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Joplin VS AppFlowy

Compare Joplin VS AppFlowy and see what are their differences

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Joplin logo Joplin

Joplin is a free, open source note taking and to-do application, which can handle a large number of notes organised into notebooks. The notes are searchable, tagged and modified either from the applications directly or from your own text editor.

AppFlowy logo AppFlowy

AppFlowy is an open source alternative to Notion. You are in charge of your data and customizations.
  • Joplin Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-20
  • AppFlowy Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-14

Joplin features and specs

  • Open Source
    Joplin is open source, which means the source code is freely available and can be modified or studied by anyone. This ensures transparency and provides the community with the ability to contribute to its development.
  • Cross-Platform
    Joplin is available on multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, which allows users to access their notes and to-dos across different devices.
  • End-to-End Encryption
    Joplin offers end-to-end encryption, ensuring that your notes and data are securely encrypted and only accessible by you.
  • Rich Text Support
    Joplin supports Markdown, which allows users to create notes with rich text formatting, including headers, lists, checkboxes, images, links, and more.
  • Synchronization Options
    Joplin provides multiple options for synchronization, including cloud services like Dropbox, OneDrive, and Nextcloud, enabling users to keep their data in sync across devices.
  • Resource Management
    Joplin allows users to attach files, images, and other resources to their notes, making it a versatile tool for managing different types of information.

Possible disadvantages of Joplin

  • User Interface
    The user interface of Joplin can be less intuitive and visually appealing compared to other note-taking apps, which might lead to a steeper learning curve for new users.
  • Limited Collaboration
    Joplin is primarily designed for individual use and lacks extensive collaboration features found in other apps like Google Keep or Evernote, making it less suitable for team-based tasks.
  • No Native Web App
    Joplin does not have a native web app version, which can be a drawback for users who prefer accessing their notes through a browser without installing the desktop or mobile applications.
  • Sync Configuration
    Setting up synchronization options can be complex for some users, especially for those who are not familiar with cloud services or network configurations.
  • Resource Intensive
    Joplin can be resource-intensive, particularly when dealing with a large number of notes or attachments, which might affect performance on older devices.

AppFlowy features and specs

  • Open Source
    AppFlowy is an open-source tool, meaning its source code is available publicly, allowing developers to modify, customize, and enhance the software according to their needs.
  • Privacy-Focused
    AppFlowy emphasizes privacy, giving users greater control over their data as they can self-host the application, ensuring data is stored securely and privately.
  • Community Support
    Being an open-source project, AppFlowy benefits from a community of developers and users who contribute to its improvement through forums, discussions, and code contributions.
  • Customizable
    Due to its open-source nature, users can tailor AppFlowy to better fit their specific needs and integrate it with other tools and workflows.
  • Cross-Platform
    AppFlowy is designed to be cross-platform, allowing users to access their data and work across various operating systems seamlessly.

Possible disadvantages of AppFlowy

  • Limited Features
    As a relatively new tool, AppFlowy might lack some of the advanced features found in more established competitors, leading to potential limitations in functionality.
  • Development Maturity
    Since AppFlowy is still in its early stages of development, it may encounter bugs and stability issues, which could affect its reliability for critical tasks.
  • Learning Curve
    Users who are unfamiliar with open-source tools might find it challenging to set up, customize, and maintain AppFlowy compared to more commercial, user-friendly alternatives.
  • Smaller User Base
    Given its nascent stage, AppFlowy has a smaller user base compared to more established competitors, which might lead to fewer readily available resources and third-party integrations.

Analysis of Joplin

Overall verdict

  • Joplin is highly regarded among users who appreciate open-source software and need a versatile note-taking solution. Its extensive features, along with active community support, make it a strong contender in the productivity software space.

Why this product is good

  • Joplin is an open-source note-taking and to-do application with features such as synchronization across devices, support for rich-text and Markdown, and a web clipper for saving web pages and screenshots. It prioritizes user privacy and data ownership by allowing notes to be stored on local devices or using secure sync options like Nextcloud, Dropbox, or OneDrive. Additionally, Joplin supports end-to-end encryption to protect user data.

Recommended for

  • Users who prefer open-source applications
  • Individuals seeking a secure and privacy-focused note-taking app
  • People who need cross-platform compatibility
  • Users who want to organize notes using Markdown
  • Anyone looking for an alternative to mainstream note-taking apps

Analysis of AppFlowy

Overall verdict

  • AppFlowy is a solid choice for users who prioritize open-source software and need a customizable productivity tool. Its growing community and active development make it an attractive option for tech-savvy individuals and teams who require a tailored solution. However, users who prefer a more polished, out-of-the-box experience with extensive third-party integrations might find other mainstream alternatives more suitable.

Why this product is good

  • AppFlowy is an open-source alternative to popular productivity and note-taking tools. It offers users the flexibility to customize and extend the platform to suit their personal or organizational needs, owing to its open-source nature. It is particularly appealing for users who value transparency in software development and wish to have control over their data and workflow customization.

Recommended for

    AppFlowy is recommended for developers, tech enthusiasts, and teams looking for a customizable and privacy-focused productivity tool. It's also suitable for organizations that require a high degree of customization and the ability to host their own data.

Joplin videos

+ Add

Joplin, a free, open source, self hosted syncing note taking alternative to Evernote and OneNote..

