Joplin
Top pickA free, open-source, Markdown-based note app with end-to-end encrypted sync and native Evernote import.
88
sovereigntyJoplin stores every note as a plain Markdown file (with attachments alongside), so your notes stay readable and portable outside the app itself. It runs on desktop, mobile, and terminal, supports optional end-to-end encryption, and imports Evernote .enex exports natively — notebooks, tags, and attachments included. Sync works over your own Nextcloud/WebDAV/S3/Dropbox, Joplin Cloud (a paid hosted option), or a self-hosted Joplin Server.
OPEN SOURCEAGPL-3.0 (app + CLI); optional Joplin Server sync under a separate personal-use licenseSELF-HOSTLOCAL-FIRST
LicenseAGPL-3.0 (app + CLI); optional Joplin Server sync under a separate personal-use license
PricingCore app is free forever with no note/device caps. Sync is free if you bring your own WebDAV/Nextcloud/S3/Dropbox target, or self-host Joplin Server for personal use at no cost; Joplin Cloud (managed hosted sync) starts around $2.99/month.
Open sourceYes
Self-hostableYes
Local-first dataYes
What it does well
- +Notes stored as plain local Markdown files — genuinely portable, readable by other tools, and easy to back up outside the app
- +Native .enex importer designed specifically for migrating from Evernote, including notebooks, tags, and attachments
- +No note, notebook, or device caps on the free core app — unlike Evernote's tiered limits
- +Choice of sync backend: your own cloud storage, self-hosted Joplin Server, or paid Joplin Cloud
Where it falls short
- −The official self-hosted Joplin Server component is source-available under a Personal-Use-only license, not a plain OSI license — fine for an individual, but read the license before using it commercially
- −OCR and full-text search across scanned/image attachments is far less capable than Evernote's
- −UI is more utilitarian than Evernote's polish; no built-in Web Clipper-style page capture as refined as Evernote's
Joplin as an alternative to
Where Joplin shows up in our comparisons, and how it ranked.
Joplin head-to-head
Straight comparisons against the tools people weigh it against.