BatNoter vs Joplin
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted notes & knowledge base options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Joplin
Open-source note-taking and to-do app with sync
| Feature | BatNoter | Joplin |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 18 · At risk | 100 · Excellent |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,421 | ★ 56,477 |
| First released | 2022 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Standard Notes, Evernote | Evernote, OneNote |
What are BatNoter and Joplin?
BatNoter
BatNoter is an open-source, Markdown-based note-taking web application that stores all notes in a user's own Git repository. It provides an editor with preview and keeps notes versioned and portable.
- Notes stored in your Git repo
- Markdown editor with preview
- Versioned, portable notes
- Self-hosted backend
Joplin
Joplin is an open-source note-taking and to-do application with Markdown editing, web clipper, and end-to-end encrypted sync. It targets individuals who want private, portable notes across devices. It can sync via a self-hosted Joplin Server, Nextcloud, or WebDAV.
- Markdown notes and to-dos
- End-to-end encrypted sync
- Web clipper extension
- Apps on every platform
BatNoter vs Joplin: key differences
Both projects are written in TypeScript. Licensing differs — MIT for BatNoter versus AGPL-3.0 for Joplin. BatNoter is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Joplin. Joplin is the more established project (first released 2017), while BatNoter arrived in 2022. Joplin has the considerably larger community, at 56,477 GitHub stars versus 2,421.
Why pick each one
Choose BatNoter if…
- Released under the MIT license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (2.4k GitHub stars)
- Written in TypeScript
Choose Joplin if…
- Strong privacy with E2EE
- Flexible sync options
- Active development
Watch out for
- Sync server setup optional but extra
- Editor less polished than rivals
Frequently asked questions
Is BatNoter or Joplin better?
Joplin is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider BatNoter if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are BatNoter and Joplin free and open-source?
Yes. BatNoter is licensed under MIT and Joplin under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run BatNoter and Joplin with Docker?
BatNoter: yes. Joplin: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, BatNoter or Joplin?
BatNoter has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Joplin. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.