Joplin
Open-source note-taking app with Markdown notes, end-to-end encryption, and sync across desktop and mobile.
Liked as an Evernote replacement123 with free sync through your own cloud drive or WebDAV server456, and as a private notebook you can script and self-host.789 The most common complaint is that it feels complicated or over-engineered1011, and one commenter finds its file format less open than Obsidian's.12
Why people recommend it
Evernote replacement · 3
Several commenters left Evernote for Joplin over price and quality and did not look back.
“I finally switched from Evernote to Joplin”
“I migrated to Joplin, stopped paying for my obscenely expensive plan ($$$ per year) and haven't looked back.”
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“I actually use Joplin, which I switched to after deciding I needed to dump Evernote.”
Bring-your-own sync · 3
Sync works free through your own cloud drive, OneDrive, a home network, or a WebDAV server.
“Shout out to Joplin (https://joplinapp.org/), which I use on a daily basis.”
“I finally switched from Evernote to Joplin”
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“- Joplin notes sync webdav server”
Scriptable and private · 3
Users connect it to their own scripts, transcription, and local LLMs while keeping notes private.
“I use Joplin with a small script I wrote.”
“Joplin note-taking app LLM integration for searching, creating, summarizing notes.”
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“transcribes and adds to my Joplin notebook on my laptop”
Self-hosting · 3
Commenters run Joplin sync or hosting on their own servers.
“I will probably move my Joplin and Wallabag hosting there soon, currently paying for both.”
“- Joplin notes sync webdav server”
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“Joplin to journal my vacation (which then synchs to my home network).”
Daily driver · 1
One commenter uses it daily and says it does most of what Obsidian does.
“Shout out to Joplin (https://joplinapp.org/), which I use on a daily basis.”
Caveats and dissent
Complexity · 2
Some find it too complicated, bloated, or over-engineered for simple note-taking.
“I found they are too complicated, bloated, not easy to organize notes”
“I use Joplin to keep notes and already I feel like that is an over-engineered solution”
Organization limits · 1
One former user found notes hard to organize, with no manual sorting and awkward cross-device access.
“I found they are too complicated, bloated, not easy to organize notes”
File format · 1
One commenter switched to Obsidian because its file format is more open than Joplin's.
“its file format is definitely more open than Joplin's.”
Sync merges · 1
One commenter does not think Joplin attempts automatic file merges during sync.
“I don't think any of the popular alternatives like logseq or joplin even attempt to do automatic file merges”
Often compared with
Who recommends it in their own words
Threads where it came up
- Ask HN: What do you run on a $5 VPS that's worth keeping online 24/7? 4 mentions
- An Introduction to Obsidian 2 mentions
- Emacs Turns 50 1 mention
- "Today we're laying off a large part of the Airtable team " 1 mention
- Note-Taking and Personal Knowledge Management 1 mention
- What is Bending Spoons? The little-known AOL and Vimeo owner that's now public 1 mention
Data: joplin.json. Quotes are verbatim; the verdict and theme labels are written by a model from these comments, and every clause links to its sources.
All comments 15
“I sometimes venture out to other apps (like Joplin, Obsidian, Apple Notes, Apple Reminders, etc)”
“I finally switched from Evernote to Joplin”
“Joplin note-taking app LLM integration for searching, creating, summarizing notes.”
“transcribes and adds to my Joplin notebook on my laptop”
“- Joplin notes sync webdav server”
“I will probably move my Joplin and Wallabag hosting there soon, currently paying for both.”
“I found they are too complicated, bloated, not easy to organize notes”
“I migrated to Joplin, stopped paying for my obscenely expensive plan ($$$ per year) and haven't looked back.”
“I use Joplin with a small script I wrote.”
“its file format is definitely more open than Joplin's.”
“I don't think any of the popular alternatives like logseq or joplin even attempt to do automatic file merges”
“Shout out to Joplin (https://joplinapp.org/), which I use on a daily basis.”
“I actually use Joplin, which I switched to after deciding I needed to dump Evernote.”
“Joplin to journal my vacation (which then synchs to my home network).”
“I use Joplin to keep notes and already I feel like that is an over-engineered solution”