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Joplin product preview

Joplin

Open-source Markdown notes and to-dos with E2EE sync across desktop and mobile.

Type
Notes & Docsmarkdowne2eetodosmobile
Hosting
Self-hostable
License
AGPL-3.0

Quick verdict

Use when

Best Keep/Evernote-style replacement when you want Markdown notebooks, web clipper, and sync you control.

Skip when

Skip when you need a fully managed SaaS with zero operations work.

Try instead

Joplin vs common alternatives

Stable selection factors from this listing—focus, hosting, license, and access. Confirm live details on each official site.

JoplinThis page

Focus
Open-source Markdown notes and to-dos with E2EE sync across desktop and mobile.
Hosting
Self-hostable
License
AGPL-3.0

Google Keep

Focus
Lightweight note and checklist app with Google account sync.
Hosting
Commercial SaaS
License
Proprietary (typical SaaS)

Evernote

Focus
Note-taking app with sync, search, and web clipper.
Hosting
Commercial SaaS
License
Proprietary (typical SaaS)

Notion

Focus
All-in-one workspace for docs, databases, and wikis.
Hosting
Commercial SaaS
License
Proprietary (typical SaaS)

Inkdrop

Focus
Commercial Markdown notebook aimed at developers.
Hosting
Commercial SaaS
License
Proprietary (typical SaaS)
DimensionJoplinGoogle KeepEvernoteNotionInkdrop
FocusOpen-source Markdown notes and to-dos with E2EE sync across desktop and mobile.Lightweight note and checklist app with Google account sync.Note-taking app with sync, search, and web clipper.All-in-one workspace for docs, databases, and wikis.Commercial Markdown notebook aimed at developers.
HostingSelf-hostableCommercial SaaSCommercial SaaSCommercial SaaSCommercial SaaS
LicenseAGPL-3.0Proprietary (typical SaaS)Proprietary (typical SaaS)Proprietary (typical SaaS)Proprietary (typical SaaS)
AccessWebsite + GitHubkeep.google.comevernote.comwww.notion.sowww.inkdrop.app

What is Joplin?

Joplin is an open-source Notes & Docs project. Open-source Markdown notes and to-dos with E2EE sync across desktop and mobile. OpenElse lists it as an alternative to Google Keep, Evernote, Notion, Inkdrop, with self-hostable deployment and AGPL-3.0 licensing. Confirm live features, hosting options, and terms on the official site and repository.

What Joplin provides

Core signals from this OpenElse listing—verify depth on the official site.

  • Open-source codebase

    Source is published on GitHub at github.com/laurent22/joplin.

  • Self-hostable

    You can run it on your own infrastructure.

  • AGPL-3.0 license

    Distributed under AGPL-3.0. Read the license text before production use.

  • Workflow tags

    OpenElse tags this listing for markdown, e2ee, todos, mobile.

  • SaaS replacement mapping

    Mapped as an open-source option when evaluating replacements for those commercial products.

How to evaluate Joplin

A practical path from this directory page to a decision.

  1. Scan this listing

    Review the one-liner, self-host status, license, and “when to pick it” note for Joplin.

  2. Open the official site

    Visit joplinapp.org for product docs, demos, and current feature scope.

  3. Check the repository

    Use GitHub for release cadence, issues, stars, and deployment docs before you commit.

  4. Compare siblings

    Open other OpenElse tools in the same category or mapped to the same SaaS to see trade-offs.

Who Joplin is for

  • Teams leaving Google Keep / Evernote / Notion / Inkdrop

    Best Keep/Evernote-style replacement when you want Markdown notebooks, web clipper, and sync you control.

  • Operators who want data control

    Joplin is listed as self-hostable on OpenElse.

  • Notes & Docs buyers

    Wikis, knowledge bases, and collaborative docs that replace Notion-style SaaS.

When Joplin is the right pick

Best Keep/Evernote-style replacement when you want Markdown notebooks, web clipper, and sync you control. Skip when you need a fully managed SaaS with zero operations work.

Licensing and platform notes

Facts to verify on the official site before you depend on a workflow.

Self-host status
Self-hostable on this listing. Verify install paths and supported environments in the project docs.
License
AGPL-3.0. Confirm obligations for SaaS, embedding, and redistribution before shipping.
Source of truth
Features and terms are defined on joplinapp.org and the GitHub repository—not on this page.
Affiliation
This route is a curated OpenElse listing at /tools/joplin. It is not the official Joplin product site.

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about this listing—open a question to read more.

Is Joplin open source?

Yes. OpenElse lists Joplin as an open-source project under AGPL-3.0. Review the license file in the repository for exact terms.

Can I self-host Joplin?

Yes. OpenElse marks Joplin as self-hostable. Follow the official docs for install and operations.

What does Joplin replace?

Joplin is mapped on OpenElse as an open-source alternative to Google Keep, Evernote, Notion, Inkdrop. Best Keep/Evernote-style replacement when you want Markdown notebooks, web clipper, and sync you control.

Is this the official Joplin website?

No. This is a OpenElse directory page. The official site is https://joplinapp.org, and the source repository is https://github.com/laurent22/joplin.

Where can I find Joplin source code?

The public repository linked from this listing is https://github.com/laurent22/joplin.