Joplin vs Laverna
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
Laverna
Markdown note-taking app with client-side encryption
| Feature | Joplin | Laverna |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 100 · Excellent | 24 · At risk |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MPL-2.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 56,477 | ★ 9,171 |
| First released | 2017 | 2014 |
| Replaces | Evernote, OneNote | Evernote, Simplenote |
What are Joplin and Laverna?
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
Laverna
Laverna is an open-source, web-based note-taking application with Markdown support and client-side encryption. It can store notes locally or sync via Dropbox or remoteStorage and can be self-hosted as a static app.
- Client-side encryption
- Markdown editor
- Offline support
- Static self-hosted app
Joplin vs Laverna: key differences
Joplin is written in TypeScript, while Laverna is built with JavaScript. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Joplin versus MPL-2.0 for Laverna. Laverna is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Joplin. Laverna is the more established project (first released 2014), while Joplin arrived in 2017. Joplin has the considerably larger community, at 56,477 GitHub stars versus 9,171. Joplin lists first-class Docker deployment; Laverna does not.
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 Laverna if…
- Strong privacy focus
- No backend required
Watch out for
- Development has stalled
- Aging codebase
Frequently asked questions
Is Joplin or Laverna 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 Joplin and Laverna free and open-source?
Yes. Joplin is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Laverna under MPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Joplin and Laverna with Docker?
Joplin: yes. Laverna: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Joplin or Laverna?
Laverna 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.