Beaver Notes 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 | Beaver Notes | Joplin |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 82 · Excellent | 100 · Excellent |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,343 | ★ 56,477 |
| First released | 2023 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Evernote, OneNote | Evernote, OneNote |
What are Beaver Notes and Joplin?
Beaver Notes
File-over-app note tools include several options; Beaver Notes is an open-source, privacy-focused note-taking application that stores notes locally. It offers a clean editor with tags, folders, and Markdown.
- Local-first note storage
- Markdown editor
- Tags and folders
- Cross-platform apps
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
Beaver Notes vs Joplin: key differences
Beaver Notes is written in JavaScript, while Joplin is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — MIT for Beaver Notes versus AGPL-3.0 for Joplin. Joplin is the more established project (first released 2017), while Beaver Notes arrived in 2023. Joplin has the considerably larger community, at 56,477 GitHub stars versus 1,343. Joplin lists first-class Docker deployment; Beaver Notes does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Beaver Notes if…
- Privacy-focused and local
- Clean modern interface
Watch out for
- Younger project
- Sync requires external tools
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 Beaver Notes or Joplin better?
Neither is universally better. Joplin has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Beaver Notes and Joplin free and open-source?
Yes. Beaver Notes is licensed under MIT and Joplin under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Beaver Notes and Joplin with Docker?
Beaver Notes: check the project docs for container support. Joplin: yes.