Joplin
Umami
| Feature | Joplin | Umami |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $2.99/mo | Free / from $9/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Best For | privacy-advocates, developers, linux-users, evernote-migrants | indie-developers, privacy-focused-sites, bloggers, small-businesses |
| Founded | 2017 | 2020 |
| Markdown | ✓ | ✗ |
| Encryption | ✓ | ✗ |
| Sync | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web Clipper | ✓ | ✗ |
| Plugins | ✓ | ✗ |
| Notebooks | ✓ | ✗ |
| Page Views | ✗ | ✓ |
| Custom Events | ✗ | ✓ |
| Realtime Dashboard | ✗ | ✓ |
| Utm Tracking | ✗ | ✓ |
| Multi Site | ✗ | ✓ |
| Api | ✗ | ✓ |
| Teams | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Joplin Pros
- Free and open-source
- End-to-end encryption
- Self-host option
- Import from Evernote
✗ Joplin Cons
- Less polished UI
- Sync requires setup
- Limited collaboration
✓ Umami Pros
- Completely open-source and self-hostable for free
- Beautiful, clean dashboard interface
- No cookies required (GDPR/CCPA compliant by default)
- Lightweight script (under 2KB) does not slow sites
✗ Umami Cons
- Limited advanced analytics features
- No conversion funnel or cohort analysis
- Self-hosting requires database management
The Verdict
Joplin is built for privacy advocates and developers, with a focus on markdown and encryption. Umami targets indie developers and privacy focused sites and leads with page-views and custom-events.
On pricing, Joplin is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $2.99/mo compared to $9/mo for Umami. That $6.01/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
Feature-wise, Umami offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Joplin takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Bottom line: Umami has a slight overall edge — but if free and open-source matters most to you, Joplin may still be the right call.