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Joplin
Free · $3/mo Cloud · ranked #13 of 30
★ 4.2 / 5 · 470 user reviews
· App Store, cross-referenced · display-only, not part of the SoftwareScore
62
SoftwareScore · ranked #13
An open-source, encrypted notebook with flexible sync backends, strong on privacy and ownership, plain on collaboration.
Value (price vs features) 9
Ease of use 5
Feature depth 6
Cross-platform & sync 6
Data ownership / privacy 10
Collaboration 2
AI capability 3
Joplin pros and cons
Pros
- Open-source with end-to-end encryption
- Flexible sync backends (Dropbox, S3, Joplin Cloud, and more)
- Free and cross-platform, including Linux
Cons
- Interface is functional rather than polished
- Collaboration is minimal
- Sync and encryption take some setup
Best for Privacy-focused users who want encrypted, portable notes.
Skip it if You want a polished, collaborative experience.
On the SoftwareScore, Joplin is strongest on Data ownership / privacy (10/10) and weakest on Collaboration (2/10). That's what drives its 62/100.
Compare Joplin head-to-head
Joplin vs Obsidian 70
A local-first markdown knowledge base with a huge plugin ecosystem, unmatched on data ownership, lighter on real-time collaboration.
Samsung Notes 62
Samsung's free, S-Pen-optimized note app for Galaxy devices, with handwriting, PDF markup, and tight Galaxy and Windows integration.
Supernotes 62
A fast, card-based notes app with real-time sharing, simple, cross-platform, and collaborative.
Heptabase 62
A visual whiteboard for research and learning, deep for big knowledge bases, and the rare app that pays lifetime affiliate.
RemNote 62
A note-taking and spaced-repetition tool built for students, notes and flashcards in one, with PDF and queries.
Joplin vs Capacities 61
An object-based notes app that treats everything as a typed object, structured and modern, with growing AI features.