Joplin is a free, open-source note-taking and to-do app that keeps your notes in Markdown, works fully offline, and syncs them through a target you choose with end-to-end encryption. It serves people who want their notes to remain readable, portable, and under their own control rather than locked inside a cloud workspace.[1][2]
Quick verdict
Joplin benefits most people who capture personal knowledge in Markdown and want offline access with private sync. Its concrete strength is local-first notes plus encrypted synchronisation to Joplin Cloud, Nextcloud, Dropbox, OneDrive, WebDAV, or S3-compatible storage. Its material constraint is a functional interface that some reviewers call clunky, so teams needing simultaneous live editing should choose a cloud workspace such as Notion instead. If you want Markdown notes you own and can sync anywhere, choose Joplin; if shared live editing matters more than portability, choose a cloud alternative.[1][2][3][4]
Key features
Markdown notes with notebooks and tags Notes live in notebooks, carry tags, and sit alongside to-dos, so a personal knowledge base keeps one consistent structure across devices.[1][2]
Offline-first access everywhere The apps work without a connection on five operating systems plus the terminal, which matters for travel, unreliable networks, and distraction-free capture.[1][2]
Encrypted sync to targets you choose Synchronisation supports Joplin Cloud, Dropbox, OneDrive, Nextcloud, WebDAV, and S3-compatible storage with end-to-end encryption, and Joplin Cloud is optional rather than required.[1][2]
Evernote migration path Evernote ENEX archives import with attachments, images, tags, and metadata preserved, which gives long-time Evernote users a concrete exit route.[1]
Web Clipper for research capture A browser extension for Firefox and Chrome saves pages and screenshots directly into notes, feeding the same notebooks and search as manually written content.[1][2]
Full-text search across everything Search covers note content, which keeps large imported libraries usable instead of turning into an archive you never open.[1]
Plugins, themes, and custom CSS Community plugins extend the apps while custom CSS and extra editor themes adjust the reading and editing experience.[1]
APIs for programmatic access Published Data API and Clipper API references let scripts and integrations read and extend notes rather than trapping them in the interface.[1]
Who will love it
Markdown writers building a personal knowledge base: notes stay in portable Markdown with notebooks and tags, so nothing written depends on a vendor's editor surviving.[1][2]
Evernote refugees with large libraries: ENEX import with attachments and metadata gives years of accumulated notes somewhere concrete to go.[1][2]
Privacy-minded capturers on a budget: the apps are free, work offline, and sync with end-to-end encryption to storage you control or to Joplin Cloud Basic at EUR 2.99 per month.[1][2][3]
Who should avoid it
Teams living in shared live documents: Joplin Cloud Pro adds sharing and collaboration, but the product is built around personal sync, not the simultaneous editing a cloud workspace offers.[1][2]
People wanting a smooth, guided interface: a verified G2 reviewer calls the interface clunky, so anyone choosing software on feel should trial the apps before committing a library.[1]
Buyers needing SSO or enterprise support: no SSO or enterprise support offering appears in the observed official sources, so regulated rollouts would be buying without documented controls.[1][2]
What the reports suggest
Two complete verified G2 reviews of Joplin: one 5-star review from Information Technology and Services (April 2026) and one 4.5-star review from a small-business user (February 2024).
1 cited community source. Only two complete verified G2 reviews were inspected; no Reddit report was inspected within budget, and aggregate star badges on the G2 page were not verified.
Both inspected G2 reviews praise what the official docs promise, flexible sync and notebook organisation, which raises confidence those capabilities hold up in daily use.[1]
The clunky-interface report is a single anecdote beside a 5-star review in the same two-report sample, so treat it as a reason to trial the apps, not a verdict on quality; a wider sample could shift the emphasis.[1]
Alternatives and compatibility
If your deciding requirement is simultaneous live editing in shared workspaces, choose Notion instead and accept the cloud lock-in that comes with it; Joplin keeps notes portable at the cost of some roughness, while cloud workspaces offer smooth simultaneous editing at the cost of holding your notes.[1][2][3]
If you want offline-first open notes with user-controlled sync and typed database views matter less than plain-Markdown portability, Joplin stands against Anytype on portability while Anytype offers the richer block model.[1][2]
How people experience it
Exact excerpt
Can sync all my files to any cloud service that I choose
5-star G2 review of Joplin, posted 7 April 2026; excerpt from the liked section of a complete verified review.
Exact excerpt
I love the organizational structure of the notes
4.5-star G2 review of Joplin, posted 23 February 2024; excerpt from the liked section of a complete verified review.
Questions worth asking
What is the best Joplin alternative for non-technical users?
Notion suits non-technical users who prioritise a guided interface and live collaboration, since its workspace model needs no sync configuration. Joplin remains the better pick when those same users specifically want offline Markdown notes they own, provided someone helps with the one-time sync setup. Anyone comfortable installing an app and picking a sync target will manage it; the difficulty lies in choosing storage, not in daily use.[1][2]
Is Joplin really no-code?
Yes for everyday note-taking: capturing, organising, searching, and syncing notes needs no code. Code only appears at the edges, through custom CSS, community plugins, terminal clients, and the Data and Clipper APIs, all of which are optional. A non-technical user can capture, organise, and sync notes for years without touching any of them.[1][2]
How much does Joplin cost per month?
The Joplin apps are free and sync works without paying. Optional Joplin Cloud Basic costs EUR 2.99 per month or EUR 28.79 per year, and Pro costs EUR 5.99 per month or EUR 57.59 per year, as listed on the official plans page checked 11 October 2026. Annual billing roughly equals ten months for the price of twelve on both plans, and neither plan gates the free apps themselves.[1][2]
Can you self-host Joplin?
Yes. The official homepage states you can self-host note storage or a Joplin server for full control, and the documentation covers synchronisation with Nextcloud, WebDAV, and S3-compatible storage, so Joplin Cloud is optional. No installation guide is provided here; the documentation covers the setup.[1][2]
Sources and editorial review
Source research. Reviewed on October 11, 2026. Written by Sanjib Sah. AI assisted; reviewed by a human editor.
We have not run or tested this product.
Two complete verified G2 reviews of Joplin: one 5-star review from Information Technology and Services (April 2026) and one 4.5-star review from a small-business user (February 2024). Only two complete verified G2 reviews were inspected; no Reddit report was inspected within budget, and aggregate star badges on the G2 page were not verified.
- Joplin - an open source note taking and to-do application
official · Observed October 11, 2026
Official product positioning, platforms, offline use, sync targets, encryption, self-hosting, import/export, and Joplin Cloud sharing.
- Joplin Cloud Plans
official · Observed October 11, 2026
Official managed-host pricing and plan limits, verified 11 October 2026.
- laurent22/joplin on GitHub
official · Observed October 11, 2026
Canonical repository identity, activity signal, feature documentation, ENEX import, APIs, and extension model.
- Joplin Reviews on G2
community · Observed October 11, 2026
Two complete verified user reviews with exact excerpts on sync flexibility, notebook organisation, and interface roughness.