🏆 Our Verdict
Joplin is an open-source note-taking and to-do app designed for users who value privacy, flexibility, and robust organizational tools. Its Markdown support, end-to-end encryption, and cross-platform availability make it an excellent choice for individuals seeking control over their data. While it lacks some advanced visual features of its competitors, Joplin stands out for its commitment to user privacy and offline-first functionality.
✅ Pros & ❌ Cons
Pros
- Open-Source and Free: Fully open-source, with no hidden costs for core features.
- Privacy-Focused: Offers end-to-end encryption for secure note-taking.
- Markdown Support: Enables efficient formatting and compatibility with text editors.
- Cross-Platform: Available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.
- Offline-First Design: Works seamlessly without requiring constant internet access.
- Synchronization Options: Supports syncing via cloud services like Dropbox and OneDrive.
Cons
- Steeper Learning Curve: Markdown reliance may intimidate non-technical users.
- Basic User Interface: Minimalistic design lacks the polish of competitors like Obsidian.
- No Real-Time Collaboration: Unlike some competitors, Joplin doesn’t support live collaboration.
- Fewer Plugins: While customizable, the plugin ecosystem is smaller than Obsidian’s.
- Limited Multimedia Support: Less robust for multimedia notes compared to alternatives.
📖 About
Joplin is an open-source note-taking application launched in 2017. It emphasizes privacy, allowing users to encrypt their notes and control their data. With Markdown support and task management capabilities, Joplin caters to both casual users and professionals looking for an efficient organizational tool. Its synchronization capabilities let users keep notes accessible across devices without compromising security.
🗓️ How It Works
1. Download and Install
Joplin is available for free on its official website (https://joplinapp.org/) and app stores.
2. Set Up Synchronization
Choose your preferred cloud service (e.g., Dropbox, OneDrive) or local storage for synchronization.
3. Create Notes
Start capturing ideas in Markdown format for enhanced formatting and organization.
4. Organize Notes
Use tags, notebooks, and search functionality to keep notes structured and accessible.
5. Enable Encryption
Activate end-to-end encryption to secure your notes and tasks.
6. Extend Functionality
Install plugins for features like Kanban boards or advanced search capabilities.
💲 Pricing Overview
Joplin Cloud offers three subscription plans to cater to various user needs: Basic, Pro, and Teams. Below is a detailed breakdown of each plan’s features:
Basic Plan (€2.99/month or €2.40/month billed annually at €28.69/year):
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- Maximum Note or Attachment Size: 10 MB
- Storage Space: 2 GB
- Publish Notes to the Internet: Yes
- Device Synchronization: Unlimited
- Web Clipper: Yes
- Collaborate on a Notebook with Others: Yes
- Share a Notebook with Others: No
- Email to Note: No
- Customize Note Publishing Banner: No
- Manage Multiple Users: No
- Consolidated Billing: No
- Share Permissions: No
- Priority Support: No
Pro Plan (€5.99/month or €4.79/month billed annually at €57.48/year):
- Maximum Note or Attachment Size: 200 MB
- Storage Space: 30 GB
- Publish Notes to the Internet: Yes
- Device Synchronization: Unlimited
- Web Clipper: Yes
- Collaborate on a Notebook with Others: Yes
- Share a Notebook with Others: Yes
- Email to Note: Yes
- Customize Note Publishing Banner: Yes
- Manage Multiple Users: No
- Consolidated Billing: No
- Share Permissions: No
- Priority Support: No
Teams Plan (€7.99/month per user or €6.69/month per user billed annually at €80.28/year per user; minimum of 2 users):
- Maximum Note or Attachment Size: 200 MB
- Storage Space: 50 GB
- Publish Notes to the Internet: Yes
- Device Synchronization: Unlimited
- Web Clipper: Yes
- Collaborate on a Notebook with Others: Yes
- Share a Notebook with Others: Yes
- Email to Note: Yes
- Customize Note Publishing Banner: Yes
- Manage Multiple Users: Yes
- Consolidated Billing: Yes
- Share Permissions: Yes
- Priority Support: Yes
For more information or to subscribe, visit the Joplin Cloud Plans page.
🥊 Competition
| Feature | Joplin | Obsidian |
|---|---|---|
| Open Source | Yes | Partially (core app is free, some features paid) |
| Offline Access | Fully functional offline | Fully functional offline |
| End-to-End Encryption | Yes | No |
| Plugins | Fewer but growing | Extensive plugin ecosystem |
| Collaboration | No | Limited via community plugins |
| User Interface | Minimalistic and functional | Polished and visually appealing |
| Markdown Support | Native Markdown editor | Extensive Markdown with advanced features |
| Cost | Free with optional paid cloud plans | Free with optional paid features ($10/month for Sync & Publish) |
📌 Conclusion
Joplin is an excellent choice for users prioritizing privacy, open-source tools, and cross-platform compatibility. With its Markdown support and offline-first design, it’s ideal for those seeking a secure, no-frills note-taking solution. While it may not have the visual polish or advanced plugins of competitors like Obsidian, its robust core features and encryption make it a standout in its category.
Joplin: Your Secure Partner in Note-Taking and Task Management
Related read: if your daily notes are mostly code snippets and engineering runbooks rather than long-form prose, see Boost Note for the developer-first take on the same offline-first idea.