Joplin vs Notion: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Joplin and Notion side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Joplin leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Joplin
Capture your thoughts and securely access them from any device with this open-source note-taking app.
Best for you if:
- • You want open-source and ensures data ownership in an open format
Notion
Unite docs, projects, knowledge, and AI workflows in one collaborative workspace
Best for you if:
- • You want replaces multiple tools (docs, wikis, project management, databases) in one platform
| At a Glance | Joplin | Notion |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $3.22/mo, billed monthly Basic plan | Free plan, paid from $10/member/mo, billed yearly Plus plan |
Category | Note-Taking Productivity | Documentation Knowledge Base |
Rating | 4.4/5 SourceForge 4.3 · G2 4.8 · Trustpilot 3.7 73 reviews | 3.5/5 Trustpilot 2.5 · TrustRadius 4.4 · PeerSpot 4.1 407 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | n/a | Monthly billing costs more than annual: $12 vs $10 per member on Plus and $24 vs $20 on Business. |
Choose Joplin or Notion?
Choose Joplin if
- You want open-source and ensures data ownership in an open format
- You want strong emphasis on privacy with End-To-End Encryption (E2EE)
- You work in note-taking, not documentation
Choose Notion if
- You want replaces multiple tools (docs, wikis, project management, databases) in one platform
- You want highly flexible block-based system lets teams build custom workflows without code
- You work in documentation, not note-taking
In-Depth Analysis
Joplin
Capture your thoughts and securely access them from any device with this open-source note-taking app.
Joplin's pricing is fair, especially for individual users.
Strengths
- Pro: Open-source and ensures data ownership in an open format.
- Pro: Strong emphasis on privacy with End-To-End Encryption (E2EE).
- Pro: Highly customizable with plugins, themes, and API.
- Pro: Available across a wide range of platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Terminal).
- Pro: Supports multimedia content and web clipping for comprehensive note-taking.
Weaknesses
- Con: E2EE setup requires manual enabling on each device.
- Con: Initial E2EE sync can be time-consuming for large note collections.
- Con: Advanced collaboration and sharing features are tied to paid Joplin Cloud plans.
Key features
Notion
Unite docs, projects, knowledge, and AI workflows in one collaborative workspace
Notion costs $10 per member per month on Plus and $20 on Business when billed annually; monthly billing is $12 and $24.
Watch out
Monthly billing costs more than annual: $12 vs $10 per member on Plus and $24 vs $20 on Business.
Strengths
- Pro: Replaces multiple tools (docs, wikis, project management, databases) in one platform
- Pro: Highly flexible block-based system lets teams build custom workflows without code
- Pro: Deep AI integration, agents, search, meeting notes, and writing assistance
- Pro: Generous free tier with unlimited pages and blocks for individual users
- Pro: Massive template gallery and active community of 1.4M+ members
Weaknesses
- Con: Steep learning curve, flexibility can overwhelm new users and slow initial adoption
- Con: Performance degrades on large workspaces with thousands of nested pages
- Con: Offline use covers the pages you download (Free) or your recent and favorite pages (paid plans)
- Con: Notion AI is a limited trial on Free and Plus and is included from the Business plan
- Con: No native Gantt charts or advanced resource management for complex project portfolios
Key features
Plans and prices: Joplin vs Notion
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Joplin |
| joplinapp.org/plans read Oct 28, 2026 |
| Notion |
| notion.com/pricing read Nov 1, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Joplin pricing and Notion pricing.
Key Takeaways
Joplin
- Higher user rating: 4.4/5 vs 3.5/5
Notion
- Choose if you want unite docs, projects, knowledge, and AI workflows in one collaborative workspace
What the data shows
On the data below, Joplin leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Joplin has the higher user rating (4.4/5 from 73 reviews for Joplin, 3.5/5 from 407 reviews for Notion).
- Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: Joplin $3.22/mo, billed monthly; Notion $10/member/mo, billed yearly.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
What Users Say
Notion Reviews
Database notes is super and ease my task to understand the workflow
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Joplin and Notion compare in 2026?
On the data below, Joplin leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Joplin has the higher user rating (4.4/5 from 73 reviews for Joplin, 3.5/5 from 407 reviews for Notion). Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: Joplin $3.22/mo, billed monthly; Notion $10/member/mo, billed yearly. Both have a free plan.
What are Joplin and Notion used for?
Joplin: Capture your thoughts and securely access them from any device with this open-source note-taking app. Notion: Unite docs, projects, knowledge, and AI workflows in one collaborative workspace.
What does Joplin cost vs Notion?
Joplin's cheapest paid plan is Basic at $3.22/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Notion's cheapest paid plan is Plus at $10/member/mo, billed yearly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 1, 2026.
What's the main difference between Joplin and Notion?
Joplin's main strength: open-source and ensures data ownership in an open format. Notion's main strength: replaces multiple tools (docs, wikis, project management, databases) in one platform.