Reviews of GitJournal - Notes with Git

By: GitJournal App

List of user reviews and ratings for GitJournal - Notes with Git

Total ratings

3.93 (Rating count: 629)

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Review summary

Users appreciate GitJournal's seamless Git sync, markdown support, and open-source nature. However, common issues include performance problems with large notes, limited Git remote options, occasional data loss when syncing outside the app, and UI/UX shortcomings like lack of markdown helpers and navigation difficulties. While many praise the app's minimalistic design and developer responsiveness, concerns about infrequent updates and possible abandonment also persist.

Pros

Seamless synchronization with Git repositories allowing cross-device access to markdown notes.
Support for standard markdown features including tags, metadata, checklists, and wiki-style links.
Open-source nature with an active and responsive developer addressing user feedback.
Minimalistic and clean user interface appreciated by users.
Ability to host own notes independently and edit files outside the app using standard markdown editors.

Cons

Performance issues with large markdown files causing stutters or freezes during opening, scrolling, or editing.
Limited support for Git remotes: only SSH supported, no HTTPS, and no option to set custom SSH ports.
Sync conflicts and data loss issues especially when editing the Git repository outside of the app or using multiple devices without proper syncing.
UI/UX limitations such as lack of markdown formatting buttons, difficulty navigating folders, and poor search functionality.
Inconsistent app updates and concerns about possible developer neglect or abandonment, affecting user confidence.

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User Reviews

Recent rating average: 3.40

All time rating average: 3.93

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5% (1)

