Joplin vs Reor
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
Reor
Archived
AI-powered local-first personal knowledge management app
| Feature | Joplin | Reor |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 100 · Excellent | 15 · At risk |
| Status | Actively maintained | Archived |
| Category | Notes & Knowledge Base | Notes & Knowledge Base |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 56,477 | ★ 8,551 |
| First released | 2017 | 2024 |
| Replaces | Evernote, OneNote | Evernote, Notion |
What are Joplin and Reor?
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
Reor
Reor is an open-source, private, local-first AI note-taking application. It automatically links related notes, runs AI models locally, and stores everything as plain Markdown files on your machine.
- Local AI models
- Automatic note linking
- Plain Markdown storage
- Semantic search
Joplin vs Reor: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Reor's repository is archived and no longer developed, while Joplin is actively maintained. Joplin is written in TypeScript, while Reor is built with JavaScript. Joplin is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Reor. Joplin is the more established project (first released 2017), while Reor arrived in 2024. Joplin has the considerably larger community, at 56,477 GitHub stars versus 8,551. Joplin lists first-class Docker deployment; Reor 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 Reor if…
- AI features without sending data away
- Notes stay as portable files
Watch out for
- AI features need more RAM
- Younger project
Frequently asked questions
Is Joplin or Reor 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 Reor free and open-source?
Yes. Joplin is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Reor under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Joplin and Reor with Docker?
Joplin: yes. Reor: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Joplin or Reor?
Joplin has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Reor. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.