Comparison
Klad vs GitJournal
Both apps do something unusual: they keep your notes as plain Markdown files in a Git repository you own, with no company database in the middle. If you've found this page you're probably choosing between them. Here's an honest breakdown — including the parts where GitJournal is the better pick.
The short answer
Choose Klad if…
you want writing to feel good. Klad's editor styles Markdown as you type, so you're not staring at asterisks and hash marks. It's free to try on both platforms, and it works with plain iCloud files if you'd rather not touch Git at all.
Choose GitJournal if…
you want open source software, desktop apps alongside mobile, backlinks and a graph view, or Gitea support. GitJournal has been actively developed for years and does more on the knowledge-graph side than Klad does today.
The main difference
Type what you see.
GitJournal's standard editor is a raw Markdown editor — you type ## Heading and you see ## Heading. Klad styles your Markdown live. Headings get bigger, bold text goes bold, checkboxes become tappable — and the syntax markers fade away until you move the cursor back onto them, so nothing is ever hidden from you when you need to edit it.
Raw editor
# Trip planning ## Packing **Do not forget** the charger. - [ ] Passport - [x] Tickets See [[Budget]]
Klad
Trip planning
Packing
Do not forget the charger.
Passport
✓Tickets
See Budget
The file on disk is identical in both cases — ordinary Markdown, readable by any editor.
Side by side
| Feature | Klad | GitJournal |
|---|---|---|
| Live-styled Markdown editor | Formatting renders as you type | Raw Markdown editor |
| Free to install | iOS & Android | Android only — iOS is $3.99 |
| Paid tier | $29.99 once, permanent | Pay-what-you-want Pro |
| Wiki links [[note]] | ||
| Backlinks | ||
| Graph view | Experimental | |
| Git hosts | GitHub, GitLab, self-hosted | GitHub, GitLab, Gitea, self-hosted |
| Works without Git at all | Yes — iCloud Drive mode on iOS | |
| Desktop apps | Linux, macOS, Windows | |
| Open source | AGPL / Apache-2.0 | |
| Background auto-sync | Klad Pro | |
| Merge conflict handling | 3-way merge with conflict markers |
GitJournal details checked against gitjournal.io in July 2026. GitJournal Pro is pay-what-you-want and its pricing is actively being adjusted, so check their pricing page for current numbers. We'll correct anything that's out of date — email mauscoelho@gmail.com.
How the pricing differs
Neither app charges a mandatory subscription, which already puts both of them in a small club. The difference is in the shape.
- Klad is free to install on iOS and Android with unlimited notes and unlimited manual Git sync. Klad Pro is $29.99 paid once, unlocks background auto-sync, and does not expire.
- GitJournal is free on Android and $3.99 on iOS for the Basic tier. Pro is pay-what-you-want, offered either as a one-time purchase or in monthly instalments. Their one-time purchase permanently includes the Pro features that exist at the time of buying, plus new features added over the following 12 months.
Where GitJournal is the better choice
We'd rather you end up with the right app than the wrong one. There are real reasons to pick GitJournal:
- It's fully open source, so you can audit it or fork it. Klad isn't.
- It runs on Linux, macOS and Windows as well as mobile. Klad is mobile-only.
- It has backlinks and an experimental graph view. Klad has wiki links but no backlink panel yet.
- It supports Gitea and SSH key authentication out of the box.
- It can manage multiple repositories. Klad works with one vault at a time.
- It has been actively developed for years and has a long release history.
Common questions
Is Klad open source like GitJournal?
No. GitJournal is fully open source under AGPL and Apache-2.0, and if that matters to you it is the stronger choice. Klad is closed source, but it never runs a backend — your notes live on your device and in your own Git repository, and there is no Klad account to create.
Which one is cheaper?
GitJournal is cheaper to start on Android, where the Basic tier is free, and its Pro tier is pay-what-you-want. Klad is free to install on both iOS and Android, and Klad Pro is a single $29.99 payment that never expires. On iOS specifically, GitJournal charges $3.99 up front while Klad costs nothing to try.
Do I need Git to use either app?
GitJournal is built entirely around Git. Klad also offers an iCloud Drive mode on iOS, so you can keep plain Markdown files in Files and Finder without setting up a repository at all, and switch to Git sync later.
Can I use both with an existing Obsidian vault?
Yes. Both apps read an existing folder of Markdown files as-is, preserving your folder structure and file names, and both support [[wiki link]] syntax. Neither converts your vault into a proprietary format.
Try Klad free.
Unlimited notes, unlimited manual Git sync, and an editor that gets out of your way. Nothing to pay until you want background auto-sync.
Free, with unlimited manual Git sync · Background auto-sync is a one-time Pro purchase, never a subscription