Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Joplin VS GitBook

Compare Joplin VS GitBook 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.

GitBook logo GitBook

Modern Publishing, Simply taking your books from ideas to finished, polished books.
  • Joplin Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-20
  • GitBook Landing page
    Landing page //
    2024-05-27

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.

GitBook features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    GitBook offers a clean and intuitive user interface, making it easy for users to write, edit, and organize documentation without a steep learning curve.
  • Collaborative Tools
    GitBook provides robust collaboration features such as real-time editing, comments, and version control, allowing teams to work together efficiently.
  • Integration with Git
    GitBook integrates seamlessly with Git repositories, enabling users to sync their documentation with their codebase and manage it using Git workflows.
  • Customizable Templates
    The platform offers customizable themes and templates, enabling users to maintain a consistent look and feel for their documentation that aligns with their brand.
  • Web and Markdown Support
    GitBook allows the use of Markdown syntax and supports web-based editing, making it versatile for different types of content creators.
  • Hosting and Deployment
    GitBook hosts the documentation on their servers, providing a reliable and fast server infrastructure to publish and share content instantly.
  • Search and Navigation
    It includes powerful search and navigation features, helping readers to find information quickly and improving the overall accessibility of the documentation.

Possible disadvantages of GitBook

  • Pricing
    While GitBook offers a free tier, advanced features and larger projects may require a subscription, which might be expensive for smaller teams or individual developers.
  • Limited Customization
    Compared to some other documentation tools, GitBook may offer limited customization options beyond pre-defined themes, which might not meet the needs of some users for highly customized documentation.
  • Dependency on Platform
    Users are dependent on GitBook's platform and its availability, meaning any downtime or service issues on GitBook's end can affect access to and editing of documentation.
  • Learning Curve
    Despite being user-friendly, some users might still face a learning curve, especially those who are not familiar with version control or Markdown.
  • Export Options
    Exporting documentation in different formats like PDF, EPUB, or HTML may be limited or require additional steps, which can be inconvenient for users who need these features.
  • Feature Set
    Some users may find that GitBook lacks certain advanced features or integrations that other specialized documentation tools offer, potentially limiting its utility for highly technical documentation needs.

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

GitBook videos

Alex Vieira on Unbiased GitBook Review Perfect for Everyone

More videos:

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Joplin and GitBook)
Note Taking
100 100%
0% 0
Documentation
0 0%
100% 100
Todos
100 100%
0% 0
Documentation As A Service & Tools

User comments

Share your experience with using Joplin and GitBook. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

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

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...
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

GitBook Reviews

Best Gitbook Alternatives You Need to Try in 2023
GitBook can be a good option for internal knowledge bases, as it offers features such as collaboration, version control, and easy customization. However, the suitability of GitBook for your specific use case depends on your organization's size, needs, and preferences.
Source: www.archbee.com
Introduction to Doxygen Alternatives In 2021
It is a standard paperwork system where all products, APIs, and internal understanding bases can be tape-recorded by teams. It’s a platform for users to believe and track concepts. Gitbook is a tool in an innovation stack in the Documentation as a Service & Tools area.
Source: www.webku.net
12 Most Useful Knowledge Management Tools for Your Business
Their doc editor is simple and powerful, allowing you to use Markdown, and code snippets, as well as embed content. Since GitBook doesn’t have a built-in code editor, you’ll have to use the integration with GitHub for coding.
Source: www.archbee.com
Doxygen Alternatives
It is a standard documentation system where all products, APIs, and internal knowledge bases can be recorded by teams. It’s a platform for users to think and track ideas. Gitbook is a tool in a technology stack in the Documentation as a Service & Tools section.
Source: www.educba.com
Doxygen Alternatives
It provides users with a platform on which they can think and keep track of ideas. Gitbook is a piece of software that may be found in the Documentation as a Service and Tools portion of a technology stack.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Joplin seems to be a lot more popular than GitBook. While we know about 355 links to Joplin, we've tracked only 5 mentions of GitBook. 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 (355)

  • 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 / 5 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 / 2 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 / 8 months ago
  • Zettlr: Note-Taking and Publishing with Markdown
    Longtime Joplin [1] user here, how does the most recent version of Zettlr compare? I have grown really comfortable with the simple interface of Joplin, plus using S3 for sync makes life easy for me as I'm living on my own infrastructure. [1] https://joplinapp.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
View more

GitBook mentions (5)

  • Why GitBook switched from LaunchDarkly to Bucket
    TL,DR: LaunchDarkly is great for B2C companies. Bucket is for B2B SaaS products, like GitBook — a modern, AI-integrated documentation platform. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Bucket vs LaunchDarkly — an alternative for B2B engineers
    Addison Schultz, Developer Relations Lead at GitBook, puts it simply:. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Show HN: We built a FOSS documentation CMS with a pretty GUI
    Good question that led to insightful responses. I would like to bring GitBook (https://gitbook.com) too to the comparison notes (no affiliation). They, too, focus on the collaborative, 'similar-to-git-workflow', and versioned approach towards documentation. Happy to see variety in the 'docs' tools area, and really appreciate it being FOSS. Looking forward to trying out Kalmia on some project soon. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • GitLanding: A beautiful landing page for your Github project in a matter of minutes.
    You can have both a landing page (e.g.: www.your-project.dev) and a documentation website (e.g.: docs.your-project.dev). For creating documentation website GitBook is better fit than Gitlanding. GitBook is free for open source Projects (you just need to issue a request). - Source: dev.to / about 3 years ago
  • How to Use GitBook for Technical Documentation
    GitBook is a collaborative documentation tool that allows anyone to document anything—such as products and APIs—and share knowledge through a user-friendly online platform. According to GitBook, “GitBook is a flexible platform for all kinds of content and collaboration.” It provides a single unified workspace for different users to create, manage and share content without using multiple tools. For example:. - Source: dev.to / about 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Joplin and GitBook, 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.

Docusaurus - Easy to maintain open source documentation websites

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

ReadMe - A collaborative developer hub for your API or code.

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.

MkDocs - Project documentation with Markdown.