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QOwnNotes vs Joplin: catalog facts
QOwnNotesJoplin
Free

Free and open source under the GPL.

Free

The applications are free and open source. Joplin Cloud is an optional paid sync service…

macOS, Linux Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Browser extension
  • Notes are plain Markdown files, so nothing is locked in a proprietary format
  • Works with Nextcloud and ownCloud Notes, or any file sync you already use
  • Offline first: all data stays on the device, so notes work without a connection
  • End-to-end encrypted sync through Nextcloud, Dropbox, OneDrive, WebDAV, S3 or Joplin Cloud
  • Many of the better features assume a Nextcloud or ownCloud server
  • The interface is dense and Qt-flavoured rather than native anywhere
  • The editor and interface feel less polished than commercial note apps
  • Setting up sync and encryption takes a few steps the first time
Downloadable app Downloadable app, Browser extension
Open source Open source
License: GPL-2.0 License: AGPL-3.0-or-later
No account needed No account needed
Works offline Works offline

Checked September 21, 2026

Checked September 20, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.