Compare tools
Pick 2–5 published tools. Values come from our evidence-checked profiles — an em-dash means unknown, never “no”. Ranking rows reflect the current published methodology for the comparison context.
Joplin vs Bear
Context: Note-taking Apps · methodology v1.0.0 · 23 rows
| Attribute | JoplinJoplin | BearShiny Frog |
|---|---|---|
| Identity · Taxonomy | ||
| Documentation | https://joplinapp.org/help/ | — |
| Tags | open-source, markdown, encryption, self-hosted | markdown, apple, writing, notes |
| Platform · Deployment | ||
| Delivery model | desktop, mobile, self-hosted | desktop, mobile |
| Desktop apps | Windows, macOS, Linux | macOS |
| Pricing · Licensing | ||
| Free plan | true | true |
| Free trial | true | true |
| License model | open-source | proprietary |
| Pricing model | free, subscription | free, subscription |
| Source repository | https://github.com/laurent22/joplin | — |
| SPDX license IDs | AGPL-3.0-or-later | — |
| Starting price | — | 2.99 |
| Trial length | 14 | 7 |
| Features · Product · Fit | ||
| Core capabilities | Markdown and rich text notes, End-to-end encrypted sync, Web clipper for Chrome and Firefox, Plugin system with extension API, Note publishing to the web, Self-hosted Joplin Server option | Markdown editing with tables and todo lists, Tag-based organization, iCloud sync (Pro), Note encryption (Pro), Export to PDF, HTML, DOCX, JPG, OCR search in photos and PDFs (Pro) |
| Api · Integrations · Ecosystem | ||
| API available | true | — |
| CLI | true | — |
| Security · Privacy · Compliance | ||
| Regulatory compliance | GDPR | — |
| Audience · Use · Case | ||
| Best for | Users who want an open-source, encryption-first notes app that works with their own cloud storage or the hosted Joplin Cloud. | Apple-device users who want fast, native Markdown notes organized with tags rather than folders. |
| Company-size fit | individual, SMB, mid-market | individual |
| Primary use cases | Private note taking, Cross-device note sync, Self-hosted note management | Personal note taking, Writing |
| Skill level | intermediate | beginner |
| Lifecycle · Versioning | ||
| Maintenance status | active | active |
| Vendor · Maintainer | ||
| Founded year | 2017 | 2016 |
| Vendor type | community | commercial |
“—” means unknown (we never treat missing evidence as a negative). Cells reflect each value's current evidence state; superseded or stale values are excluded. Ranking rows are editorial assessments under the cited methodology version — see the Note-taking Apps category for definitions.