Flatnotes 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.
Flatnotes
Self-hosted, database-less note-taking web app
VS
Joplin
Open-source note-taking and to-do app with sync
| Feature | Flatnotes | Joplin |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 88 · Excellent | 100 · Excellent |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Vue | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,230 | ★ 56,477 |
| First released | 2021 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Evernote, Simplenote | Evernote, OneNote |
What are Flatnotes and Joplin?
Flatnotes
Flatnotes is a self-hosted web application for taking notes, with a focus on simplicity and storing all notes as flat Markdown files. It has no database and keeps notes easy to back up and access.
- Flat Markdown file storage
- No database required
- Full-text search
- Clean minimal interface
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
Flatnotes vs Joplin: key differences
Flatnotes is written in Vue, while Joplin is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — MIT for Flatnotes versus AGPL-3.0 for Joplin. Flatnotes 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 Flatnotes arrived in 2021. Joplin has the considerably larger community, at 56,477 GitHub stars versus 3,230.
Why pick each one
Choose Flatnotes if…
- Trivial to back up
- Very lightweight
Watch out for
- Basic feature set
- Single-user oriented
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 Flatnotes 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 Flatnotes and Joplin free and open-source?
Yes. Flatnotes is licensed under MIT and Joplin under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Flatnotes and Joplin with Docker?
Flatnotes: yes. Joplin: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Flatnotes or Joplin?
Flatnotes 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.