Syncthing
Syncthing 2.1.7 hits a fourth release candidate as fixes move from protocol to sync logic.
Comparison · Collab
Joplin vs Skedda
A side-by-side editorial comparison of Joplin and Skedda — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.
Joplin vs Skedda: at a glance
| Feature | Joplin | Skedda |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Collab | Collab |
| Velocity score | 6.3 | 6.3 |
| Sparks · 30d | 0 | 0 |
| Top themes | note-taking, ai-integration, privacy, mcp | workplace-management, occupancy-analytics, visitor-management, api |
| Last editorial update | 1mo ago | 9d ago |
| Website | Visit → | — |
What is Joplin?
Joplin 3.7 ships AI chat, semantic search, and MCP integration — all off by default, all controllable by the user.
Joplin 3.7 is the product's first real AI release: an in-app chat panel for querying the currently open note, semantic (meaning-based) search across notebooks, and an MCP server that lets external AI assistants connect to Joplin's note graph. The implementation is privacy-first by design — AI is disabled by default, local models (Ollama, LM Studio) are explicitly supported, and cloud AI services only receive the specific note content relevant to a request rather than the full notebook. A companion documentation post published September 14 lays out the privacy model explicitly.
What is Skedda?
Skedda Companion can now be pushed to every laptop through MDM for full presence data.
Skedda's last quarter has been about making the data it collects visible and usable: Occupancy Insights, multi-venue comparison, richer visit exports, a read-only API beta and a redesigned Visits page. Skedda Companion 1.2 now installs through Intune, Jamf, Kandji or any MDM and enrols users automatically, so check-ins can be verified from laptop presence without QR codes or hardware.
Joplin vs Skedda: editorial side-by-side
Joplin
6.3COLLAB
Joplin 3.7 ships AI chat, semantic search, and MCP integration — all off by default, all controllable by the user.
◆ Current state
Joplin 3.7 is the product's first real AI release: an in-app chat panel for querying the currently open note, semantic (meaning-based) search across notebooks, and an MCP server that lets external AI assistants connect to Joplin's note graph. The implementation is privacy-first by design — AI is disabled by default, local models (Ollama, LM Studio) are explicitly supported, and cloud AI services only receive the specific note content relevant to a request rather than the full notebook. A companion documentation post published September 14 lays out the privacy model explicitly.
◆ Where it's heading
Joplin is repositioning from a sync-agnostic note-taking app into an AI-native knowledge base, differentiated by opt-in, local-first controls. The HMD Terra M preload partnership and the warrant canary point to a deliberate push toward privacy-conscious enterprise and professional users who distrust cloud-first tools. The MCP integration is particularly strategic: it makes Joplin's note graph accessible to external orchestration pipelines without locking into any particular AI provider.
◆ Prediction
The next major release will likely expand AI chat to multi-note context — currently limited to the open note — and add more configurable MCP tools. The HTR (handwritten text recognition) project from the 2024 French government partnership is also likely to appear in a near-term release.
Skedda
6.3COLLAB
Skedda Companion can now be pushed to every laptop through MDM for full presence data.
◆ Current state
Skedda's last quarter has been about making the data it collects visible and usable: Occupancy Insights, multi-venue comparison, richer visit exports, a read-only API beta and a redesigned Visits page. Skedda Companion 1.2 now installs through Intune, Jamf, Kandji or any MDM and enrols users automatically, so check-ins can be verified from laptop presence without QR codes or hardware.
◆ Where it's heading
Skedda is shifting from a booking front end to a source of workplace attendance data. Companion's MDM rollout aims at complete presence coverage, which makes the occupancy analytics and API more valuable as more laptops report in.
◆ Prediction
Expect occupancy and presence data to reach the API, since Skedda said more API capabilities are planned and Companion now feeds richer attendance data.
Alternatives to Joplin and Skedda
Other Collab products tracked by Sparkpulse, ranked by recent ship velocity. Each card links to a full editorial trajectory and lets you pivot into a head-to-head comparison with either Joplin or Skedda.
Teable
Teable tries a chat-first workspace: the grid becomes one output of an AI conversation.
Elgg
Elgg ships paired 7.1.2 and 6.3.9 patches: both branches stay in maintenance mode.
SiYuan
SiYuan's second 3.8.9 alpha in a day adds TIFF previews and depth limits for automation.
Hive
Hive gives clients a passwordless portal for every proof waiting on them, across companies.
GitHub
GitHub previews a package firewall that blocks malicious dependencies at install time.
See all Joplin alternatives → · See all Skedda alternatives →
Recent activity from Joplin and Skedda
Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.
- 9d agoSkeddaSkedda Companion updated to v1.2: auto-enroll users
- 24d agoSkeddaSee visitor status and custom fields at a glance
- 1mo agoSkeddaBuild with the Skedda API ⚡
- 1mo agoJoplinYour notes and AI: privacy first
- 1mo agoSkeddaSpace type and Capacity filters
- 1mo agoJoplinWhat's new in Joplin 3.7 ⚡
- 1mo agoSkeddaOccupancy Insights
- 2mo agoSkeddaImproved visit exports, now with custom field data
- 5mo agoJoplinWhat's new in Joplin 3.6
- 8mo agoJoplinIntroducing our Warrant Canary
- 8mo agoJoplinJoplin will come preloaded on the HMD Terra M
- 9mo agoJoplinWhat's new in Joplin 3.5
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Joplin and Skedda?
They serve adjacent needs but don't currently overlap on shipped themes. Joplin and Skedda are shipping at a similar cadence (velocity 6.3 vs 6.3, both within Sparkpulse's "active" band). See the at-a-glance table above for a side-by-side breakdown of velocity, recent sparks, and editorial themes.
Is Joplin better than Skedda?
Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. Joplin and Skedda are shipping at a similar cadence (velocity 6.3 vs 6.3, both within Sparkpulse's "active" band). For your specific use case, the alternatives sections above list other Collab products to evaluate alongside.
What are the best alternatives to Joplin?
Top Joplin alternatives in Collab are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Joplin alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/joplin for the full list with editorial commentary on each.
What are the best alternatives to Skedda?
Top Skedda alternatives in Collab are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Skedda alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/skedda for the full list with editorial commentary on each.