Joplin vs Khoj
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
VS
Khoj
Self-hostable AI assistant over your personal notes
| Feature | Joplin | Khoj |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 100 · Excellent | 94 · Excellent |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 56,477 | ★ 37,485 |
| First released | 2017 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Evernote, OneNote | Notion AI, Evernote |
What are Joplin and Khoj?
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
Khoj
Khoj is an open-source, self-hostable AI application that lets you search and chat with your notes, documents, and knowledge base. It connects to Markdown, Org-mode, PDF, and other personal data sources.
- AI chat over personal notes
- Semantic search across documents
- Connects many data sources
- Self-hostable
Joplin vs Khoj: key differences
Joplin is written in TypeScript, while Khoj is built with Python. Joplin is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for Khoj. Joplin is the more established project (first released 2017), while Khoj arrived in 2021.
Why pick each one
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
Choose Khoj if…
- Turns notes into an AI knowledge base
- Supports local LLMs
Watch out for
- Higher resource needs
- Setup more involved
Frequently asked questions
Is Joplin or Khoj better?
Joplin is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Khoj if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Joplin and Khoj free and open-source?
Yes. Joplin is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Khoj under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Joplin and Khoj with Docker?
Joplin: yes. Khoj: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Joplin or Khoj?
Joplin has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 2,048 MB for Khoj. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.