Capture your thoughts and securely access them from any device with this open-source note-taking app.
Visit WebsiteTL;DR - Joplin
- Open-source note-taking app with multimedia support.
- Features end-to-end encryption and flexible sync options.
- Offers collaboration, web clipping, and extensive customization.
Pricing: Paid only
Best for: Enterprises & pros
4.3/5 across review platforms
What Users Say About Joplin
Joplin is the privacy-focused open-source alternative that punches above its weight. Users — frequently developers, IT teams, and privacy-conscious writers — consistently cite end-to-end encryption, self-hostable sync, and the lack of vendor lock-in as reasons to switch from Evernote or Notion. The common friction points are the UI (utilitarian, not beautiful) and the reliance on the user to set up sync (Nextcloud, Joplin Cloud, Dropbox, etc.).
Highlights
- Fully open source (AGPL) with end-to-end encryption for all synced notes
- Self-hostable sync via Nextcloud, WebDAV, or your own S3 — complete data control
- Native Evernote importer (ENEX files) — the cleanest migration path off Evernote in 2026
- Markdown-first with a capable WYSIWYG toggle
- Active development — free for personal use on desktop, iOS, Android, and web
Limitations
- UI is functional but far less polished than Apple Notes, Bear, or Notion
- Setup requires you to configure sync yourself — not a 'log in and go' experience
- Joplin Cloud (the hosted sync) is reliable but less full-featured than paid competitors
- Plugin ecosystem smaller than Obsidian's
- Team/collaboration features are minimal — this is a single-user tool by design
Best for: Privacy-conscious users and developers who want full control over their note data, zero vendor lock-in, and are willing to trade UX polish for sovereignty. Also the top pick for users migrating off Evernote who want E2E encryption included.
Editorial synthesis from industry coverage, product docs, and early user reports
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Open-source and ensures data ownership in an open format.
- Strong emphasis on privacy with End-To-End Encryption (E2EE).
- Highly customizable with plugins, themes, and API.
- Available across a wide range of platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Terminal).
- Supports multimedia content and web clipping for comprehensive note-taking.
Cons
- E2EE setup requires manual enabling on each device.
- Initial E2EE sync can be time-consuming for large note collections.
- Advanced collaboration and sharing features are tied to paid Joplin Cloud plans.
Ratings Across the Web
4.3(67 reviews)
Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more
Key Features
Multimedia notes (images, videos, PDFs, audio)Math expressions and diagramsWeb clipper extension (Chrome, Firefox)Customizable with plugins, themes, and text editors (Rich Text/Markdown)Extension API for custom scripts and pluginsCross-device synchronization (Joplin Cloud, Dropbox, OneDrive)End-To-End Encryption (E2EE)Collaboration on notebooks (Joplin Cloud)
Pricing Plans
Basic
$2.99
- 10 MB per note or attachment
- 2 GB storage space
- Publish notes to the internet
- Sync as many devices as you want
- Collaborate on a notebook with others
Pro
$5.99
- 200 MB per note or attachment
- 30 GB storage space
- Publish notes to the internet
- Sync as many devices as you want
- Collaborate on a notebook with others
- Share a notebook with others
- Email to Note
- Customise the note publishing banner
Teams
$7.99
- 200 MB per note or attachment
- 50 GB storage space
- Publish notes to the internet
- Sync as many devices as you want
- Collaborate on a notebook with others
- Share a notebook with others
- Email to Note
- Customise the note publishing banner
- Manage multiple users
- Consolidated billing
- Share permissions
- Priority support
Joplin Server Business
Contact us
- Publish notes to the internet
- Sync as many devices as you want
- Collaborate on a notebook with others
- Share a notebook with others
- Email to Note
- Customise the note publishing banner
- Manage multiple users
- Share permissions
- Priority support
- Self-hosted
- Source code available
What is Joplin?
Joplin is an open-source note-taking application designed to help users capture, organize, and access their thoughts and information across multiple devices. It supports various note types, including multimedia notes with images, videos, PDFs, and audio files, and allows for the creation of math expressions and diagrams directly within the app. Users can also save web pages and screenshots as notes using a web clipper extension for Chrome and Firefox.
The application emphasizes data ownership and privacy, saving notes in an open format and offering end-to-end encryption (E2EE) to ensure that only the user can access their data. Joplin provides flexible synchronization options, including its own Joplin Cloud service, as well as third-party services like Dropbox and OneDrive. With Joplin Cloud, users can also collaborate on notebooks, publish notes to the internet, and manage multiple users for team environments. It is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and even as a terminal app, catering to a wide range of users from individuals to teams seeking a secure and customizable note-taking solution.
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Joplin FAQ
What is Joplin?
Joplin is an open-source note-taking application that allows users to capture thoughts, create multimedia notes, save web pages, and synchronize their data across various devices securely with end-to-end encryption.
How much does Joplin cost?
The core Joplin application is free and open-source. Joplin Cloud, which offers synchronization and collaboration features, has paid plans: Basic (2.99€/month or 2.40€/month annually), Pro (5.99€/month or 4.79€/month annually), and Teams (7.99€/month per user or 6.69€/month per user annually, minimum 2 users). There is also a self-hosted Joplin Server Business option with custom pricing.
Is Joplin free?
Yes, the Joplin note-taking application itself is free and open-source. However, advanced synchronization and collaboration features are available through paid Joplin Cloud plans.
Who is Joplin for?
Joplin is for individuals and teams who need a secure, customizable, and cross-platform note-taking solution. It's particularly well-suited for users who value data privacy, open-source software, and the ability to synchronize notes across all their devices.
Source: joplinapp.org