Self-hosting SilverBullet the easy way
Yulei ChenSilverBullet is an open-source, Markdown-based personal knowledge management (PKM) tool. It runs in your browser, supports Lua scripting, and stores everything as plain Markdown files. Unlike Notion or Obsidian Sync, there are no subscriptions, no cloud lock-in, and no limits on how many devices you use.
Sliplane makes self-hosting SilverBullet painless. With one-click deployment, you get a running instance in under a minute - no server setup, no reverse proxy, no infrastructure headaches.
Prerequisites
Before deploying, ensure you have a Sliplane account (free trial available).
Quick start
Sliplane provides one-click deployment with presets.
Deploy SilverBullet >- Click the deploy button above
- Select a project
- Select a server. If you just signed up you get a 48-hour free trial server
- Click Deploy!
About the preset
The one-click deploy above uses Sliplane's SilverBullet preset. Here's what it includes:
- Official SilverBullet image (
ghcr.io/silverbulletmd/silverbullet) pinned to version2.6.1 - Persistent storage mounted to
/spaceso your notes survive restarts and redeployments - Basic auth via the
SB_USERenvironment variable (auto-generated username and password) - Port
3000exposed over HTTPS through Sliplane's built-in reverse proxy
Next steps
Once SilverBullet is running, open the domain Sliplane assigned (e.g. silverbullet-xxxx.sliplane.app). You'll be prompted for your credentials.
Default credentials
The preset generates a random username and password stored in the SB_USER environment variable. You can find them in your service's Environment tab on Sliplane. The format is username:password.
To change your credentials, update the SB_USER variable and redeploy.
Writing and organizing notes
SilverBullet stores everything as Markdown files in the /space volume. You can:
- Create pages by typing a new page name in the top bar
- Use
Ctrl+K/Cmd+Kto open the command palette - Link between pages with
[[wiki-style links]] - Extend functionality with Lua scripting
Environment variables
You can customize your setup by adding or changing environment variables in the Sliplane dashboard:
| Variable | Description |
|---|---|
SB_USER | Basic auth credentials in user:pass format |
SB_SHELL_BACKEND | Set to local to enable shell commands (advanced) |
SB_SYNC_ONLY | Set to true for sync-only mode (no editing in the UI) |
Logging
SilverBullet logs to STDOUT by default, which works with Sliplane's built-in log viewer. Check the Logs tab in your Sliplane dashboard for troubleshooting. For general Docker log tips, see our post on how to use Docker logs.
Updating SilverBullet
To update, change the image tag in your service settings on Sliplane and redeploy. Check the SilverBullet GitHub releases for the latest stable version. Since your notes live in a persistent volume, they won't be affected by the update.
Cost comparison
Of course you can also self-host SilverBullet with other cloud providers. Here is a pricing comparison for the most common ones:
| Provider | vCPU | RAM | Disk | Monthly Cost | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sliplane | 2 | 2 GB | 40 GB | €9 (~$10.65) | Flat rate, 1 TB bandwidth, SSL included |
| Fly.io | 2 | 2 GB | 40 GB | ~$18 | Disk and bandwidth billed separately |
| Render | 1 | 2 GB | 40 GB | ~$35 | 100 GB bandwidth, Disk billed separately |
| Railway | 2 | 2 GB | 40 GB | ~$67 + $20 plan | Pro plan floor, usage-based, bandwidth billed separately |
Click here to see how these numbers were calculated.
(Assuming an always-on instance running 730 hrs/month)
- Sliplane: flat €9/month for the Base server. Unlimited services on the same server, 1 TB egress and SSL included.
- Fly.io:
shared-cpu-2x2 GB = $11.83/mo + 40 GB volume × $0.15/GB = $6 -> ~$17.83/mo. Egress billed separately ($0.02/GB in EU). - Render: closest match is Standard ($25, 1 vCPU / 2 GB) plus 40 GB disk × $0.25/GB = $10 -> ~$35/mo. Stepping up to Pro (2 vCPU / 4 GB) costs $85/mo + disk.
- Railway (Pro plan): CPU 2 × $0.00000772/s × 2,628,000 s = $40.57; RAM 2 × $0.00000386/s × 2,628,000 s = $20.29; volume 40 × $0.00000006/s × 2,628,000 s = $6.31 -> ~$67/mo compute, plus the $20/mo Pro plan floor and $0.05/GB egress.
Bandwidth costs can add up fast on usage-based providers. Use our bandwidth cost comparison tool to see what your egress would cost on each platform.
FAQ
What can I use SilverBullet for?
SilverBullet works great as a personal wiki, daily journal, project planner, or second brain. Since everything is Markdown, your notes are portable and easy to search. You can extend it with Lua scripts to build custom workflows, query your notes like a database, and automate repetitive tasks.
How do I configure SilverBullet?
Most configuration happens through environment variables and through SilverBullet's built-in settings page (accessible from the command palette). The SB_USER variable handles authentication. For advanced options, check the official configuration docs.
How do I update SilverBullet?
Change the image tag in your Sliplane service settings (e.g. from 2.6.1 to a newer version) and click redeploy. Your notes are stored in a persistent volume and won't be affected.
Can I access SilverBullet on multiple devices?
Yes. SilverBullet is browser-based, so you can access it from any device with a web browser. It also supports a Progressive Web App (PWA) mode with offline editing that syncs when you reconnect.
Can I use SilverBullet with mobile devices?
Yes. SilverBullet works in mobile browsers and supports PWA installation on both iOS and Android. You can install it as a home screen app for a native-like experience with offline support.
