What it does
SilverBullet is an open-source knowledge management system built around Markdown pages in a user-controlled space. Its browser editor combines live preview, wiki-style bidirectional links, search, a built-in database and query language, and Lua scripting. The official pricing page lists the server as free and open source, Desktop Personal as free for personal or educational use, and Desktop Pro at $50 per user per year for work use.
Turn a folder of Markdown into a personal knowledge system
SilverBullet stores a collection of pages in a Space and lets users navigate either through a page picker or bidirectional links. The official documentation describes running it as a self-hosted web app, using a desktop version, or choosing a hosted provider. For personal notes, a good starting point is to keep each topic as a page and link people, books, or projects as the related pages accumulate. Its built-in database, query language, and Lua environment can extend that system when plain search is no longer enough.
The pricing distinction matters: the official pricing page lists the server as free and MIT-licensed, Desktop Personal as free for personal and education use, and Desktop Pro at $50 per user per year for work. The repository lists release 2.12.1 on 2026-10-12; the project license is MIT. This is a flexible knowledge system that can become a wiki or docs site, not just a simple notebook. No hosting, desktop, query, or scripting behavior was tested.
Strengths
- Markdown pages, wiki links, and live preview support a readable personal knowledge base.
- The database/query and Lua scripting environment allows users to build on the note system.
- The self-hosted server is free; personal and educational desktop use has a free tier.
Watch out for
- Self-hosting or choosing a hosted provider adds setup decisions beyond a simple consumer notes app.
- The official pricing page requires a paid Desktop Pro license for work use.
Best for
- People who want a Markdown-based personal knowledge base they can extend with queries and scripts
- Teams or families considering a self-hosted wiki built from pages they own
Sources
- SilverBullet | Official Product Homepage (Oct 25, 2026)
- SilverBullet Documentation (Oct 25, 2026)
- Pricing | SilverBullet (Oct 25, 2026)
- SilverBullet | Official Repository (Oct 25, 2026)
- SilverBullet Releases | GitHub (Oct 25, 2026)
- MIT License | SilverBullet (Oct 25, 2026)