Joplin

3.2 (2 reviews)

Productivity , Documentation , Privacy & Compliance

A local-first, open-source note-taking application that prioritizes data ownership and privacy over modern UI aesthetics.

Best for privacy-conscious technical users who want an Evernote alternative with Markdown support, weaker for teams requiring polished real-time collaboration.

Note Taking Markdown Open-Source Knowledge Management Productivity Tools Privacy Browser Extension Ai Assistant

Analysis based on product data, pricing structure, traffic signals, and public user sentiment.

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Who Should Use Joplin?

Typical users

Developers, researchers, and privacy advocates who prefer Markdown and want to avoid vendor lock-in.

Maturity fit

beginner to advanced

Choose this if…

You want full control over where your data is stored (local, Dropbox, WebDAV)
Your priority is end-to-end encryption over a 'pretty' interface
You need a reliable web clipper that preserves Markdown formatting

Skip this if…

You require Notion-style relational databases or complex project management features
You need a seamless, zero-configuration sync experience without technical setup
Your workflow relies on a highly polished, modern mobile application

About Joplin

Joplin is an open-source, cross-platform note-taking application designed as a privacy-focused alternative to mainstream cloud-based tools. It stores notes locally in Markdown format and allows users to choose their own synchronization backend, ensuring no single company controls the data.

Official profiles

LinkedIn YouTube GitHub Discord

What it actually does

It manages text, images, and file attachments organized into a notebook hierarchy with support for tagging and full-text search. Users can capture web content via a browser extension, sync across mobile and desktop devices, and extend functionality through a community-driven plugin ecosystem.

What makes it different

Unlike most competitors, Joplin is architecturally local-first and agnostic about sync providers. It offers a terminal-based version for CLI power users and maintains a strict commitment to open formats, making it nearly impossible to get 'locked in' to the software.

Markdown editing with side-by-side preview End-to-end encryption (E2EE) Web Clipper for Chrome and Firefox Note versioning and history OCR for images and PDF documents Plugin API for custom extensions Mobile, Desktop, and Terminal applications

Ratings across the web

3.2 (2 reviews)

Capterra 0 reviews

0.0/5

Trustpilot 2 reviews

3.2/5

Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms.

Key Features

End-to-End Encryption

Secures notes with a master password so even sync providers cannot read content.

Web Clipper

Captures web pages as Markdown or HTML snippets directly into specific notebooks.

Flexible Sync

Supports Dropbox, OneDrive, Nextcloud, WebDAV, and Joplin Cloud.

Plugin System

Enables features like Kanban boards, backlink graphs, and AI-assisted writing.

External Editor Support

Allows opening notes in VS Code, Vim, or Emacs while maintaining sync.

Note History

Keeps previous versions of notes for a user-defined period to prevent accidental data loss.

Search Filters

Uses advanced syntax to find notes by date, tag, or specific notebook location.

Pricing

Popular

Free / Open Source

Free

Full application access
Local storage
Manual sync (Dropbox/OneDrive/WebDAV)
All plugins

Cloud Basic

$2.99 monthly

1GB storage
10MB max file size
Easy sync setup
Email notes to Joplin

Cloud Pro

$5.90 monthly

10GB storage
200MB max file size
Notebook sharing
Priority support

Cloud Teams

$14.90 monthly

10GB storage per user
Team management console
Consolidated billing
Collaborative features

Pricing checked 6 months ago

Pricing guidance

Best plan for most users: The Free tier is the best choice for individuals who are comfortable using their own cloud storage (like Dropbox) for syncing.

Free plan enough? Yes, the free plan includes 100% of the app's functionality; you only pay for the convenience of Joplin's hosted sync and sharing.

Upgrade when:

When you need to share and collaborate on notebooks with others
When you want a 'one-click' sync experience without configuring WebDAV
When you want to support the ongoing development of the open-source project

Watch out for:

The Basic Cloud plan has a strict 10MB file size limit per attachment
End-to-end encryption must be manually enabled and configured
Collaborative editing is only available on paid Cloud plans

Disruptively affordable, as the core software is free and the paid cloud tiers are priced lower than most SaaS competitors.

