Joplin

Open source, end-to-end encrypted, and it syncs wherever you tell it to.

By Joplin (Laurent Cozic) · since 2017 · joplinapp.org · Open source

7.5

B+ · out of 10

Joplin is the open source answer to Evernote: markdown notes, notebooks, tags, a solid web clipper, and sync through Dropbox, OneDrive, WebDAV, S3, your own server or Joplin Cloud. Everything is encrypted before it leaves your device. The interface looks like a 2016 Electron app, and that is the price of entry.

How it scores

  • Features25% of score

    8.0

    Depth and breadth of what the app can do.

  • Ease of use20% of score

    6.0

    Speed, polish and how long it takes to feel at home.

  • AI15% of score

    5.2

    Quality and usefulness of the built-in AI, not just its presence.

  • Sync & reliability15% of score

    7.6

    How dependably notes move between devices.

  • Value15% of score

    9.4

    What you get for what you pay.

  • Platform coverage10% of score

    9.2

    How many places you can actually use it.

Pricing

$3/month · $30/year

Free tier: The app is free and open source, with free sync through your own storage.

Joplin Cloud starts around $3/month if you would rather not run your own sync target.

Platforms

  • Windows
  • macOS
  • iOS
  • Android
  • Linux
  • Web

53 tracked features supported

What it does well

  • End-to-end encryption on by default, with sync you choose
  • Imports Evernote archives properly, attachments included
  • Runs on every desktop and mobile platform, including Linux
  • Free in the way open source is free, not the way trials are

Where it falls short

  • The interface is functional at best
  • Sync conflicts happen more often than with hosted rivals
  • Plugins cover the gaps, but you have to find them yourself
  • Mobile editing lags well behind the desktop app

Our take

The most complete free and private Evernote replacement. You trade polish for control, and the trade is fair.

Best for: Privacy-minded people leaving Evernote who want to control the storage.

Privacy & ownershipLinked thinking / PKMGenuinely free

Feature by feature

YesPartlyVia pluginNo

Capture & input

How notes get into the app in the first place.

  • Voice recording
  • Audio transcription
  • Speaker identification
  • Meeting recording
  • Handwriting / stylusPartly
  • Drawing canvasPartly
  • OCR / handwriting search
  • Web clipper
  • Share extension
  • Quick capture
  • Images
  • PDF & documents
  • Document scanning

Organization

How notes are structured, linked and found again.

  • Tags
  • Folders / notebooks
  • Multi-level folders
  • Internal links
  • BacklinksVia plugin
  • Graph viewVia plugin
  • Databases / boards
  • Daily notes / journalVia plugin
  • Note templatesVia plugin
  • Saved searches
  • Pins / favoritesVia plugin
  • Merge notesVia plugin

AI

Assistants, generators and meaning-based search.

  • AI chat / writing assistantVia plugin
  • AI agent with tools
  • Custom AI agents
  • Semantic searchVia plugin
  • AI web searchVia plugin
  • Connected apps for AI
  • Prompt templates
  • Custom AI instructionsVia plugin
  • AI memory
  • Scheduled AI tasks
  • Flashcard generator
  • Spaced repetitionVia plugin
  • Quiz generator
  • Fill in the blank
  • Mind maps
  • AI image generation
  • Infographic generator
  • Slide deck generator
  • AI mini apps
  • Brainrot video generator
  • AI audio overview
  • Bring your own modelVia plugin
  • AI job notifications

Writing & editing

What the editor itself can actually do.

  • Markdown
  • Rich textPartly
  • Code blocks
  • Math / LaTeX
  • Tables
  • Find and replace
  • Version history
  • Note info

Sync & data ownership

Where your notes live and how easily they leave.

  • Cloud sync
  • Sync through your own cloud
  • Offline support
  • Offline-first / own your data
  • Self-hosting
  • End-to-end encryption
  • Locked notesVia plugin
  • Daily backupVia plugin
  • Import
  • Export
  • Public API
  • Command line tool
  • Remote MCP serverPartly
  • Plugins / extensions

Sharing & collaboration

Working with other people inside your notes.

  • Share with people
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Comments
  • Public sharing

Experience

The everyday polish around the writing surface.

  • Dark mode
  • Custom themes
  • Multi-language
  • Command palette
  • Split viewPartly
  • Focus mode
  • Home screen widgets
  • Apple Shortcuts

Compare with

All Joplin alternatives

Joplin vs Grape

Adds: AI agent with tools, AI memory

9.0

Joplin vs Obsidian

Plain markdown files on your disk, with a plugin ecosystem bolted on top.

8.4

Joplin vs Apple Notes

Already on your phone, and better than it has any right to be.

8.1

Joplin vs RemNote

Take notes and generate the flashcards in the same keystroke.

7.9