What is the main difference between itsnotes and Joplin?

itsnotes and Joplin are both note-taking tools but differ in their approach, features, and target audience. Compare their GitHub stats, technology stack, and community adoption to make the best choice.

Which is better: itsnotes or Joplin?

The choice between itsnotes and Joplin depends on your specific needs, technical requirements, and team preferences. Both are quality open source solutions with active communities.

Can I migrate from itsnotes to Joplin?

Migration between itsnotes and Joplin is possible but requires careful planning. Consider data export/import capabilities, feature parity, and potential workflow changes.

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itsnotes vs Joplin

Learn how itsnotes and Joplin differ in their key features, development activity, technology stack and community adoption, so you can decide which of these note-taking tools is best for you.

itsnotes

A self-hosted, open-source note-taking app that keeps the Google Keep sticky-note feel while adding folders, timelines, list views, and import support.

Visit itsnotes Read more

42stars

Last 30 days

Last commit
15 hours ago
Repository age
5 months
Version
v2026.10.0
License
MIT
Self-hosted
Yes
Repository
itsnotes

Joplin

Cross-platform note-taking app with end-to-end encryption, Markdown support, web clipping, and sync via Dropbox, OneDrive, or Joplin Cloud.

Visit Joplin Read more

56,949stars+405(+0.7%)

Last 30 days

Last commit
12 hours ago
Repository age
10 years
Version
v3.7.22
Self-hosted
Yes
Repository
laurent22/joplin

Detailed Comparison

Both itsnotes and Joplin have their unique strengths and serve similar purposes effectively. Consider your specific needs regarding popularity, activity, technology, maturity, licensing and features when making your decision.

Joplin wins

Community & Popularity

Joplin significantly outpaces itsnotes in community adoption with 56,949 stars compared to 42 stars on GitHub. This 1355.9x difference suggests Joplin has a much larger and more active community. In terms of developer contributions, Joplin has 6,376 forks, indicating strong developer engagement.

Comparable

Development Activity

Both projects show recent activity, with itsnotes last updated 15 hours ago and Joplin 12 hours ago.

Comparable

Technology Stack

Both tools share common technology foundations, being built with JavaScript, CSS, Bash, Typescript, JSX. However, they differ in their additional technology choices: Joplin leverages Python, SCSS, Rust, C, Objective-C, Java, Swift, C++, Ruby, Kotlin, MATLAB.

Joplin wins

Project Maturity

Joplin has been in development longer, starting 10 years ago, compared to itsnotes which began 5 months ago. This 9.5-year head start suggests Joplin may have more mature features and established processes.

itsnotes wins

Licensing

itsnotes is licensed under MIT, while Joplin's license terms are not publicly specified.

Comparable

Use Cases & Features

Both tools serve similar use cases in Note-Taking, Secure & Encrypted Notes. However, they also have distinct specializations: Joplin extends into Personal Knowledge Management (PKM).

Comparable