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Joplin alternatives

Top Note-taking & Knowledge Bases like Joplin

The most popular alternative to Joplin is Obsidian, which has a free version. Other great alternatives to Joplin are Logseq, Standard Notes, Notesnook, and Notion.

Most alternatives to Joplin are in the Note-taking & Knowledge Bases category, compared here by price, platform and features.

Joplin alternatives
AllFreeOpen source
11 apps

All Joplin alternatives

  1. Obsidian

    4.5(2.8K) · App Store

    Obsidian stores notes as plain Markdown files on your device, links them into a knowledge graph and extends with a large plugin ecosystem.

    17 Obsidian alternatives

    Pros

    • Notes are plain Markdown files stored on your device
    • Large ecosystem of community plugins and themes
    • Graph view and backlinks for connected notes

    Cons

    • Official sync and publishing are paid add-ons
    • Plugin-heavy setups take time to configure and maintain
    • No real-time collaboration on notes
    Cost / License
    FreemiumProprietary
    Categories
    Note-taking & Knowledge Bases
    Platforms
    WindowsMacLinuxiPhoneAndroid
    Features
    End-to-end encryptionMarkdown supportOffline mode
    Visit websiteMore about Obsidian

  2. Logseq

    4.4(264) · App Store

    Logseq is a privacy-first outliner that stores notes locally in Markdown or Org files, with bidirectional links, journals and whiteboards.

    7 Logseq alternatives

    Pros

    • Notes live in local Markdown or Org files that you fully own
    • Bidirectional links, block references and daily journals
    • Free and open source, with a plugin ecosystem

    Cons

    • Outliner-only structure is a poor fit for long-form writing
    • Can slow down with very large graphs
    • Syncing between devices takes extra setup
    Cost / License
    FreeOpen source
    Categories
    Note-taking & Knowledge Bases
    Platforms
    WindowsMacLinuxiPhoneAndroid
    Features
    Markdown supportOffline mode
    Visit websiteMore about Logseq

  3. Standard Notes

    4.7(3.8K) · App Store

    Standard Notes is an open source note-taking app focused on privacy, with end-to-end encryption for every note and file and apps on all major platforms. Notes work offline and sync across devices, and paid plans add rich editors, file storage and longer revision history. The company became part of Proton in 2024, and the sync server can be self-hosted.

    9 Standard Notes alternatives

    Pros

    • End-to-end encryption for every note and file
    • Open source apps on all major platforms
    • The sync server can be self-hosted

    Cons

    • Rich editors, file storage and longer history need a paid plan
    • Collaboration features are minimal compared with mainstream apps
    Cost / License
    FreemiumOpen source
    Categories
    Note-taking & Knowledge Bases
    Platforms
    WebWindowsMacLinuxiPhoneAndroidSelf-hosted
    Features
    Cross-device syncEnd-to-end encryptionMarkdown supportOffline mode
    Visit websiteMore about Standard Notes

  4. Notesnook

    4.7(676) · App Store

    Notesnook is an open source note-taking app that encrypts every note end to end on your device before syncing it. It offers notebooks, tags, rich text with Markdown shortcuts, an app lock, a private vault and a web clipper, on the web, desktop and mobile. A free plan is available, and the sync server can also be self-hosted.

    9 Notesnook alternatives

    Pros

    • Every note is end-to-end encrypted on your device before syncing
    • Open source apps on web, desktop and mobile
    • The sync server can be self-hosted

    Cons

    • Fewer integrations and plugins than mainstream note apps
    • Some features are limited on the free plan
    Cost / License
    FreemiumOpen source
    Categories
    Note-taking & Knowledge Bases
    Platforms
    WebWindowsMacLinuxiPhoneAndroidSelf-hosted
    Features
    Cross-device syncEnd-to-end encryptionMarkdown supportOffline modeWeb clipper
    Visit websiteMore about Notesnook

  5. Notion

    4.8(90.4K) · App Store

    Notion combines notes, documents, databases and project management in a flexible block-based workspace, with an integrated AI assistant.

    17 Notion alternatives

    Pros

    • Docs, wikis and databases combined in one flexible workspace
    • Large template gallery for roadmaps, trackers and wikis
    • Real-time collaboration with comments, mentions and an API

    Cons

    • Databases and relations take time to master
    • Offline access is limited compared with local-first apps
    • Large workspaces can feel slow to load
    Cost / License
    FreemiumProprietary
    Categories
    Note-taking & Knowledge Bases
    Platforms
    WebWindowsMaciPhoneAndroid
    Features
    AI assistantAPI accessMarkdown supportReal-time collaborationTemplates
    Visit websiteMore about Notion

  6. Anytype

    4.5(250) · App Store

    Anytype is a local-first workspace for notes, databases and collaboration, with peer-to-peer sync and end-to-end encryption.

    10 Anytype alternatives

    Pros

    • Local-first data with end-to-end encrypted peer-to-peer sync
    • Objects, types and relations enable flexible, database-like notes
    • Works offline on desktop and mobile alike

    Cons

    • The object and type model takes time to learn
    • No web app, only desktop and mobile clients
    • Fewer integrations and plugins than mainstream workspaces
    Cost / License
    FreemiumSource available
    Categories
    Note-taking & Knowledge Bases
    Platforms
    WindowsMacLinuxiPhoneAndroid
    Features
    End-to-end encryptionOffline modeTemplates
    Visit websiteMore about Anytype

  7. Evernote

    4.9(417.9K) · App Store

    Evernote is a long-standing note-taking app, owned by Bending Spoons since 2023, that stores notes, web clips, PDFs, scans and audio in notebooks with tags and full-text search, including text inside images. Recent versions add tasks, calendar integration and AI features, while the free plan has become very limited compared with the paid tiers.

