Joplin vs Microsoft OneNote: 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 Microsoft OneNote 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 and lower entry price. 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
Microsoft OneNote
Digital notebook for organizing everything
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Joplin requires payment)
| At a Glance | Joplin | |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $3.22/mo, billed monthly Basic plan | Free plan, paid from $6.99/mo, billed monthly With Microsoft 365 plan |
Category | Note-Taking Productivity | Note-Taking Productivity |
Rating | 4.4/5 SourceForge 4.3 · G2 4.8 · Trustpilot 3.7 73 reviews | 4.0/5 Capterra 4.6 · G2 4.5 · Trustpilot 1.8 3,864 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose Joplin or Microsoft OneNote?
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)
- Budget matters ($3.22/mo, billed monthly vs $6.99/mo, billed monthly)
Choose Microsoft OneNote if
- You want a fully free tool (Joplin requires payment)
- You want completely free
- You want great handwriting/tablet support
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
Microsoft OneNote
Digital notebook for organizing everything
OneNote's pricing is exceptionally generous, as the core product is entirely free with unlimited notebooks and cross-platform sync.
Strengths
- Pro: Completely free
- Pro: Great handwriting/tablet support
- Pro: Deep Microsoft integration
- Pro: Unlimited storage (with M365)
- Pro: Good for visual thinkers
Weaknesses
- Con: Can feel cluttered
- Con: Sync issues occasionally
- Con: Less structured than Notion
- Con: Microsoft account required
Key features
Plans and prices: Joplin vs Microsoft OneNote
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Joplin |
| joplinapp.org/plans read Oct 28, 2026 |
| Microsoft OneNote |
| onenote.com read Sep 29, 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 Microsoft OneNote pricing.
Key Takeaways
Joplin
- Higher user rating: 4.4/5 vs 4.0/5
- Lower entry price: $3.22/mo, billed monthly vs $6.99/mo, billed monthly
Microsoft OneNote
- Choose if you want digital notebook for organizing everything
What the data shows
On the data below, Joplin leads on higher user rating and lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Joplin has the higher user rating (4.4/5 from 73 reviews for Joplin, 4.0/5 from 3,864 reviews for Microsoft OneNote).
- Joplin has the lower entry price: $3.22/mo, billed monthly (Basic) against $6.99/mo, billed monthly (With Microsoft 365) for Microsoft OneNote.
- 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
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Joplin and Microsoft OneNote compare in 2026?
On the data below, Joplin leads on higher user rating and lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Joplin has the higher user rating (4.4/5 from 73 reviews for Joplin, 4.0/5 from 3,864 reviews for Microsoft OneNote). Joplin has the lower entry price: $3.22/mo, billed monthly (Basic) against $6.99/mo, billed monthly (With Microsoft 365) for Microsoft OneNote. Both have a free plan.
What are Joplin and Microsoft OneNote used for?
Joplin: Capture your thoughts and securely access them from any device with this open-source note-taking app. Microsoft OneNote: Digital notebook for organizing everything.
What does Joplin cost vs Microsoft OneNote?
Joplin's cheapest paid plan is Basic at $3.22/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Microsoft OneNote's cheapest paid plan is With Microsoft 365 at $6.99/mo, billed monthly. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 28, 2026.
What's the main difference between Joplin and Microsoft OneNote?
Joplin's main strength: open-source and ensures data ownership in an open format. Microsoft OneNote's main strength: completely free.