Dnote 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 | Dnote | Joplin |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 78 · Good | 100 · Excellent |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Go | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,084 | ★ 56,477 |
| First released | 2017 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Evernote, Simplenote | Evernote, OneNote |
What are Dnote and Joplin?
Dnote
Dnote is an open-source, simple command-line notebook for programmers and terminal users. It captures quick notes without breaking focus and can sync through a self-hostable server.
- Command-line note capture
- Self-hostable sync server
- Browser extension
- Spaced-repetition digests
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
Dnote vs Joplin: key differences
Dnote is written in Go, while Joplin is built with TypeScript. Dnote is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Joplin. Joplin has the considerably larger community, at 56,477 GitHub stars versus 3,084.
Why pick each one
Choose Dnote if…
- Stays out of the way for developers
- Quick capture from terminal
Watch out for
- Terminal-first workflow
- Limited rich formatting
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 Dnote 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 Dnote and Joplin free and open-source?
Yes. Dnote is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Joplin under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Dnote and Joplin with Docker?
Dnote: yes. Joplin: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Dnote or Joplin?
Dnote 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.