Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Vimwiki VS Joplin

Compare Vimwiki VS Joplin and see what are their differences

Vimwiki logo Vimwiki

Vimwiki is a personal wiki for Vim – interlinked, plain text files written in a markup language.

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.
  • Vimwiki Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-29
  • Joplin Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-20

Vimwiki features and specs

  • Integration with Vim
    Vimwiki is directly integrated into Vim, allowing users to stay within their preferred text editor without needing to switch applications. This enhances productivity and gives users the benefit of Vim's powerful text editing features.
  • Fast and Lightweight
    As a plugin for Vim, Vimwiki is fast and lightweight, without the overhead of more resource-intensive applications. This is beneficial for users who want a quick and efficient way to manage notes and wikis.
  • Customizable and Extensible
    Vimwiki offers customization options to suit different workflows, allowing users to tailor the plugin to their specific needs. Being open-source, it can also be extended with additional features by those with the necessary skills.
  • Offline Access
    Vimwiki operates completely offline, making it ideal for users who need access to their information without an internet connection.
  • Simple Syntax
    The syntax used in Vimwiki is straightforward and easy to learn, which simplifies the process of creating and managing pages, links, and to-do lists efficiently.

Possible disadvantages of Vimwiki

  • Steep Learning Curve
    For users who are not already familiar with Vim, there is a significant learning curve. Vim's modal editing and command structure can be complex for new users to master.
  • Limited Collaboration Features
    Vimwiki is primarily designed for individual use and lacks native support for collaborative editing features, which might be a drawback for teams needing to work together on wikis.
  • Dependency on Vim
    Since Vimwiki is built for Vim, it relies on users having Vim installed and being comfortable using it as their text editor, which can be a limitation for those preferring other editors.
  • No Native Cloud Sync
    Vimwiki does not offer built-in cloud synchronization, requiring users to set up external tools or version control systems to access their wikis across different devices.
  • Limited Multimedia Handling
    Vimwiki primarily supports text-based content, and its handling of multimedia content like images and videos is limited, which can be restrictive for users who need rich media documentation.

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.

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

Vimwiki videos

My Semi-Complete VimWiki Workflow

More videos:

  • Review - vimwiki - Notetaking with Markdown and Preview - Linux TUI

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

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Vimwiki and Joplin)
Note Taking
3 3%
97% 97
Notes
3 3%
97% 97
Todos
0 0%
100% 100
Personal Wiki
100 100%
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 Vimwiki and Joplin

Vimwiki Reviews

We have no reviews of Vimwiki yet.
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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

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Joplin seems to be a lot more popular than Vimwiki. While we know about 356 links to Joplin, we've tracked only 17 mentions of Vimwiki. 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.

Vimwiki mentions (17)

  • Ask HN: Did anyone write a book in Nano?
    I wrote a manuscript in vim a couple Novembers ago, for NaNoWrimo. I used a couple plugins, primarily Goyo [1] to add some margins, but otherwise, yeah, plain vim. I don't think it was really any more productive than my current workflow in Obsidian. Vim keybindings are more useful for editing than for writing (and for editing code in particular, where the changes you're making are much more structured). Also,... - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • What are some ways you used Python to make YOUR life easier?
    I have created full on programs to systematically created screenshots with the game emulators with RetroArch. Also an automation tool to use a preexisting program named chdman that converts files into a needed format (also unpacking from archives). A little Python script to create a recents list of files for Vimwiki. I also created a program to access 🌈 emojis 🌈. I wrote my own GE Proton downloader and manager.... Source: about 2 years ago
  • Lightweight and efficient CLI note taking app
    I use VimWiki inside of Neovim, with additional Plugins/configurations. Lightweight and let's you use the power of (Neo)Vim. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Note-taking help. Zettelkasten method
    Well, Zettelkasten looks to me much like wiki. And standard wiki solution for vim is https://vimwiki.github.io/ and it should work quite well for you. Also, it is all plain text files so conversion should not be that difficult. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Ask HN: System to capture personal notes on meetings and project progress
    I end up taking linear notes in a text file, with un-resolved or in-progress items at the bottom. They get pushed downward linearly until they are finished, at which point they get immortalized in the greppable daily log above. Requires a lot of discipline and doesn't have a lot of structure, but having the "working area" next to the journal has served me well. I use vimwiki[1] for most of the editing, in addition... - Source: Hacker News / about 3 years ago
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Joplin mentions (356)

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Vimwiki and Joplin, 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.

Zim Wiki - Zim is a graphical text editor used to maintain a collection of wiki pages. Each page can contain links to other pages, simple formatting and images.

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

Gollum - Gollum is a simple wiki system built on top of Git

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.

Notational FZF - Notational Velocity for Vim.