Note taking application with markdown editor and encryption support for mobile and desktop platforms. Runs client-side and syncs through a self hosted Nextcloud instance or similar (alternative to….
- AGPL-3.0
- TypeScript
- Actively maintained
Note-taking & Editors comparison
Joplin vs TriliumNext Notes: which should you self-host in 2026?
Pick Joplin if you want native desktop and mobile apps with end-to-end encrypted sync; pick TriliumNext if you want a deeply hierarchical personal knowledge base you host yourself.
Both are open source and run on your own server. Below: a side-by-side of license, stack and features, live GitHub activity, and our verdict on who should pick which.
Cross-platform hierarchical note taking application with focus on building large personal knowledge bases (fork of Trilium Notes).
- AGPL-3.0
- TypeScript
- Docker
- Actively maintained
Head-to-head
Joplin vs TriliumNext Notes, side by side
Hand-checked differences first, then live numbers from GitHub, refreshed with every catalog update.
| Aspect |  Joplin |  TriliumNext Notes |
|---|---|---|
| License | AGPL-3.0-or-later for the apps; Joplin Server uses its own Personal Use License | AGPL-3.0 |
| Architecture | Local-first apps that sync through Joplin Server, Nextcloud, WebDAV, Dropbox, OneDrive, S3 or a folder | Desktop app (Electron) or self-hosted server with a web UI; notes stored in SQLite and synced to your server |
| Mobile apps | Official Android and iOS apps | No native app; a touch-optimized mobile web frontend served by your server |
| Standout features | End-to-end encryption, web clipper, plugins, Markdown editor plus rich text editor | Note cloning in multiple places, attributes, relation maps, per-note encryption, JavaScript scripting |
| Learning curve | Low: notebooks and notes like any other note app | Moderate to high: the tree, attributes and scripting reward time spent learning them |
| GitHub stars | 56,611 | 38,217 |
| Commits, last 12 months | 2,019 | 16,949 |
| Last commit | Oct 5, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 |
| Latest release | v3.7.21Sep 25, 2026 | v0.106.0Sep 25, 2026 |
| Main language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Official Docker image | No | Yes |
| Repository | laurent22/joplin | TriliumNext/Trilium |
Swipe the table sideways to see both apps. GitHub figures come from the public API. Highlighted values are the higher of the two.
Verdict
Joplin is the better note app for everyday use across phone and laptop: it has native apps everywhere, Markdown notes and many sync targets. TriliumNext is a knowledge-base tool for people who want note trees, cloning, attributes, scripting and a self-hosted server, and who are fine using the mobile web interface on phones.
Best for
Choose Joplin for
Markdown note-taking across desktop and mobile with encrypted sync.
Best for
Choose TriliumNext Notes for
Building a large, scriptable personal knowledge base on your own server.
Deploy either in minutes
Not sure yet? Spin up a small VPS or a managed instance, try both for a week, and keep the one that fits.
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Does TriliumNext have a mobile app?
Not a native one. You use the mobile web interface of a TriliumNext server installation, which is optimized for touch screens.
Do I need a server to use Joplin?
No. Joplin works fully offline, and you only need a sync target if you want notes on several devices. Joplin Server, Nextcloud, WebDAV and several cloud drives all work.
Is TriliumNext the same as Trilium Notes?
TriliumNext is the community continuation of Trilium Notes after the original author stepped back. Later TriliumNext versions changed the sync protocol, so check the migration notes before upgrading an old install.
Which is more popular on GitHub, Joplin or TriliumNext Notes?
Joplin has 56,611 GitHub stars against 38,217 for TriliumNext Notes. Over the last twelve months Joplin received 2,019 commits and TriliumNext Notes received 16,949, so TriliumNext Notes is the more actively developed of the two right now. Stars measure interest, not fit, so weigh them against the differences above.
