SilverBullet is a free open-source note-taking app for building a personal notebook from linked text pages.1 It suits people who want their research, plans and everyday notes in a place they can shape themselves. The Server edition lets you choose the machine that hosts your notebook.5
Last checked October 28, 2026.
At a glance
- What it is: A linked Markdown notebook with optional scripting.1
- Works on: Desktop and phone browsers through SilverBullet Server.2
- Price: Server is free; Desktop Personal is free for personal use and education; Desktop Pro costs $50 per user yearly; PikaPods hosting starts at $2/month.3
- Licence: MIT for Server; the separate Desktop edition is not open source.2
- Best for: A growing personal wiki and people willing to manage hosting or arrange help.
- Official site: silverbullet.md
What SilverBullet does and how it protects your privacy
SilverBullet calls a collection of Markdown pages a “Space” and connects them with links that work in both directions.1 Markdown is ordinary text with simple marks for headings, lists and emphasis. Picture a home-maintenance notebook: a boiler page can connect to repair notes, useful contacts and next winter’s checklist.
You can run Server yourself as a single program or a Docker container, or have a hosting provider run it.5 Self-hosting means running an application on a computer you control. That gives you a useful choice about where your notebook lives, along with responsibility for keeping that computer secure and backed up.
SilverBullet Desktop is a separate option that keeps a notebook in a local folder and can synchronise with Server.2 Choose Server when open-source software is a requirement. Choose your hosting arrangement before filling the notebook with personal records.
SilverBullet’s key features
- Live preview: Edit Markdown while seeing its formatted appearance.1
- Two-way links: Follow connections between pages and their mentions.1
- Outlining: Organise ideas as nested lists.1
- Tasks: Keep things to do alongside the notes they belong to.1
- Queries: Build lists from information inside your notebook.1
- Space Lua: Add custom commands, page templates and small interactive elements with scripts.1 A script is a short program that performs a task.
SilverBullet pros and cons
Pros
- Markdown pages give your writing a straightforward text format.1
- Server’s MIT licence permits using, modifying and sharing the software.1 It is a good fit for readers who value software freedom.
- The phone-friendly web app supports offline use and synchronises when connected again.2
- Start with ordinary writing and links, then explore customisation when you have a clear need.
Cons
- Running your own server adds maintenance work; include time for updates and backups in your decision.
- The installation guide recommends Linux and discourages running Server on a case-insensitive filesystem.5 Case-sensitive storage treats “Plans” and “plans” as different names.
- Optional browser encryption is not end-to-end encryption.4 Your hosting choice still matters.
- Giving someone write access also lets them add scripts that run for other visitors.8 Reserve that access for trusted people.
Is SilverBullet safe and private?
Zef Hemel created SilverBullet, with community contributions.2 The latest stable Server release is 2.12.1, published October 12, 2026, showing continued maintenance.6 Keep your installation current rather than treating open-source status as a security guarantee.
By default, Server’s web client stores an unencrypted copy of your files and index in the browser’s IndexedDB.4 IndexedDB is storage inside your browser. With built-in authentication, “Enable client encryption” encrypts that local copy, but can slow the app and require another login after its tabs close.4
Server-side files are encrypted only if the notebook folder sits on an encrypted volume.4 This is different from end-to-end encryption, which keeps content unreadable to the service carrying it. For connections beyond your own computer, the installation guide recommends a TLS layer for encrypted connections and full functionality.5 TLS is the protection used by HTTPS websites.
The separate Desktop app sends its version, operating system and architecture during update checks.7 Its Flatpak builds also send an installation identifier, and Pro licence checks include the computer’s name.7 These disclosures concern Desktop; they should not be turned into a blanket claim about Server telemetry.
How to get started with SilverBullet
- Choose a route. Use the official Server installation guide. Begin on your own computer if you want a small trial before arranging access from other devices.
- Install the official package. Follow the guide’s self-contained server or Docker instructions.5 Ask a trusted helper if command-line setup feels unfamiliar.
- Decide who can connect. Set up sign-in before putting personal material on a reachable server, and follow the guide’s HTTPS instructions.
- Write a small notebook. Make pages for two familiar topics, link them, and add one task. Use harmless sample notes while learning.
- Prepare for device access. Install the phone browser version as a PWA for an app icon and offline use.2 A PWA is a website you can install like an app.
- Make recovery part of the routine. Arrange a separate backup and practise restoring a sample page before relying on the notebook for important records.
Who should use SilverBullet, and who might prefer something else?
SilverBullet is a strong candidate if you enjoy connecting ideas and want room to customise later. Start with a reading notebook, household reference or project log. Give yourself a week of ordinary writing before adding scripts; a useful notebook matters more than a complicated setup.
If your goal is a simpler notebook, compare flatnotes. If your main concern is keeping synchronised notes unreadable to a hosting provider, put Notesnook on your comparison list. Decide first whether you want to manage a server, then compare each tool’s storage and encryption approach.
Frequently asked questions
Is SilverBullet free?
SilverBullet Server is free and MIT licensed, including for work use.3 Budget separately for the computer or hosting it needs. The separate Desktop and hosted options have the prices shown above.
Can SilverBullet work offline?
Its installed browser app works offline and synchronises when you reconnect.2 Before travelling, open your notebook on the device you will use and try it briefly without a connection.
Does SilverBullet hide notes from the server host?
Client encryption protects browser storage, not the server copy.4 Choose hosting you trust and consider whether a different encryption model better fits highly sensitive notes.
