Joplin — Open-source markdown notes with end-to-end encryption
What it is
Joplin keeps markdown notes, checklists and web clippings in an open format with end-to-end encryption, syncing via your own Dropbox or OneDrive for free or through Joplin Cloud plans from 2.99 euros a month, plus a self-hosted Server Business. The UI is utilitarian, the rich-text editor is limited, and collaboration is thin.
Editor's review
Long-form introduction by the BetterPicker editors · checked against the official site · Oct 20, 2026
Joplin is the open-source Evernote alternative for people who want their notes in an open format under their own control: markdown notes, checklists and web clippings stored locally, synchronized through your own Dropbox or OneDrive if you want, with end-to-end encryption available. The apps are free on every platform, and the tutorial walkthrough shows the shape - a two-pane markdown editor, notebooks and tags, checklists, note-to-note links, to-do items and a plugin system. When self-managed sync gets old, Joplin Cloud sells it back as a service: plans from about three euros a month for two gigabytes up to a hundred-gigabyte Pro tier, plus a self-hosted Server Business for organizations. The trade is polish: the interface is utilitarian, the rich-text editor is limited compared to markdown, and collaboration arrived late and thin. The company behind it funds development through the Cloud service rather than locking the app, which is why the free tier is complete rather than crippled.
What it does well
Open format, real ownership: notes live as markdown you can export, read and migrate; end-to-end encryption protects synced data; and the Evernote importer makes the migration path real rather than theoretical. The web clipper saves pages as markdown, so research lands in the same store as everything else.
A free core that is complete: desktop and mobile apps, web clippings, notebooks, tags, to-dos, note linking and plugins cost nothing, and syncing through your own Dropbox or OneDrive keeps it that way. For a privacy-focused user, that sentence is the whole pitch.
Cloud plans when you want them: Joplin Cloud Basic at 2.99 euros a month adds publishing, collaboration and a beta AI assistant on 2GB; Pro at 5.99 euros raises storage to 30GB and adds sharing and email-to-note; a self-hosted Server Business serves organizations from 3.33 euros per user. The comparison table on the plans page is unusually honest about what each tier adds.
Who it's for
Privacy-minded note-takers, Evernote refugees who want an exit path, self-hosters who run their own sync, developers who keep runbooks and snippets next to their code, and students who live in markdown anyway.
Where it falls short
The UI is utilitarian: functional rather than delightful, and the rich-text editor is limited next to the markdown pane - the tutorial says so directly, and the mobile apps trail the desktop experience.
Collaboration is thin: real-time co-editing is absent, and sharing arrived through the Cloud plans rather than the free core.
Sync is a decision: free sync means wiring your own cloud storage; the paid Cloud removes the work but adds a subscription to a free app, so weigh the two paths carefully before your library grows large.
Specs at a glance
Facts from the official site · not editorial opinion
| What it is | Open-source markdown note app with checklists, web clippers, tags, to-dos and end-to-end encrypted sync - the self-hosted-friendly Evernote alternative |
|---|---|
| Price | Apps free and open source; Joplin Cloud sync Basic 2.99 EUR/mo (2.40 EUR yearly), Pro 5.99 EUR/mo, Pro 100GB 9.99 EUR/mo, Teams 7.99 EUR/user/mo (min 2 users); 14-day free trial |
| Basic plan | 10MB per note, 2GB storage, publish notes to the internet, sync unlimited devices, web app, notebook collaboration, Joplin Cloud AI (beta) |
| Pro plan | 200MB per note, 30GB storage, plus share notebooks with others, email-to-note and custom publishing banner; Pro 100GB raises storage to 100GB |
| Teams and business | Teams 7.99 EUR/user/mo with 50GB and user management; Joplin Server Business self-hosted from 3.33 EUR per user/mo billed annually |
| Free sync | Sync through your own Dropbox or OneDrive account at no cost, with end-to-end encryption |
| Platform | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android, plus a web clipper for browsers |
Frequently asked questions
▸Is Joplin really free?
Yes - the apps are free and open source on every platform, and you can sync through your own Dropbox or OneDrive at no cost. Joplin Cloud is an optional paid service for managed sync, publishing and collaboration.
▸How much does Joplin Cloud cost?
Basic is 2.99 euros a month (2.40 billed yearly) with 2GB, Pro is 5.99 euros with 30GB, Pro 100GB is 9.99 euros, and Teams is 7.99 euros per user with 50GB. A 14-day free trial applies.
▸Can I self-host Joplin sync?
Yes. Joplin Server Business is the self-hosted solution for organizations, priced from 3.33 euros per user per month billed annually, keeping data on your own infrastructure.
▸Is Joplin good for collaboration?
Lightly: Cloud plans add notebook sharing and collaboration, but real-time co-editing is absent, and the free core is single-user by design.
Video reviews
5 review videos aggregated · praise and criticism included alike · click through to the original video
Channels that covered it
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