TaskNote vs Joplin
In short
Joplin gives you control and asks you to configure it. TaskNote gives you something that runs the moment you open it, with notes and a board in the same window.
What Joplin does better
Joplin solves the same problem a different way. Here is what it does well.
- You can host the sync server yourself, so your notes never have to touch anyone else's infrastructure.
- It syncs to whatever you already use: your own server, Dropbox, OneDrive, WebDAV, S3 and more.
- It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android, with a terminal client on top of that.
- It has a plugin ecosystem.
Where TaskNote is different
Everything above has a price, and the price is your time. TaskNote is built around the opposite trade.
- Sync is already set up. There is no backend to choose, no credentials to paste, no conflict resolution to learn.
- Kanban boards and notes are the same app, not a note app plus a plugin.
- Reminders are built in by default, with no plugin to install.
- The Windows build runs entirely on your machine with no account, for people who want local storage without running a server.
- Encryption in the web app is on from the start, not a setting you have to remember to switch on.
Two different products, and the difference matters
TaskNote comes in two forms, and they protect your notes in different ways.
Web app
- End-to-end encrypted with AES-256-GCM. Your notes are encrypted on your device before they are sent.
- The server stores ciphertext and holds no key that can read it.
- Syncs across devices. Needs an account.
- Runs in any browser, on any operating system.
Windows app
- A separate application. Everything stays on your computer.
- No account, no sync, no server. It works with the network switched off.
- You can set a password for launching the app. It is optional.
Side by side
| Joplin | TaskNote | |
|---|---|---|
| Self-hosting | Yes, several options | No |
| Setup before first sync | Choose and configure a backend | None |
| Encryption | End-to-end, switched on by you | End-to-end in the web app, on by default |
| Kanban boards | Through plugins | Built in |
| Reminders | On to-dos | Built in for notes and tasks |
| Works with no account at all | Yes, without sync | Yes, in the Windows app |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, terminal | Web and Windows |
So which one
Choose Joplin if:
- You want to own the whole chain, server included, and you are willing to maintain it.
- You need macOS, Linux, iOS or Android.
- Setting up software is something you enjoy rather than endure.
Choose TaskNote if:
- You want to write the first note within a minute of arriving, not after an afternoon of configuration.
- You keep notes and a task board and would rather they lived together.
- You want a Windows app that stays on your machine and never asks who you are.