Joplin
Note-taking software
- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
- Affordability
- Market presence
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€2.40 per month
Free Trial unavailable
Free version
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Medium
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- Information technology and software
- Energy and utilities
- Manufacturing
What is Joplin
Joplin is an open-source note-taking and personal knowledge management application that stores notes in Markdown and supports attachments. It targets individuals and teams that want offline-first note capture with optional synchronization across desktop and mobile devices. Joplin supports end-to-end encryption for synced data and offers multiple sync back ends (including self-managed options) as well as a paid cloud service. It also provides extensibility through plugins and theming on desktop.
Offline-first, cross-platform apps
Joplin provides desktop clients for Windows, macOS, and Linux, plus mobile apps for iOS and Android. Notes remain available locally, which supports work in low-connectivity environments. This model suits users who prefer local control rather than relying on a browser-only workspace.
Flexible sync and storage options
Joplin supports synchronization via several back ends, including self-hosted WebDAV-compatible services and other common file sync targets, as well as Joplin Cloud. This reduces dependency on a single vendor-controlled storage system. It also makes it easier to align note storage with existing IT policies and infrastructure.
Security and extensibility features
Joplin includes end-to-end encryption for synchronized notebooks, which helps protect note content in transit and at rest on the sync target. The desktop app supports plugins, enabling workflows such as custom editors, integrations, and UI enhancements. Markdown-based notes and export options help with portability compared with more closed formats.
Limited real-time collaboration
Joplin is primarily designed for individual note management with synchronization, not simultaneous multi-user editing. Team workflows that require real-time co-authoring, commenting, and presence indicators may find the collaboration model less suitable. Sharing features depend on the chosen sync approach and may require additional configuration or a paid service.
Setup complexity for self-managed sync
Using self-hosted or third-party sync targets can require configuring WebDAV endpoints, credentials, and encryption settings across devices. Troubleshooting sync conflicts and attachment handling can be more involved than in fully managed suites. Organizations may need internal documentation and support processes to standardize deployments.
Not a meeting or AI workspace
Joplin focuses on notes and knowledge capture rather than meeting recording, transcription, or automated summaries. Users looking for built-in voice-to-text, call capture, or tightly integrated meeting workflows will need separate tools. This can increase tool sprawl for teams that expect those capabilities in the same product.
Plan & Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key features & notes |
|---|---|---|
| Joplin (app) — Free | Free | Open-source desktop & mobile apps; unlimited local storage; supports third-party sync (Dropbox, OneDrive, Nextcloud, WebDAV, S3); fully functional without Joplin Cloud. |
| Basic (Joplin Cloud) | 2.99€ per month (monthly) / 2.40€ per month (billed annually — 28.69€ per year) | 10 MB per note/attachment; 2 GB total storage; publish notes to internet; sync unlimited devices; collaborate on a notebook; share a notebook; Email to Note; web clipper; try/signup via joplincloud.com. |
| Pro (Joplin Cloud) | 5.99€ per month (monthly) / 4.79€ per month (billed annually — 57.48€ per year) | 200 MB per note/attachment; 30 GB total storage; publish notes; sync unlimited devices; notebook collaboration & sharing; Email to Note; priority support. |
| Teams (Joplin Cloud) | 7.99€ per user/month (monthly) / 6.69€ per user/month (billed annually — 80.28€ per user/year) | 200 MB per note/attachment; 50 GB total storage per user; team features (manage multiple users, consolidated billing, share permissions); minimum 2 users. |
| Joplin Server Business | Custom / Get a quote | Self-hosted Joplin Server for businesses; source code available; includes team features, priority support and self-hosting option; requires contacting sales for pricing. |
Notes: All pricing and feature details taken from Joplin's official plans page (joplinapp.org/plans). Annual prices shown are the site-displayed yearly totals and monthly equivalents.
