Note-taking apps are one of the most personal data categories most people hand to a cloud company without thinking about it. Evernote, Notion, Apple Notes, and Google Keep all store your notes on someone else's server, sync across your devices using their infrastructure, and make your content available to their moderation teams, law enforcement requests, and potential data breaches. Self-hosted note sync moves that data to a NAS you control. The three realistic options in 2026 are Joplin with WebDAV or Nextcloud sync, Obsidian with a self-hosted sync backend, and Standard Notes with a self-hosted server. Each makes different compromises between ease of setup, mobile experience, and offline resilience.
In short: Joplin with WebDAV sync is the easiest to self-host and works reliably across all platforms. Obsidian with Syncthing or a WebDAV vault is the best option if you want plain Markdown files and maximum portability. Standard Notes self-hosted is the most private but the most complex to set up and maintain. All three work on a home NAS, but each requires different infrastructure and tolerance for occasional sync conflicts.
What Self-Hosted Note Sync Actually Means
Self-hosted note sync means the sync server runs on infrastructure you control - your NAS, a VPS, or a home server - rather than the app vendor's cloud. Your notes travel between devices through your server, not theirs. This has real privacy benefits and some real operational costs:
- Privacy: The app vendor cannot read your notes, scan for policy violations, or hand data to third parties without your involvement.
- Availability: If your NAS is offline (power outage, maintenance), sync stops until it comes back. Notes stored on the device remain accessible, but syncing to other devices pauses.
- Cost: You bear the hardware and maintenance cost rather than a subscription fee.
- Remote access: Sync from outside your home network requires either a VPN, a reverse proxy, or a cloud tunnel. This adds another layer of configuration. On many Australian NBN connections, CGNAT blocks direct port forwarding, making Tailscale or a Cloudflare Tunnel the practical solution for remote sync.
Joplin with WebDAV Sync
Joplin is an open-source note-taking app that stores notes in Markdown with a SQLite database. It supports end-to-end encryption at the application layer, meaning notes are encrypted before they leave your device. The WebDAV sync backend works with Synology WebDAV Server (available in Package Center) and QNAP's built-in WebDAV service.
Setup on Synology: Install the WebDAV Server package, create a shared folder for Joplin notes, configure Joplin on each device to point to https://your-nas-ip:5006/joplin with your NAS credentials. Enable end-to-end encryption in Joplin's settings with a strong passphrase. All note content is encrypted before upload to the WebDAV server - the NAS sees only encrypted blobs, not readable notes.
The mobile experience is reasonable. The Joplin iOS and Android apps support the same WebDAV configuration and end-to-end encryption. Sync is not instantaneous (typically polls every few minutes rather than pushing changes in real time), but for most note-taking workflows this is acceptable.
Pros
- Simplest self-hosted setup - WebDAV is built into most NAS software
- End-to-end encryption built in - NAS never sees plaintext notes
- Cross-platform: Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android
- Works with existing Nextcloud installation if you already run it
- Active development, stable sync implementation
Cons
- Sync polling rather than real-time push - slight delay between devices
- Proprietary note storage format (SQLite) - not easily portable to other apps
- Attachments sync separately and can create occasional orphans
- No collaborative editing
- Web interface is limited - primarily a desktop/mobile app
Obsidian with Self-Hosted Sync
Obsidian stores notes as plain Markdown files in a vault directory. This is its key advantage: your notes are readable files, not a proprietary format. The sync options for self-hosting Obsidian are different from Joplin because Obsidian's official sync service is commercial (USD $10/month). The self-hosted alternatives are:
- Syncthing: A peer-to-peer file sync tool that runs as a Docker container on your NAS. It syncs the Obsidian vault folder directly between your NAS and devices. No app modifications needed. Fast, reliable, works offline-first. The limitation is mobile: Syncthing's iOS support is limited (third-party apps only, with variable reliability).
- WebDAV mount: Mount a WebDAV share from your NAS as a folder and point Obsidian at it. Works on desktop; limited on mobile because iOS and Android do not natively mount WebDAV as a local folder visible to Obsidian.
- Obsidian Self-Hosted Sync: An open-source alternative server (obsidian-livesync) that replicates the official Obsidian Sync protocol using CouchDB. More complex to set up but provides real-time sync across all platforms including mobile.
For desktop-only or desktop-primary workflows, Syncthing with a Docker container on the NAS is the cleanest approach. For full mobile sync, obsidian-livesync (CouchDB backend) is the better choice despite higher setup complexity.
Pros
- Plain Markdown files - fully portable, readable without Obsidian
- Rich plugin ecosystem for knowledge management workflows
- Best offline experience - vault is always local on each device
- No note size limits, no attachment restrictions
- Multiple sync methods available depending on your infrastructure
Cons
- No built-in self-hosted sync - requires a separate sync layer (Syncthing, CouchDB)
- Mobile sync is the hardest part - iOS Syncthing support is unreliable
- obsidian-livesync (CouchDB) adds significant setup and maintenance complexity
- No end-to-end encryption by default unless added via a plugin
- Sync conflicts produce duplicate files that require manual resolution
Standard Notes with Self-Hosted Server
Standard Notes is specifically designed for privacy and is the most opinionated of the three about security. It offers end-to-end encryption at the server level, meaning the server stores only encrypted data and has no ability to read your notes. The self-hosted server (standardnotes/server) runs as a Docker Compose stack and requires a PostgreSQL database, Redis, and a reverse proxy. It is the most infrastructure-heavy option of the three.
