# Self-Hosted Note Sync in 2026: Joplin vs Obsidian vs Standard Notes on a NAS

Syncing notes privately through your own NAS is achievable with Joplin, Obsidian, or Standard Notes, but each has different trade-offs in setup complexity, encryption, mobile support, and what happens if your NAS goes offline. This comparison covers what actually works in practice.

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> Published: 20 April 2026
> Last updated: 17 October 2026
> Facts last checked against sources: 30 September 2026
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**Note-taking apps are one of the most personal data categories most people hand to a cloud company without thinking about it.** These services generally store synced notes on provider infrastructure, but provider access varies: for example, Apple Notes is end-to-end encrypted when Advanced Data Protection is enabled, so Apple does not hold the decryption keys. 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.

> **Note:** **In short:** Joplin with WebDAV sync is the easiest to self-host and works reliably across all platforms. Obsidian with Syncthing or the Self-hosted LiveSync plugin 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, such as your NAS, a VPS, or a home server, rather than the app vendor's cloud. For client-server options, notes sync through your server; peer-to-peer tools such as Syncthing may connect devices directly or through an encrypted relay. 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:** Client-server backends need a reachable server endpoint, such as through a VPN or HTTPS reverse proxy; Syncthing can instead use direct connections, NAT traversal, or encrypted relays. This adds another layer of configuration. CGNAT depends on the Australian retail service provider and plan: some NBN providers use it by default, while others do not. Where CGNAT applies, direct IPv4 port forwarding is unavailable unless the provider offers an opt-out or public IP; Tailscale is one alternative.

## 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, so 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. Joplin uploads your changes within a few seconds, but other devices only download changes at a fixed interval (every few minutes, set in Joplin's configuration screen), so there is a short delay between devices. 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: the 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**
- Other devices fetch changes at a fixed interval rather than by real-time push, so there is a slight delay between devices
- Joplin stores note bodies as Markdown in its local application database and can export them to Markdown, JEX or raw formats; unlike Obsidian, its live vault is not a folder of standalone Markdown files.
- Attachments sync as separate resources; unattached resources are automatically deleted according to the Note History settings
- No collaborative editing
- Web interface is limited; Joplin is 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. Unlike Joplin, Obsidian has no built-in self-hosted sync. Its own paid hosted service, Obsidian Sync, comes in two tiers, Sync Standard and Sync Plus, each cheaper per month when billed annually; check Obsidian's pricing page for current prices. 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. On Android, the official Syncthing app was discontinued after its December 2024 release; Obsidian's documentation points Android users to the community Syncthing-Fork app instead. On iOS, Syncthing is not officially supported and needs a third-party app.

- Mounting a WebDAV share creates a network-backed vault rather than a local synced copy. When the NAS is unreachable, a WebDAV-mounted vault has no local copy to work from, so it does not give the offline resilience of Syncthing or a sync plugin.

- Self-hosted LiveSync is a community-developed Obsidian plugin that synchronizes through CouchDB or other supported storage. It is not compatible with, and does not replicate, official Obsidian Sync. 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 and readable without Obsidian
- Rich plugin ecosystem for knowledge management workflows
- Best offline experience: the 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 such as Syncthing or CouchDB
- Mobile sync is the hardest part: iOS needs a third-party Syncthing app, and Android relies on the community Syncthing-Fork app since the official app was discontinued
- obsidian-livesync (CouchDB) adds significant setup and maintenance complexity
- Syncthing encrypts device-to-device traffic, but a normal trusted-device copy remains plaintext on the NAS unless separate at-rest or application-layer encryption is added
- 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. Standard Notes encrypts note content on the client before synchronization. The server cannot read note contents, although it can read limited metadata such as item creation and modification dates and content type. The current self-hosted setup runs four containers under Docker Compose: the Standard Notes server, MySQL, Redis and LocalStack. A reverse proxy is needed for a conventional public HTTPS endpoint, but the official Synology guide also documents direct access over Tailscale. 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: encrypted sync through the official iOS and Android apps, and a clean interface. Server-side premium roles can be activated on a self-hosted server, but client-side premium features require a paid Standard Notes offline plan.

Standard Notes documents testing its Docker setup on a host with 2GB total RAM and one CPU; it does not state that 2GB of free RAM is a minimum. Newer Plus-series models such as the DS925+ or DS1525+ have stronger hardware than the DS220+ used in Standard Notes’ documented Synology testing, but compatibility and performance depend on the deployment configuration. The DS223j has fixed 1GB RAM, below the 2GB host configuration documented by Standard Notes, so suitability for the full stack is not established.