Date	Author	Comment
2024-12-15	Le*****	I've tried other markdown note apps but this is the first I've found that works perfectly with my existing repo of notes. It seems to pick up dates and times from the names of the files, supports tags, supports title metadata and surprisingly it also supports wiki type links between the files! It has a pretty clean look which I also appreciate. My one complaint is it seems you can't set a custom port if you're selecting a self hosted git, it expects the default port of 22.
I've tried other markdown note apps but this is the first I've found that works perfectly with my existing repo of notes. It seems to pick up dates and times from the names of the files, supports tags, supports title metadata and surprisingly it also supports wiki type links between the files! It has a pretty clean look which I also appreciate. My one complaint is it seems you can't set a custom port if you're selecting a self hosted git, it expects the default port of 22.
2024-12-04	Jo*****	This is a great app. I've only had one issue where I lost a bit of data. Not sure if it was just some weird merge issue or what but I temporarily lost data after not opening the app for a couple weeks (but made changes from my pc to the git repo). Update: seems like if you edit the git repo outside of the app, it will just undo your changes next time you sync.
This is a great app. I've only had one issue where I lost a bit of data. Not sure if it was just some weird merge issue or what but I temporarily lost data after not opening the app for a couple weeks (but made changes from my pc to the git repo). Update: seems like if you edit the git repo outside of the app, it will just undo your changes next time you sync.
2024-10-19	Ар*****	I wanted to like it, but the bugs stop me from loving it. It's an impressive app with a huge scope of features. The fact that it's FOSS is great. But the community of contributors is not big enough for an app this big. I recommend using Obsidian with the Git plugin.
I wanted to like it, but the bugs stop me from loving it. It's an impressive app with a huge scope of features. The fact that it's FOSS is great. But the community of contributors is not big enough for an app this big. I recommend using Obsidian with the Git plugin.
2024-01-09	Ma*****	I've been looking for something like this app for years. I started writing it myself a few times. I am delighted that I've found it, and it's better than I expected. Keeping the notes in a git repository means you can host your own work independently, and access it from anything. It even allows you to put checklists into notes, and attach files. Negatives: 1) a few slight UI problems 2) only ssh remotes, no Https 3) the lowest paid level is quite a bit more than I was expecting (about £20)
I've been looking for something like this app for years. I started writing it myself a few times. I am delighted that I've found it, and it's better than I expected. Keeping the notes in a git repository means you can host your own work independently, and access it from anything. It even allows you to put checklists into notes, and attach files. Negatives: 1) a few slight UI problems 2) only ssh remotes, no Https 3) the lowest paid level is quite a bit more than I was expecting (about £20)
2023-07-31	Er*****	This app works well and has so much potential but it is really neglected by the developer (no updates for ages now). Performance drops sharply once you have markdown files with a lot of text (it stutters while opening the file, while scrolling and while typing, thus rendering the app unusable) ☹️ Also you can't use "Find in note" when previewing the markdown which makes it hard to find content in large files.
This app works well and has so much potential but it is really neglected by the developer (no updates for ages now). Performance drops sharply once you have markdown files with a lot of text (it stutters while opening the file, while scrolling and while typing, thus rendering the app unusable) ☹️ Also you can't use "Find in note" when previewing the markdown which makes it hard to find content in large files.
2023-07-28	Da*****	I want to love this. There are just so many little paper cuts that I can't ever rely on it. I had to go thru huge heroics and mess to change the default branch from 'main'. And it regularly just says 'failed to save note' and you have to force close. Dev has also removed subscription part, so guessing it's abandoned or will be soon.
I want to love this. There are just so many little paper cuts that I can't ever rely on it. I had to go thru huge heroics and mess to change the default branch from 'main'. And it regularly just says 'failed to save note' and you have to force close. Dev has also removed subscription part, so guessing it's abandoned or will be soon.
2023-05-02	Ca*****	Found this app on Hacker News and I am so happy. A free way to auto sync your markdown notes from multiple devices, but with mobile first built in mind using Git. It is free, but please support development with a one time purchase. I know development is expensive, but adding the monthly subscription back would be a nice way to support you without breaking the bank!
Found this app on Hacker News and I am so happy. A free way to auto sync your markdown notes from multiple devices, but with mobile first built in mind using Git. It is free, but please support development with a one time purchase. I know development is expensive, but adding the monthly subscription back would be a nice way to support you without breaking the bank!
2023-04-27	*****	Decent so far but I'd like to see some UI buttons for markdown macros for those just learning all the different markdown formatting options.. honestly switched to a different app due to this one reason. Its nice when stuff like that is baked in and doesnt rely on rote memorization or switching between guides. It helps reinforce the breadth of options, especially on a mobile app where quickness is preferred.
Decent so far but I'd like to see some UI buttons for markdown macros for those just learning all the different markdown formatting options.. honestly switched to a different app due to this one reason. Its nice when stuff like that is baked in and doesnt rely on rote memorization or switching between guides. It helps reinforce the breadth of options, especially on a mobile app where quickness is preferred.
2022-11-22	Er*****	I use it with no remote, but with syncthing instead. Worked great with my foambubble. Used to work perfectly, but since some update it takes a looong time to start up (minutes sometimes). And since half a year it deletes the first line every time I save a note. My pull request that fixes this has been ignored although I paid.
I use it with no remote, but with syncthing instead. Worked great with my foambubble. Used to work perfectly, but since some update it takes a looong time to start up (minutes sometimes). And since half a year it deletes the first line every time I save a note. My pull request that fixes this has been ignored although I paid.
2022-11-17	Si*****	There's a bug that can happen when you have external storage issues, Android 13. It can happen if you change the external location too often and too soon, and it may happen because you are doing it while the app is trying to move the files. I thought I lost all my notes but they were just saved in a different location. Despite merging them I can't get the app to read the notes in the subfolders. GitJournal also doesn't want to recognize FairEmail as an email client, so I can't submit bug reports
There's a bug that can happen when you have external storage issues, Android 13. It can happen if you change the external location too often and too soon, and it may happen because you are doing it while the app is trying to move the files. I thought I lost all my notes but they were just saved in a different location. Despite merging them I can't get the app to read the notes in the subfolders. GitJournal also doesn't want to recognize FairEmail as an email client, so I can't submit bug reports