Loam vs Joplin
Both apps are open source and write notes in Markdown. Joplin runs on desktop, mobile and the terminal, and syncs through many services. Loam is a Mac app that keeps each note as a file in a folder you choose. Pick Joplin if you need Windows, Linux, Android or iPhone. Pick Loam if you want plain files in a folder and a Mac-first app with a command line for agents.
Last updated November 3, 2026
Loam vs Joplin at a glance
Published capabilities, checked on official sites in November 2026.
| Dimension | Loam | Joplin |
|---|---|---|
| Where notes live | Plain Markdown files in a folder you choose, called a vault | In the app's own storage, as Markdown notes |
| Source | Open source | Open source (AGPL-3.0) |
| Platforms | macOS 26 or later, on Apple silicon | Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android and a terminal app |
| Account | None. Free and open source | None needed; an account only for Joplin Cloud |
| Sync | Git sync, with an optional encrypted remote | Joplin Cloud, Dropbox, OneDrive, WebDAV, Nextcloud, S3 and a local folder, with end-to-end encryption |
| Plugins | Every feature is a plugin. Install from the catalog or a Git URL; an agent can write one | A community plugin catalog of several hundred plugins |
| Command line and agents | Yes: the loam command runs every action of the app | A terminal app, a local Data API and a built-in MCP server |
| Price | Free | The app is free; Joplin Cloud is a paid service, with a trial |
Sources: Joplin help ↗ · Joplin sync ↗ · Joplin plans ↗
A folder of files or a database
Joplin writes notes in Markdown, but it keeps them in its own storage, and it syncs them through the service you choose. The Markdown is yours to export; the app is the way in.
Loam keeps every note as a .md file in a folder. The vault is the folder, with no database behind it, so any editor, backup tool or Git client works on it directly.
Sync and platforms
Joplin is the better pick for reach. It runs on Windows, Linux and both phone platforms, and it syncs through Dropbox, OneDrive, WebDAV, Nextcloud, S3, its own cloud service or a local folder, with end-to-end encryption.
Loam syncs through Git, usually to a private repository, and the remote can be encrypted so that it only holds ciphertext. It runs on macOS 26 or later, on Apple silicon.
Plugins and agents
Both apps have plugins, and both can work with AI agents. Joplin has a terminal app, a local Data API and a built-in MCP server, which is off by default. In Loam every feature is a plugin, including tasks, daily notes, boards and collections, and the loam command line runs every action of the app, so an agent works on your vault through the same commands as you. See Agents and Plugins.
Which one to pick
Choose Loam if
- You want notes as plain Markdown files in a folder you control
- You want a native Mac app with backlinks, collections and boards
- You want AI agents to work on your notes through a command line
Choose Joplin if
- You need Windows, Linux, iPhone or Android
- You want to sync through Dropbox, OneDrive, WebDAV or Nextcloud
- You want a notes app that is free on every platform
Switching from Joplin to Loam
- In Joplin, export your notes with a Markdown format (File, then Export all).
- Open an empty folder as a vault in Loam, as described in Your first vault, and copy the exported
.mdfiles and their resources into it. - Loam has no Joplin importer. Check the links and the images after the copy. See Import notes.
Loam vs Joplin: questions
Is Loam a good alternative to Joplin?
If you use a Mac and want your notes as plain Markdown files in a folder, yes. Loam is open source like Joplin. It does not run on Windows, Linux or phones.
Can I move from Joplin to Loam?
Yes. Export your Joplin notes as Markdown, copy them into a folder and open it as a vault. Loam has no Joplin importer, so check your links afterwards.
Do Joplin and Loam both sync?
Joplin syncs through several services. Loam syncs through Git, with an optional encrypted remote, and a vault is a folder that other sync tools can also keep.
Are both apps free?
Both apps are free and open source. Joplin Cloud is a paid sync service from the Joplin project, with a trial; Loam has no paid service.