Joplin vs QuillPad
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
QuillPad
Minimal note-taking app with notebooks and tags
| Feature | Joplin | QuillPad |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 100 · Excellent | 84 · Excellent |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | Kotlin |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 56,477 | ★ 1,388 |
| First released | 2017 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Evernote, OneNote | Google Keep, OneNote |
What are Joplin and QuillPad?
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
QuillPad
Quillpad is an open-source note-taking application focused on a clean, distraction-free writing experience with rich text formatting. It organizes notes into notebooks and supports tags, search, and offline use.
- Rich text notes
- Notebooks and tags
- Offline-first design
- Lightweight footprint
Joplin vs QuillPad: key differences
Joplin is written in TypeScript, while QuillPad is built with Kotlin. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Joplin versus GPL-3.0 for QuillPad. QuillPad 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 QuillPad arrived in 2022. Joplin has the considerably larger community, at 56,477 GitHub stars versus 1,388. Joplin lists first-class Docker deployment; QuillPad 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 QuillPad if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (1.4k GitHub stars)
- Written in Kotlin
Frequently asked questions
Is Joplin or QuillPad 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 QuillPad free and open-source?
Yes. Joplin is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and QuillPad under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Joplin and QuillPad with Docker?
Joplin: yes. QuillPad: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Joplin or QuillPad?
QuillPad 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.