Joplin vs Notabase
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted notes & knowledge base options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Joplin
Open-source note-taking and to-do app with sync
VS
Notabase
Personal knowledge base for networked thinking
| Feature | Joplin | Notabase |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | source, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 55,856 | ★ 910 |
| First released | 2017 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Evernote, OneNote | Roam Research, Obsidian |
Why pick each one
Choose Notabase if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Written in TypeScript
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Joplin or Notabase better?
Joplin is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Notabase if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Joplin and Notabase free and open-source?
Yes. Joplin is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Notabase under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Joplin and Notabase with Docker?
Joplin: yes. Notabase: check the project docs for container support.