    12 Evernote alternatives

    Pros

    • Mature web clipper and full-text search, even inside images
    • Stores notes, PDFs, scans and audio in one place
    • Tasks and calendar integration alongside notes

    Cons

    • The free plan is very limited compared with paid tiers
    • Paid plans are expensive compared with many note apps
    • Apps can feel heavier and slower than lighter note tools
    Cost / License
    FreemiumProprietary
    Categories
    Note-taking & Knowledge Bases
    Platforms
    WebWindowsMaciPhoneAndroidBrowser extension
    Features
    AI assistantCross-device syncOCROffline modeTemplatesWeb clipper
    Visit websiteMore about Evernote

  8. UpNote

    4.7(1.1K) · App Store

    UpNote is a note-taking app with a clean editor, notebooks, tags and links between notes, available on the web, Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android. Notes are stored locally for offline use and synced across devices, with a web clipper and Markdown shortcuts. The free version is capped at a small number of notes, and Premium can be bought once or as a subscription.

    11 UpNote alternatives

    Pros

    • Clean editor with notebooks, tags and links between notes
    • Apps on every platform, including Linux and the web
    • Premium is available as a one-time purchase

    Cons

    • The free version is capped at a small number of notes
    • No shared notebooks or real-time collaboration
    Cost / License
    FreemiumProprietary
    Categories
    Note-taking & Knowledge Bases
    Platforms
    WebWindowsMacLinuxiPhoneAndroid
    Features
    Cross-device syncDark modeMarkdown supportOffline modeWeb clipper
    Visit websiteMore about UpNote

  9. Microsoft OneNote

    4.7(1.1M) · App Store

    Microsoft OneNote is a free digital notebook that organizes notes into notebooks, sections and pages, where text, images, drawings and handwriting can be placed anywhere on the page. It syncs through OneDrive, supports shared notebooks for classes and teams, and works closely with Outlook, Teams and the rest of Microsoft 365.

    9 Microsoft OneNote alternatives

    Pros

    • Freeform pages for text, drawings and handwriting anywhere
    • Free, with OneDrive sync on all major platforms
    • Works closely with Outlook, Teams and Microsoft 365

    Cons

    • The freeform layout gets messy and is hard to export
    • Sync can lag or conflict with large notebooks
    • No native app for Linux desktops
    Cost / License
    FreeProprietary
    Categories
    Note-taking & Knowledge Bases
    Platforms
    WebWindowsMaciPhoneAndroidBrowser extension
    Features
    Cross-device syncOCROffline modeReal-time collaborationWeb clipper
    Visit websiteMore about Microsoft OneNote

  10. Simplenote

    4.7(4.3K) · App Store

    Simplenote is a free note app from Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, that sticks to plain text with optional Markdown, tags and quick search. Notes sync instantly across web, desktop and mobile apps, every change is kept in version history, and notes can be shared with collaborators or published as a web page. The apps are open source.

    8 Simplenote alternatives

    Pros

    • Free, ad-free and fast plain-text notes
    • Instant sync across web, desktop and mobile
    • Version history keeps every change to a note

    Cons

    • No images, attachments or rich formatting
    • Organization is limited to tags and search
    Cost / License
    FreeOpen source
    Categories
    Note-taking & Knowledge Bases
    Platforms
    WebWindowsMacLinuxiPhoneAndroid
    Features
    Ad-freeCross-device syncMarkdown supportOffline mode
    Visit websiteMore about Simplenote

  11. AppFlowy

    4.2(33) · App Store

    AppFlowy is an open source workspace for docs, databases and kanban boards that you can self-host, with AI features and offline support.

    7 AppFlowy alternatives

    Pros

    • Open source Notion alternative that you can self-host
    • Docs, databases and kanban boards in one workspace
    • Offline support with apps on desktop and mobile

    Cons

    • Fewer templates and integrations than Notion
    • Some features still feel less polished than in mature rivals
    • Advanced AI features are reserved for paid plans
    Cost / License
    FreemiumOpen source
    Categories
    Note-taking & Knowledge Bases
    Platforms
    WindowsMacLinuxiPhoneAndroidSelf-hosted
    Features
    AI assistantOffline modeReal-time collaborationTemplates
    Visit websiteMore about AppFlowy

Joplin vs its alternatives at a glance

Pricing, platforms and the key features of Joplin, compared with its most popular alternatives.

Joplin vs its alternatives at a glance
AppPricingPlatformsEnd-to-end encryptionMarkdown supportOffline mode
JoplinFreemiumOpen sourceWindows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Android
ObsidianFreemiumWindows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Android
LogseqFreeOpen sourceWindows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Android
Standard NotesFreemiumOpen sourceWeb, Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Android, Self-hosted
NotesnookFreemiumOpen sourceWeb, Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Android, Self-hosted
NotionFreemiumWeb, Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android

Joplin alternatives: frequently asked questions

What is the best alternative to Joplin?

The most popular alternative to Joplin is Obsidian: Private, local-first knowledge base on Markdown files. Other great alternatives are Logseq, Standard Notes, Notesnook, and Notion.

Is there a free alternative to Joplin?

Yes, 11 alternatives are free or have a free plan, including Obsidian, Logseq, Standard Notes, and Notesnook.

Is there an open source alternative to Joplin?

Yes, 5 open source alternatives are listed, including Logseq, Standard Notes, Notesnook, and Simplenote.

Is Joplin free?

Joplin has a free plan, with paid plans that unlock more features.

Compare Joplin with its alternatives

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