In simple English
Joplin is a free note-taking application that keeps your files private. You can write notes, make to-do lists, and clip web pages from your browser. Your data stays on your device first, so you can read and write even without internet. You can sync your notebooks across your computer and phone using standard storage services like OneDrive or Dropbox. It costs nothing to run on your own devices, though you can pay for their optional cloud sync service.
What it is
Joplin is a cross-platform note-taking and to-do application that stores all notes in Markdown format. It supports end-to-end encryption and lets you synchronise your library across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.
What it is good for
Solo builders who want an open-source alternative to commercial note apps like Evernote or Notion, and who want complete control over where their encrypted notes are stored.
- Runs on all major desktop and mobile operating systems.
- Keeps your data private with end-to-end encryption during sync.
- Imports existing notes and attachments cleanly from Evernote.
- Sync setup requires configuring an external cloud provider or paying for their hosted service.
- Desktop app is built on Electron (a framework that runs desktop apps using a bundled web browser), which uses more memory than native apps.
- Custom licence terms restrict certain commercial redistributions of the software.
Evernote, Apple Notes, OneNote
Nextcloud, Dropbox
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Download the installer directly for your operating system from the official website at https://joplinapp.org.