More videos:

  • Review - Joplin Is An Open Source Alternative To Evernote
  • Review - Joplin Desktop: Take Notes With A Rich Markdown Editor

AppFlowy videos

+ Add

Open Source Notion Alternative: Appflowy First Look

More videos:

  • Review - Open Source Notion Alternative - AppFlowy is AMAZING!

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Joplin and AppFlowy)

Joplin

AppFlowy

Note Taking
94 94%
Note Taking
6% 6
Todos
100 100%
Todos
0% 0
Project Management
0 0%
Project Management
100% 100
Notes
100 100%
Notes
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Joplin and AppFlowy

Joplin Reviews

20 Obsidian Alternatives: Top Note-Taking Tools to Consider
Joplin is best defined as an open-source note-taking app. The app lets you take notes and access them anywhere as it backs all your notes on the cloud. You can create checklists, notes, and tables within Joplin or attach images and videos. In addition, Joplin supports diagrams and math functions, making it an inclusive note-taking app regardless of subject or topic.
Source: clickup.com
The 6 best note-taking apps in 2024
Not only is Joplin the best open source note-taking app on our list, but it's also the best free Evernote alternative too. For a number of reasons I'll explore below, I don't feel Evernote merits a spot on this list right now; however, because Evernote has been such a staple of the note-taking app space, most other apps compete by trying to be different. OneNote is awesome,...
Source: zapier.com
The best note-taking apps for collecting your thoughts and data
In order to synchronize Joplin among your devices, you need to set it up with one of several existing cloud services (such as Dropbox or OneDrive). You can also use Joplin Cloud, which is available in Joplin’s paid plans: Basic, which includes 2GB storage space and 10MB per note or attachment, and Pro, which offers 30GB storage space, 200MB per note or attachment, and other...
Source: www.theverge.com
10 Best Open Source Note-Taking Apps for Linux
It also supports alarms (notifications) for to-dos, End-To-End Encryption (E2EE) for security, allows for saving web pages and screenshots as notes using the web clipper extension available in Firefox and Chrome web browsers, and supports synchronization with cloud or file storage services such as services including Joplin Cloud, Dropbox, and OneDrive.
Source: www.tecmint.com
The best encrypted note taking apps
Joplin is open-source, maintains Linux, Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows apps, and also offers built in cloud-sync functionality called “Joplin cloud.” Finally, Joplin scores highly on their use of end-to-end encrypted to keep all user notes private. For more convenience features Joplin offers a web clipper directly integrated into the notes app to allow for cataloging,...
Source: www.skiff.com

AppFlowy Reviews

5 Best Open Source Alternatives to Notion
Whether you're managing personal to-do lists, outlining projects, brainstorming ideas, or collaborating with a team, Appflowy offers the flexibility to cater to your specific needs. With its powerful features and user-friendly interface, Appflowy provides an optimal environment for capturing, organizing, and managing information effectively.
Source: affine.pro
The 5 Best Open Source Miro Alternatives in 2024
Looking at open source alternatives to Miro will give you powerful and flexible tools that can cater to different collaboration needs without the limitations of propietary software. In 2024,the best open source Miro alternative will be AFFiNE, Obsidian, Excalidraw,Appflowy,and Logseq. Each of these has unique features, community driven improvements, and the ability to...
Source: affine.pro

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Joplin seems to be a lot more popular than AppFlowy. While we know about 356 links to Joplin, we've tracked only 9 mentions of AppFlowy. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Joplin mentions (356)

  • Ditching Obsidian and building my own
    I use Joplin (https://joplinapp.org) on mobile and pc(windows and Linux). Joplin has a free encrypted sync via OneDrive. - Source: Hacker News / 7 days ago
  • Why I switched from obsidian: A real developer’s story and what I’m using now
    Joplin Official Website My current workhorse for fast, reliable notes. - Source: dev.to / 25 days ago
  • Ask HN: What Are You Working On? (February 2025)
    Thanks! I built the editor using Tiptap (https://tiptap.dev/) does something similar. I'll think about this for sure, especially since I've been thinking of making it possible to save and read local files. If you'd like to try Gorby, send me an email and I'll be happy to give you a free license code :). - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • Nextcloud: Open-Source Cloud Apps
    I am using https://joplinapp.org for notes, using Dropbox for sync though (can also use NextCloud or other sources see https://joplinapp.org/help/apps/sync/. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • Information flow - how I capture the notes
    Joplin open-source tool, with paid Sync service. However, it supports WebDav sync. As a user of Fastmail have a lot lot of storage for it. Those parts work great, links, complexity level, and clear Markdown. Themes, mobile app, tags, everything I needed was there. Unfortunately, again, for short notes, my go-to app becomes memos, for long-form BookStack, seems to be the best solution. Why? Firstly my love for... - Source: dev.to / 9 months ago
View more

AppFlowy mentions (9)

View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Joplin and AppFlowy, you can also consider the following products

Obsidian.md - A second brain, for you, forever. Obsidian is a powerful knowledge base that works on top of a local folder of plain text Markdown files.

Notion - All-in-one workspace. One tool for your whole team. Write, plan, and get organized.

Standard Notes - A safe place for your notes, thoughts, and life's work

Logseq - Logseq is a local-first, non-linear, outliner notebook for organizing and sharing your personal knowledge base.

OneNote - Get the OneNote app for free on your tablet, phone, and computer, so you can capture your ideas and to-do lists in one place wherever you are. Or try OneNote with Office for free.

Evernote - Bring your life's work together in one digital workspace. Evernote is the place to collect inspirational ideas, write meaningful words, and move your important projects forward.

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