Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Joplin VS DevStack.co.nz

Compare Joplin VS DevStack.co.nz and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

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.

DevStack.co.nz logo DevStack.co.nz

A free curated directory of 42 New Zealand property development tools, arranged in the order you use them on a real deal, plus three free calculators for infrastructure levies, development finance and feasibility.
  • Joplin Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-20
  • DevStack.co.nz Landing page
    Landing page //
    2026-08-16

DevStack is a free hub for New Zealand property developers, bringing useful property development tools, calculators, data and resources together in one place.

Finding the information you need for a development often means jumping between council websites, property platforms, government databases and spreadsheets. DevStack makes this easier by organising useful tools around the way a property development actually happens, from site finding and due diligence through to feasibility, planning, finance and construction.

DevStack currently includes 42 curated property development tools and 3 free calculators, with a strong focus on Auckland and New Zealand property development.

Key features include:

  • 42 curated NZ property development tools
  • 3 free property development calculators
  • Development feasibility and residual land value analysis
  • Development finance comparison
  • Auckland zoning and planning resources
  • Property due diligence and market data
  • Development contributions and infrastructure costs
  • Construction and NZ Building Code resources
  • Environmental and natural hazard information
  • AI tools and workflows for property development
  • Free to browse with no account required

DevStack's free tools include a Development Feasibility Calculator, Development Finance Calculator and Watercare Infrastructure Growth Charge Calculator, helping developers quickly assess potential projects and understand development costs.

The platform also brings together useful resources from Auckland Council, Watercare, LINZ, Stats NZ, RBNZ and other organisations, alongside commercial property and construction tools.

Each resource includes practical information on what it does, when to use it, what it costs and where it fits into the development process.

The goal is simple: spend less time searching for information and more time working out whether a development actually stacks up.

Joplin

$ Details
free
Release Date
-
Startup details

DevStack.co.nz

$ Details
free
Release Date
2026 August
Startup details
Country
New Zealand
Founder(s)
James Guilford
Employees
1 - 9

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.

DevStack.co.nz features and specs

No features have been listed yet.

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

Joplin videos

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

DevStack.co.nz videos

No DevStack.co.nz videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Joplin and DevStack.co.nz)
Note Taking
100 100%
0% 0
Construction Estimating Software
Notes
100 100%
0% 0
Real Estate
0 0%
100% 100

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing Joplin and DevStack.co.nz.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

DevStack.co.nz's answer:

DevStack is primarily designed for people working in property development, including property developers, development managers and other property professionals in Auckland and across New Zealand.

However, you don't need to be a professional developer to find it useful. Property owners, investors and anyone researching their next property purchase can use DevStack to learn about the tools, data and resources available to help them make better-informed property decisions.

What makes your product unique?

DevStack.co.nz's answer:

DevStack hasn't tried to reinvent the wheel. It has vetted and identified which tools and resources are actually useful for property professionals working in Auckland and New Zealand.

Rather than being a long list of links, the tools are organised around the property development process, making it easier to find the right resource when you need it. The focus is on tools that are genuinely useful for property development, from site research and due diligence through to feasibility, planning, finance and construction.

Who are some of the biggest customers of your product?

DevStack.co.nz's answer:

DevStack is free to use, so rather than traditional customers, its users include property developers, builder-developers, property professionals, investors and property owners looking for better information and resources.

It's particularly useful for people involved in Auckland property development who want to understand what tools are available and how they can use them in real projects.

I also share practical examples of how I use AI in property development and construction. For developers and builder-developers who want to go further, I offer a separate guide covering 13 areas where I currently use AI to save time, improve workflows and get more from the information available to us in New Zealand.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

DevStack.co.nz's answer:

None of the third-party tools listed on DevStack are my own. DevStack itself started as a side project while I was learning to build websites and improve SEO for my own businesses.

What started as a simple place to organise the property development tools I use every day gradually became a passion project. I found it so useful in my own work that I decided to make it available to other property developers and property professionals in New Zealand.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

DevStack.co.nz's answer:

DevStack is an easy choice because it's free, requires no sign-up, and lets you customise your own toolkit by pinning the resources you use most often in whatever order works for you.

You can also save tools you don't use regularly but don't want to forget. Instead of keeping links scattered across bookmarks, emails, spreadsheets and notes, DevStack gives you one place for the property development tools and resources you actually use.

What's the story behind your product?

DevStack.co.nz's answer:

My background started with a university property degree, a BProp, followed by property valuations, development management, managing a subcontracting business, and eventually returning to property development.

Throughout that time, I used many of these tools constantly and realised I had links saved all over my computer. They were in email drafts, spreadsheets, notes, bookmarks and sticky notes. I wanted one consistent place I could trust to keep the tools I use, as well as the ones I only need occasionally but don't want to forget.

We're fortunate in Auckland to have a huge amount of property and development information readily available. The problem is that it can take some effort to find and extract it. DevStack grew from my own need to make that process easier.

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 DevStack.co.nz

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 Joplinโ€™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...
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 โ€œJoplin cloud.โ€ 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

DevStack.co.nz Reviews

We have no reviews of DevStack.co.nz yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Joplin seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 358 times since March 2021. 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 (358)

  • Show HN: Files.md โ€“ open-source alternative to Obsidian
    What is this providing over similarly Markdown based open source note taking applications like Joplin? (https://joplinapp.org/) I've been a huge fan of the fact that my backend sync infrastructure is my own self-hosted S3 bucket with local clients handling the presentation layer. - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • An Introduction to Obsidian
    Shout out to Joplin (https://joplinapp.org/), which I use on a daily basis. It does most of what Obsidian does but has a free sync version where you just use your cloud drive as the storage. The main thing missing, from what I've found, is that it does do the "notes mind map". But I never really found that useful. - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • 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 / over 1 year ago
  • Why I switched from obsidian: A real developerโ€™s story and what Iโ€™m using now
    Joplin Official Website My current workhorse for fast, reliable notes. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year 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 / over 1 year ago
View more

DevStack.co.nz mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of DevStack.co.nz yet. Tracking of DevStack.co.nz recommendations started around Aug 2026.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Joplin and DevStack.co.nz, 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.

Buildxact - Buildxact is an easy online estimating and job management software for custom builders and trades.

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

Procore - Procore is the world's most widely used construction project management software. Easy to use, mobile platform with unlimited user licenses.

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.

DevAssets - DevAssets is a place for any developer to find you the best free and paid resources available, submit your own ones and also get them featured on the top of every page!