The upside is that once running, Standard Notes provides the closest experience to its commercial service: real-time sync, reliable mobile apps on iOS and Android, and a clean interface. Features beyond basic notes (editors, cloud backup, version history) require a Pro subscription even on a self-hosted server, which is a notable limitation.
The Docker Compose stack can run on a Synology or QNAP NAS with adequate RAM (minimum 2GB free for the full stack). A DS925+ or DS1525+ handles the load without issue. A DS223J or similar entry-level ARM device may struggle with the database overhead.
Pros
- Strongest privacy model - server stores only encrypted data
- Best mobile experience of the three self-hosted options
- Real-time sync across all platforms
- Consistent UI across desktop and mobile
Cons
- Most complex to set up: Docker Compose, PostgreSQL, Redis, reverse proxy required
- Higher NAS resource requirements (2GB+ RAM for the stack)
- Extended features still require a Pro subscription even on self-hosted
- Smaller community and ecosystem than Joplin or Obsidian
- Breaking changes between server versions have historically caused migration issues
Direct Comparison
Joplin vs Obsidian vs Standard Notes. Self-Hosted Comparison
| Joplin + WebDAV | Obsidian + Syncthing | Standard Notes Self-Hosted | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup complexity | Low | Medium | High |
| NAS infrastructure needed | WebDAV service | Docker (Syncthing) | Docker Compose stack (PostgreSQL, Redis) |
| End-to-end encryption | Yes (built-in) | No (add via plugin) | Yes (server-level) |
| Mobile sync | Good (polling) | Limited (iOS problematic) | Excellent (real-time) |
| File format | Proprietary (SQLite) | Plain Markdown | Proprietary (encrypted) |
| Offline access | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sync conflicts | Handled automatically | Duplicate files created | Handled automatically |
| Minimum NAS spec | Any NAS with WebDAV | Any NAS running Docker | 2GB+ RAM NAS with Docker |
| App cost | Free | Free (sync layer extra) | Free (Pro features paid) |
| Best for | Simplicity + privacy | Power users + portability | Maximum privacy + mobile |
| AU support cost | $0 | $0 | $0 (server) + Pro sub if needed |
Which One to Choose
Start with Joplin if: You want the easiest setup and reliable cross-platform sync including mobile. WebDAV is available on almost every NAS, the encryption is built-in, and the setup is a 30-minute task rather than an afternoon project.
Choose Obsidian + Syncthing if: You are already an Obsidian user, you prioritise having your notes as readable Markdown files you can process with other tools, and you primarily work on desktop with mobile as secondary. The plain-file approach means your notes are never locked to a specific app.
Choose Standard Notes if: Mobile sync reliability and end-to-end encryption from day one are non-negotiable, and you are comfortable running a Docker Compose stack. The setup investment is significant but the result is the most polished self-hosted note-sync experience of the three.
All three require solving the remote access problem if you want to sync when not at home. For Australian users on CGNAT connections (common with NBN), Tailscale is the simplest solution and works with any of the three options. See the Tailscale vs Cloudflare Tunnels guide for setup options.
Related reading: our NAS buyer's guide.
Can I sync Joplin through my NAS without exposing it to the internet?
Yes. If you only need to sync while on your home network, the WebDAV service on your NAS only needs to be accessible on your local network. For syncing when away from home, you need to either expose the WebDAV service through a secure reverse proxy, or use a VPN like Tailscale to reach your home network first. Tailscale is the easier option for most users on Australian NBN, especially on CGNAT connections where port forwarding is not available.
What happens to my notes if my NAS goes offline?
All three applications store a local copy of your notes on each device. If the NAS goes offline, you can still read and write notes normally. Changes made while offline are queued and sync when the NAS comes back online. Sync conflicts can occur if you edit the same note on two devices while the sync server is offline, but Joplin and Standard Notes handle these automatically. Obsidian with Syncthing may create duplicate files that require manual resolution.
Is Syncthing safe for syncing an Obsidian vault?
Yes, Syncthing is a reliable, open-source file sync tool with a good security track record. It uses end-to-end encrypted connections between devices. However, Syncthing does not encrypt the files themselves - if your NAS is compromised, the Obsidian vault files are readable. If note privacy is a concern, add encryption at the file level (Obsidian has community plugins for this) or switch to Joplin or Standard Notes which provide application-level encryption.
Which NAS models are sufficient to run Standard Notes self-hosted?
Standard Notes self-hosted requires a Docker Compose stack including PostgreSQL and Redis. The minimum practical spec is a NAS with 2GB of available RAM and an x86_64 processor. Current models that comfortably meet this requirement include the Synology DS425+ ($786 from AU retailers), DS925+ ($959), and QNAP TS-433 ($639). Entry-level ARM models like the Synology DS223J ($315) do not run Docker reliably and are not suitable for Standard Notes self-hosted.
Can I migrate from one note app to another if I change my mind?
Migration complexity varies. Joplin can export to Markdown, Evernote format, and JSON, making migration out relatively straightforward. Obsidian uses plain Markdown files natively, so the vault is already in a portable format. Standard Notes can export to a JSON file. Moving between these three apps is possible with some manual work, but do not expect a seamless automated migration - plan for a few hours of file conversion and cleanup when switching apps.
Self-hosted note sync is one piece of a broader self-hosted stack. For the full picture on running multiple self-hosted applications on a single NAS without performance conflicts, read the multi-app guide.
Running Multiple Self-Hosted Apps on One NAS