**Pros**
- Strongest privacy model: server cannot read note contents, but can read limited metadata such as creation and modification dates and content type
- Best mobile experience of the three self-hosted options
- Sync across desktop and mobile platforms
- Consistent UI across desktop and mobile

**Cons**
- Most complex to set up: Docker Compose with the Standard Notes server, MySQL, Redis and LocalStack; a reverse proxy is needed for a conventional public HTTPS endpoint
- Higher NAS resource requirements; Standard Notes documents testing on a host with 2GB total RAM and one CPU but does not publish a minimum
- Client-side premium features require a paid offline plan even when self-hosted
- Smaller community and ecosystem than Joplin or Obsidian
- Server updates need care: the February 2023 move to the V2 setup required a documented migration, and Standard Notes tells you to back up before every update

## Direct Comparison

### Joplin vs Obsidian vs Standard Notes: Self-Hosted Comparison

| Feature | Joplin + WebDAV | Obsidian + Syncthing | Standard Notes Self-Hosted |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Setup complexity | Low | Medium | High |
| NAS infrastructure needed | WebDAV service | Docker (Syncthing) | Docker Compose stack (Standard Notes server, MySQL, Redis, LocalStack) |
| End-to-end encryption | Yes (built-in) | Transport encrypted; NAS copy plaintext by default | Yes (client-side) |
| Mobile sync | Good (polling) | Limited (third-party app on iOS, community fork on Android) | Official iOS/Android apps |
| File format | Markdown content in an application database | Plain Markdown | Proprietary (encrypted) |
| Offline access | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sync conflicts | Conflict notebook/manual resolution | Duplicate files created | Duplicate notes/manual cleanup |
| Minimum NAS spec | Any NAS with WebDAV | Any NAS running Docker | Docker-capable host; Standard Notes documents a 2GB/one-CPU test host but no minimum |
| App cost | Free | Free (sync layer extra) | Free (offline plan for client-side premium features) |
| Best for | Simplicity + privacy | Power users + portability | Maximum privacy + mobile |

## Which One to Choose

**Start with Joplin if:** You want the easiest setup and reliable cross-platform sync including mobile. WebDAV is available on supported Synology systems and through QTS on QNAP NAS, the encryption is built-in, and setup time varies with the NAS configuration and remote-access method.

**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.

Joplin WebDAV, Standard Notes and CouchDB-backed LiveSync need a reachable endpoint away from home; Syncthing can instead connect directly or through encrypted relays. For Australian users on CGNAT connections, Tailscale is the simplest solution and works with any of the three options. See the [Tailscale vs Cloudflare Tunnels guide](/blog/tailscale-vs-cloudflare-tunnels-for-remote-access/) for setup options.

## Frequently Asked Questions

Related reading: our [NAS buyer's guide](/blog/best-nas-australia/).

Use our free [Cloud vs NAS Cost Calculator](/tools/cloud-vs-nas-calculator/) to compare cloud storage against owning a NAS.

Related reading: our [NAS explainer](/blog/what-is-a-nas/).

See also: [our complete Synology NAS Australia guide](/brand-guides/synology/).

See also: [our complete QNAP NAS Australia guide](/brand-guides/qnap/).

**Q: 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.

**Q: 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. Joplin creates a Conflict notebook for manual comparison, while Standard Notes usually duplicates conflicting notes for manual cleanup; neither guarantees automatic conflict resolution. Obsidian with Syncthing may create duplicate files that require manual resolution.

**Q: 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. In Syncthing's normal trusted-device configuration, the files remain plaintext on the NAS even though transport is encrypted. Syncthing also offers a beta Receive Encrypted mode for untrusted storage devices. 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.

**Q: Which NAS models are sufficient to run Standard Notes self-hosted?**

The current Standard Notes self-hosted setup runs four containers under Docker Compose: the Standard Notes server, MySQL, Redis and LocalStack. The official Standard Notes server image supports both amd64 and arm64. Standard Notes documents testing on a host with 2GB total RAM and one CPU but does not publish a NAS-specific minimum. The Synology DS425+, DS925+, and QNAP TS-433 offer container capabilities, but Standard Notes does not document testing on these models, so comfortable operation of the full stack on them is not established. The DS223j now supports compatible Container Manager releases, but its fixed 1GB RAM is below the 2GB host configuration documented by Standard Notes, so suitability for the full stack is not established.

**Q: Can I migrate from one note app to another if I change my mind?**

Migration complexity varies. Joplin can export notes as JEX, raw, Markdown or Markdown with front matter. ENEX is an import format. Since version 3.7, Joplin can also import an Obsidian vault, on desktop and the CLI. Obsidian uses plain Markdown files natively, so the vault is already in a portable format. Standard Notes can export encrypted or decrypted backups; decrypted backups include individual plaintext note files. Moving between these three apps is possible with some manual work, so expect some file conversion and cleanup when switching apps.

**[Running Multiple Self-Hosted Apps on One NAS](https://needtoknowit.com.au/blog/running-multiple-self-hosted-apps-on-one-nas/)** -- 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.