SilverBullet

An open-source, self-hosted Markdown knowledge base you can program with Lua.

Open sourceSelf-hostableNote-taking apps

Verified facts: 4 of 4
Alternatives ranked: 5
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About SilverBullet

SilverBullet is an open-source notes and knowledge base app built on plain Markdown files, aimed at people who like to tinker. You can self-host SilverBullet Server as a single container and use it from any browser, including on your phone, where it keeps working offline, or use the desktop app for macOS, Windows and Linux with your notes as a folder on your machine. Pages support links and backlinks, tags, attributes and queries, and the standout feature is that you can extend it with Lua scripts and queries written inside your notes, turning pages into dashboards, task lists or a small team wiki. The server and command-line tool are MIT licensed and free; the desktop app is free for personal use. The trade-offs are that you need to be comfortable hosting it yourself, mobile use is through the browser rather than native apps, and the scripting is a big part of its appeal. It suits developers who want a hackable personal wiki.

Best for: Developers who want a self-hosted, programmable Markdown wiki.

What works

Plain Markdown files you own
Scriptable with Lua and queries
Single-container self-hosting
Works offline in the browser

Why people leave

Self-hosting takes some technical skill
No native mobile apps
Smaller community than Obsidian

Top SilverBullet alternatives

See all 5

1
Obsidian
Local Markdown with polished native apps and thousands of plugins.
80.3
2
Logseq
Open-source outliner with queries over local Markdown files.
69.8
3
Joplin
Open-source notes with native mobile apps and many sync options.
65.5
4
Trilium Notes
Another self-hosted knowledge base, with scripting and a note tree.
62.6
5
Memos
Lighter self-hosted notes for quick thoughts.
57.2

Why people left SilverBullet

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SilverBullet: common questions

Is SilverBullet free?

Yes. SilverBullet is free, open-source software that you can host yourself.

Is SilverBullet open source?

Yes. The source code is on GitHub at silverbulletmd/silverbullet. You can also run it on your own server.

What platforms does SilverBullet run on?

SilverBullet is available for Web, macOS, Windows, Linux and Self-hosted.

What are the best alternatives to SilverBullet?

The highest-ranked SilverBullet alternatives right now are Obsidian, Logseq and Joplin. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 5 SilverBullet alternatives

SilverBullet facts

4 of 4 verified

License: MIT; Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab); “License: MIT (MIT License).”
Open source: Server and CLI; Checked Oct 25, 2026silverbullet.md(opens source in a new tab); “SilverBullet Server and the sb CLI are MIT licensed and developed in the open.”
Self-hosting: Single container; Checked Oct 25, 2026silverbullet.md(opens source in a new tab); “Self-host it as a single container, then use it from any browser, including on your phone.”
Desktop app: macOS, Windows, Linux; Checked Oct 25, 2026silverbullet.md(opens source in a new tab); “A native app for macOS, Windows and Linux, with your spaces as folders on your machine.”