Backpack vs Stikipad

For some time now I’ve been in search of an efficient way to jot down notes, make lists, store documents, and collect and compare bits of research, for collaborating on project ideas with a friend of mine who lives out on the west coast. I’ve previously used activeCollab to manage some of my projects, but it’s purpose is intended more for large scale scenarios where clients or team members are involved, and less for simple notes, lists and document sharing.

I’ve heard the buzz about 37signals’ Backpack, and recently tripped across Stikipad and Jotspot as well. While Jotspot is currently in suspension as a result of Google’s acquisition of it, the other two were immediately added to my “try and review” list.

Both are hosted utilities with a lot of customizable features (depending on how creative you are), and both offer a free membership with the option to upgrade at any time. A brief comparison of the free account features follows:

Upgrades for both services offer more capabilities of course, and while Backpack shines with features that Stikipad doesn’t support (calendar, text message reminders and a backup API), Stikipad appears to have the most to offer between the two. Of note are things like customizable templates, complete CSS control, and domain mapping - none of which are supported by Backpack at all.

Backpack does, however, provide a more intuitive default UI to begin with. It’s very easy to use, and I favor it a great deal over Stikipad’s default. With clear admin buttons right on the pages, you can quickly add/edit/delete your images, notes, lists, etc. in their respective “modules”. Stikipad’s UI is slightly less obvious, but still conveniently stationed in a sidebar (unless you use the classic theme).

Of the two, I’d say Stikipad is a better choice when it comes to customization, extensibility and long-term or team usage. There’s really a ton of stuff you can do with it. It’s a great way to collaborate and share ideas. For individuals, students or freelancer types, who simply need to get things down and get things done, I think Backpack comes out on top.

Now I’m going to contradict myself though, and admit that I’ll probably go with Stiki. I don’t need Backpack’s reminders or calendar feature, because I use Lightning, and I love that Stiki lets you upload documents with a free account. The more I use it, the more I like it. Also, if I ever do upgrade, the templating and CSS control is a huge selling point because, well, I’m a control freak. :)

Tags: getting-things-done | organization | software | tools | utilities