# Memos vs Joplin

> Pick Memos if you want a lightweight, self-hosted timeline for quick notes; pick Joplin if you want full notebooks with native apps and offline, encrypted sync.

## Verdict

Memos is a fast, single-binary web app for capturing short notes and thoughts in a feed, ideal if you want something you can deploy in minutes and open from any browser. Joplin is a complete note-taking app with notebooks, offline native apps and end-to-end encryption, better for long-form notes and serious archives.

- Best for Memos: Quick capture of short notes in a self-hosted, Twitter-like timeline
- Best for Joplin: Long-form notes in notebooks with offline native apps on every platform

## Key differences

| Aspect | Memos | Joplin |
|---|---|---|
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0-or-later for the apps; Joplin Server uses its own Personal Use License |
| Architecture | Self-hosted web app: a Go server with a React frontend | Local-first desktop, mobile and terminal apps that sync through a server or cloud drive |
| Database | SQLite by default, with MySQL and PostgreSQL support | Local SQLite on each device; sync target stores the data |
| Mobile apps | No official native app; responsive web UI you can add to your home screen | Official Android and iOS apps |
| Standout features | Timeline of Markdown memos, tags, public sharing, API and web clipper | End-to-end encryption, plugins, web clipper, attachments and to-dos |

## GitHub numbers

| Metric | Memos | Joplin |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | 63,545 | 56,611 |
| Forks | 4,813 | 6,316 |
| Commits, last 12 months | 928 | 2,019 |
| Last commit | Oct 5, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 |
| Latest release | v0.31.0 | v3.7.21 |
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
| License type | Open source | Open source |
| Language | Go | TypeScript |
| Docker image | Yes | No |
| Repository | https://github.com/usememos/memos | https://github.com/laurent22/joplin |

App pages: [Memos](https://appsgit.com/apps/memos), [Joplin](https://appsgit.com/apps/joplin)

## FAQ

### Is Memos a replacement for Joplin?

Only for quick, short notes. Memos is built around a feed of memos, while Joplin organizes longer notes in notebooks and works offline.

### Which is easier to self-host?

Memos. It is one container with SQLite by default. Joplin needs no server at all unless you want to sync, and then you can use Joplin Server, WebDAV or a cloud drive.

### Can I use both together?

Yes. Many people use Memos for fleeting notes and Joplin for long-form notes. Both store Markdown, so moving content between them is straightforward.

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Canonical page: https://appsgit.com/compare/memos-vs-joplin
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