaid, TikZ, JSXGraph, function-plot, callouts, footnotes, wiki links and backlinks.
readme · github.comZenNotes also runs as a self-hosted web app backed by a Go server.
readme · github.comThe self-hosted Docker flow is now secure by default.
readme · github.comZenNotes is a keyboard-first Markdown notes app with a shared product core and multiple runtimes:
verdict · github.comZenNotes also runs as a self-hosted web app backed by a Go server.
deployment · github.com- Node.js 22+ - npm - Go 1.22+ for the server build path - Docker optional, for self-hosting
deployment · github.com- primary notes can live at the vault root instead of requiring `inbox/` - loose files anywhere in the vault are surfaced as files/assets - embedded files like `![[image.png]]` resolve more like Obsidian - new referenced files default to the vault root instead of a required attachments folder
migration · github.comZenNotes includes: - note search by title and path - vault-wide text search - tags view - tasks view
shared feature · github.comBoth runtimes share the same core app, but they do not expose identical platform features.
missing feature · github.com
