Joplin
Tagged Markdown notes with real sync choices and rather less Apple polish.
Technical Profile & Specs
verified 2026-08-14
- Cost
- $0 / forever (Open Source)
- License
- AGPL-3.0+
- Hosting Model
- Local or hosted (your machine or their cloud)
- Platforms
- desktopmobilecliextensionone-click install
- Installation
- Install the native desktop/mobile app; then optionally choose Joplin Cloud, a third-party sync target, or a self-hosted Joplin Server
- Operational Setup
- The app itself installs cleanly, but free multi-device use requires choosing and correctly configuring a sync target; enabling E2EE must start on one device and the master-key password cannot be recovered
- Where Your Data Lives
- Each device keeps a local `database.sqlite` with notes, notebooks, tags, metadata, sync state, and encryption keys plus a `resources/` attachment directory; configured sync targets receive Joplin item records/resources, optionally end-to-end encrypted
- The Catch / Trade-off
- It is more portable and configurable, but its interface and editing experience feel less native and polished on Apple devices than Bear's.
Replaces 2 paid apps
up to $17.98/mo ($216/yr) in subscriptions
Joplin FAQ
Common questions
Is Joplin free and open source?+
Joplin is an open-source tool licensed under AGPL-3.0+ that runs on local or hosted. Tagged Markdown notes with real sync choices and rather less Apple polish.
What paid software does Joplin replace?+
Joplin serves as a free replacement for 2 paid SaaS applications: Bear Pro, Evernote, saving up to $17.98/month ($216/year) in subscription bills.
How do you install and set up Joplin?+
Installation: Install the native desktop/mobile app; then optionally choose Joplin Cloud, a third-party sync target, or a self-hosted Joplin Server. Setup notes: The app itself installs cleanly, but free multi-device use requires choosing and correctly configuring a sync target; enabling E2EE must start on one device and the master-key password cannot be recovered
What is the catch or trade-off with Joplin?+
It is more portable and configurable, but its interface and editing experience feel less native and polished on Apple devices than Bear's.