Joplin
An app that keeps open-source notes you can sync your own way.
What Joplin does
Joplin is a free, open-source app for notes and to-do lists. Notes are written in Markdown and kept on your device, so it works offline. You can sync through Joplin Cloud, Dropbox, OneDrive or Nextcloud, and turn on end-to-end encryption. It runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad and Android.
Joplin is built for people who want notes they control. Notes and to-dos live in notebooks, are written in Markdown, and stay on your device first, so everything works without a connection. You can import notes from Evernote and plain Markdown files, and a web clipper for Chrome and Firefox saves pages and screenshots.
Sync is your choice. Use the free route through Dropbox, OneDrive or Nextcloud, or pay for Joplin Cloud, which adds publishing notes to the web and sharing notebooks with others. End-to-end encryption is available but you have to turn it on.
Because it is open source, your notes are never stuck in one company's format, and there are plugins and themes to change how it looks and works. The tradeoff is polish. Joplin feels more practical than pretty, and setting up your own sync takes a few minutes. If privacy and ownership matter more to you than looks, it's a strong free pick.
Alternatives to Joplin
Who it's for
Skip it if: People who want a polished, design-first notes app. Teams that want shared docs without paying.
Pricing
Free planThe Joplin app is free. If you want Joplin's own sync, Joplin Cloud Basic is €2.99 a month or about €2.40 a month billed yearly, and Pro is €5.99 a month. There is a 14-day trial. You can also sync for free with Dropbox, OneDrive or Nextcloud.
Prices can vary by country. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
What people like
- Free and open source
- Works fully offline
- Choose your own sync service
- End-to-end encryption available
Watch out for
- Looks plain next to newer notes apps
- Encryption is off until you turn it on
- Sharing and publishing need a paid Joplin Cloud plan
Want private notes that work exactly your way? Build your own.
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Questions people ask
Is Joplin free?
Yes. The app is free and open source. You only pay if you want Joplin Cloud for sync, sharing and publishing.
Is Joplin encrypted?
It can be. Joplin supports end-to-end encryption for sync, but you need to switch it on.
Can I sync Joplin without paying?
Yes. You can sync through Dropbox, OneDrive or Nextcloud instead of Joplin Cloud.
Does Joplin work offline?
Yes. Joplin keeps your notes on your device first, so you can read and write without a connection.