Software Alternatives & Startups

xournal VS KeepNote

Compare xournal VS KeepNote and see what are their differences

xournal

Lightweight notetaking and sketching app.

Rating
0 reviews
KeepNote

KeepNote: note-taking and organization.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, xournal should be more popular than KeepNote. It has been mentioned 8 times since March 2021.

social mentions
8 vs 4
Note Taking popularity
61% vs 39%
alternatives listed
107 vs 74

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

xournal
KeepNote
Website xournal.sourceforge.net keepnote.org
Pricing —
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

xournal 5 features
KeepNote 6 features
  • Open Source
    Xournal is open-source software, meaning it's free to use, modify, and distribute. This encourages community collaboration and regular updates.
  • Cross-Platform
    It is available on multiple operating systems like Linux, Windows, and macOS, allowing users to work across different systems without compatibility issues.
  • Lightweight
    The application is lightweight, which means it has low system resource requirements and can run smoothly on less powerful hardware.
  • Versatile Annotation Tools
    Xournal offers a variety of annotation tools including handwriting, text, shapes, and highlighting, making it flexible for different note-taking styles.
  • PDF Annotation
    The software allows users to import and annotate PDFs directly, which is beneficial for reviewing and editing documents.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Features
    Xournal may lack some advanced features found in more comprehensive note-taking or PDF annotation tools, which can be limiting for power users.
  • User Interface
    The user interface is somewhat basic and might not be as intuitive or aesthetically pleasing as other modern applications.
  • Performance Issues with Large Files
    The application may experience performance slowdowns when handling very large PDF files or documents with numerous annotations.
  • No Cloud Integration
    Xournal does not have built-in cloud service integration, which means users have to manually manage syncing documents across devices.
  • Limited Support
    Being a community-driven project, it might not have as extensive support options as commercial software, which can be a drawback for users needing assistance.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    KeepNote is a cross-platform application, which means it runs on multiple operating systems such as Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.
  • Rich-Text Format
    It allows the creation of notes in a rich-text format, enabling users to use different fonts, colors, and styles for better organization and readability.
  • Tree Hierarchy
    The software provides a tree structure for organizing notes, making it easy for users to categorize and navigate through their notes.
  • Search Functionality
    KeepNote includes a search feature that helps users quickly find notes or specific content within notes.
  • Backup and Restore
    The application allows users to back up their notes and restore them when necessary, providing data protection and recovery options.
  • Open Source
    As an open-source project, KeepNote allows developers to modify and improve the software to better suit their needs.

Possible disadvantages

  • Outdated User Interface
    The user interface feels outdated compared to modern note-taking applications, lacking a sleek and intuitive design.
  • Limited Features
    KeepNote does not have as many features as some other note-taking apps, such as integration with other software or advanced collaboration tools.
  • Lack of Cloud Sync
    KeepNote does not offer built-in cloud synchronization, which means notes cannot be automatically synced across multiple devices without third-party solutions.
  • No Mobile App
    There is no dedicated mobile application for KeepNote, limiting its usability on handheld devices like smartphones and tablets.
  • Slow Updates
    The development and updates to KeepNote are infrequent, which means new features or bug fixes may take a long time to be released.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

xournal 3 videos + Add
KeepNote 2 videos + Add

Xournal: Annotate, Edit, Handwrite, Comment & Highlight on PDF

More videos

  • - Xournal and OneNote - An Overview
  • - Xournal on Ubuntu Precise Pangolin 12.04

keepnote | What is KeepNote | Keepnote for Kali linux | Keepnote for windows

More videos

  • - 03 03 Write Down Your Findings Using KeepNote

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
xournal
KeepNote
61% 61%
39% 39%
100% 100%
0% 0%
47% 47%
53% 53%
76% 76%
24% 24%

User comments

Share your experience with using xournal and KeepNote. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

xournal 8 mentions
KeepNote 4 mentions
  • Rnote – Sketch and take handwritten notes
    Unfortunately doesn't implement expand/contract vertical space (insert or remove vertical space). Ages ago when I used a Toshiba tablet laptop to do math this was a real killer feature in xournal (https://xournal.sourceforge.net/ |... - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
  • Rnote – An open-source vector-based drawing app
    Please note that the original app was Xournal [1]. The one you link is a rewrite of the orignal (in C++) and is called Xournal++. [1] https://xournal.sourceforge.net/. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • Ask HN: When did you stop using printers and why?
    I do the using Xournal [1] which is tailor-made for creating annotations. It leaves the PDF as is, saving your edits to a sidecar file (*.xoj) which when loaded pulls in the original PDF. It exports edited documents to 'real' PDFs with... - Source: Hacker News / about 4 years ago

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  • How do you guys learn all linux commands/ programs?
    - for organized topics, for example, if I am learning something, I use keepnote (http://keepnote.org). Source: almost 4 years ago
  • What makes people hate electron ?
    There's exactly one non-webapp Electron-based application that I like and use semi-regularly -- Notable, because it has a skilled developer behind it, enough feature improvement to lure me away from KeepNote, and uses standard markdown... Source: almost 4 years ago
  • How do you take notes during online training?
    I use KeepNote. Very simple to use, Great for complex note taking. Even better when combined with GreenShot (Powerful screenshoting tool). Source: almost 5 years ago

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Alternatives to xournal and KeepNote

When comparing xournal and KeepNote, you can also consider the following products.