Pros & Cons

Strengths

Total Data Sovereignty
Notes are stored in an open format on your own hardware, meaning you are never at the mercy of a vendor's pricing changes or service shutdowns.
Extensive Plugin Ecosystem
The community has built hundreds of plugins that add specialized functionality, allowing users to build a custom workspace without core software bloat.
Superior Web Clipper
One of the most reliable clippers in the open-source space, effectively handling complex CSS and images that often break in other tools.

Weaknesses

Dated User Interface
The UI feels like legacy software from the early 2010s, lacking the fluidity and visual polish found in modern tools like Obsidian or Bear.

Affects: Design-conscious users
Sync Configuration Friction
Setting up third-party sync (like WebDAV) can be technical and occasionally results in sync conflicts that require manual resolution.

Affects: Non-technical users
Mobile App Performance
The mobile experience is significantly slower than the desktop version, particularly when handling large notebooks or numerous attachments.

Affects: Power users on the go

Real User Sentiment

Users generally respect Joplin for its reliability and ethics, though they frequently complain about the lack of UI polish.

Users tend to like

Complete data ownership
Robust Markdown support
Excellent Web Clipper
Active plugin community

Users commonly complain about

Clunky mobile application
Occasional sync conflicts
Dated interface design
Steep learning curve for E2EE

Recurring tradeoffs

You trade a modern, 'slick' user experience for total privacy and data control.

Happiest users

Developers and technical researchers who value Markdown and local-first data storage.

Often frustrated

Casual users who want a 'pretty' app that works instantly without any configuration.

Use Cases

Personal Knowledge Management

Organizing research, snippets, and long-form notes using Markdown.

Evernote Migration

Moving large note libraries to a platform with no subscription requirements.

Secure Journaling

Using end-to-end encryption to keep private thoughts safe from cloud providers.

Technical Documentation

Writing and previewing code-heavy documentation with syntax highlighting.

Web Research

Using the browser extension to save and annotate articles for offline use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Joplin really free?

Yes, the Joplin application is open-source and free to use. You only pay if you choose to subscribe to Joplin Cloud for simplified syncing and notebook sharing; otherwise, you can sync for free using Dropbox, OneDrive, or your own server.

How does Joplin compare to Obsidian?

Joplin uses a database-led approach with a built-in sync engine and a superior web clipper, whereas Obsidian is strictly file-over-folder. Obsidian has a more modern UI and better internal linking features, but Joplin is often easier for users migrating from Evernote.

Can I use Joplin offline?

Yes, Joplin is a local-first application. All your notes are stored on your device and are fully accessible without an internet connection. Changes will sync once you are back online.

Is the encryption automatic?

No, End-to-End Encryption (E2EE) is disabled by default. You must enable it in the settings and create a master password to ensure your notes are encrypted before they leave your device.

What happens if I stop paying for Joplin Cloud?

Your notes remain on your local devices. However, they will stop syncing across devices until you either renew your subscription or configure an alternative sync method like Dropbox or WebDAV.

Does Joplin support real-time collaboration?

No, Joplin does not support Google Docs-style real-time co-editing. On paid Cloud plans, you can share notebooks and others can edit notes, but changes are synced periodically rather than instantly.

Why trust this page?

This evaluation combines product positioning, pricing analysis, traffic and market signals, and public user sentiment into a single decision-support page. Content is generated editorially — not copied from the vendor's website.

Funding & Company

Founded

2017

Stage

Bootstrapped

Total Raised

Bootstrapped

Latest Round

—

Joplin is a bootstrapped, open-source project sustained by its creator, community donations, and revenue from its optional Joplin Cloud subscription service. It has not taken any venture capital or external funding, ensuring its direction is guided by its users and core developers rather than investors.

Full funding report high confidence

Market Signals & Traffic

Estimated visits, global rank, geography, traffic sources, monthly visit trends, and organic search keywords (Similarweb)—on a dedicated page built for depth and search.

Estimated visits: 470,129
Global rank: #100,038
Snapshot: Apr 2026
Traffic trend: Cooling