Joplin

Overview

Joplin is a powerful free and open-source note-taking and to-do application that has become the go-to alternative for users migrating away from proprietary services like Evernote, OneNote, and Google Keep. With its commitment to privacy, cross-platform compatibility, and extensive feature set, Joplin has attracted millions of users worldwide who value owning their data.

What distinguishes Joplin from commercial alternatives is its philosophy of data ownership. Your notes are stored in an open format that you can access anytime, synchronized through services you choose, and encrypted end-to-end for complete privacy. Whether you prefer storing notes locally, syncing through Dropbox, or self-hosting with Nextcloud, Joplin adapts to your preferences.

The application supports rich text editing with Markdown formatting, making it equally suitable for quick notes and comprehensive documentation. Combined with features like web clipping, tagging, full-text search, and multimedia support, Joplin provides everything needed for personal knowledge management, research, project planning, and daily organization.

Key Features

Markdown Support

Joplin uses Markdown for note formatting, offering the best of both worlds:

• Rich Text Mode: WYSIWYG editing for users who prefer visual formatting
• Markdown Mode: Direct Markdown editing for power users
• Split View: Edit Markdown while seeing the rendered preview
• Extended Syntax: Support for tables, checkboxes, code blocks, and math equations

Synchronization Options

Sync notes across all your devices using your preferred service:

• Joplin Cloud: Official cloud service with native support
• Dropbox: Popular consumer cloud storage
• OneDrive: Microsoft’s cloud service integration
• Nextcloud: Self-hosted cloud solution
• WebDAV: Any WebDAV-compatible service
• Amazon S3: For advanced self-hosted setups
• Local Filesystem: Sync via mounted drives or other tools

End-to-End Encryption

Protect your notes with robust encryption:

• AES-256 encryption for all synchronized content
• Encryption happens locally before upload
• Only you have the encryption keys
• Cloud providers cannot read your notes
• Optional per-notebook encryption settings

Web Clipper

Save content from the web directly to your notes:

• Browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox
• Clip entire pages or selections
• Preserve formatting and images
• Automatic URL and metadata capture
• Tag clipped content for organization

Organization Features

Keep your notes organized with flexible structures:

• Notebooks: Hierarchical folder structure with unlimited nesting
• Tags: Cross-cutting labels for flexible categorization
• Search: Full-text search across all notes and attachments
• Filters: View notes by date, tag, or custom criteria

Attachments and Media

Enrich notes with various media types:

• Images with inline display and resizing
• Audio recordings with built-in player
• PDF documents and office files
• Any file type as attachments
• Automatic file management and cleanup

To-Do Lists

Manage tasks alongside your notes:

• Create to-do items with checkboxes
• Set due dates and alarms
• View all to-dos in dedicated view
• Integrate tasks within note content

System Requirements

Desktop Applications

• Windows: Windows 10 or later (64-bit)
• macOS: macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or later
• Linux: AppImage, Snap, or native packages
• RAM: 4GB minimum (8GB recommended for large note databases)
• Storage: Depends on note collection size

Mobile Applications

• iOS: iOS 13.0 or later
• Android: Android 6.0 or later

Terminal Application

• Node.js 16 or later
• Any operating system with Node.js support

Installation Guide

Windows Installation

Download the Windows installer from the official Joplin website. Run the installer and follow the prompts. Joplin will be available from your Start menu and optionally start with Windows.

macOS Installation

Download the DMG file and drag Joplin to your Applications folder. Alternatively, install via Homebrew with the command brew install –cask joplin. Launch from Applications or Spotlight.

Linux Installation

Multiple installation options available:

1. AppImage: Download, make executable, and run directly
2. Snap: Install with snap install joplin-desktop
3. Flatpak: Available on Flathub
4. Package Managers: Available in some distribution repositories

Mobile Installation

Install from the Apple App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android). The mobile apps sync seamlessly with desktop versions using your chosen synchronization service.

Command Line Installation

For terminal users, install via npm: npm install -g joplin. The CLI version provides full functionality through text commands.

Getting Started

Initial Setup

When first launching Joplin:

1. The application creates a default notebook
2. Create your first note by clicking the new note button
3. Explore the interface and toolbar options
4. Configure your preferred editor mode (Markdown or Rich Text)

Setting Up Synchronization

To enable sync across devices:

1. Go to Tools ? Options ? Synchronization
2. Select your preferred synchronization target
3. Authenticate with your cloud service
4. Click Synchronize to start the initial sync
5. Install Joplin on other devices and use the same settings

Enabling Encryption

Protect your synchronized notes:

1. Go to Tools ? Options ? Encryption
2. Click Enable encryption
3. Create a strong master password (save this securely)
4. All future syncs will be encrypted
5. Use the same password on all devices

Using the Web Clipper

Save web content to Joplin:

1. Install the browser extension for Chrome or Firefox
2. Configure the extension with your Joplin port (default: 41184)
3. Navigate to any webpage you want to save
4. Click the Joplin extension icon
5. Choose to clip the full page, simplified page, or selection
6. Select the destination notebook and add tags

Advanced Features

Plugin System

Extend Joplin with community plugins:

• Templates: Create notes from reusable templates
• Kanban Boards: Visual task management
• Drawing: Sketch and diagram tools
• Quick Links: Wiki-style note linking
• Math Mode: Enhanced LaTeX equation support
• Export Options: Additional export formats

Note Linking

Create a connected knowledge base:

• Link notes to each other using Markdown links
• Generate note links with right-click context menu
• View backlinks to see which notes reference the current one
• Build a personal wiki or knowledge graph

External Editor Integration

Use your favorite text editor:

• Configure any external editor in settings
• Edit notes in VS Code, Vim, or other editors
• Changes sync back to Joplin automatically

API and Automation

Integrate Joplin with other tools:

• REST API for programmatic access
• Create, read, update, and delete notes via API
• Build custom integrations and workflows
• Automate note creation from other applications

Import and Export

Import Options

Migrate from other applications:

• Evernote: Full ENEX file import with attachments
• Markdown: Import individual files or folders
• HTML: Convert web pages to notes
• Text: Plain text file import

Export Options

Take your notes anywhere:

• JEX: Joplin’s native export format
• Markdown: Export to standard Markdown files
• PDF: Generate PDF documents
• HTML: Web-ready exports
• RAW: Export the underlying database

Comparison with Alternatives

Joplin vs Evernote

• Cost: Joplin is free; Evernote has limited free tier
• Privacy: Joplin offers E2E encryption; Evernote stores data in cloud
• Data Ownership: Joplin uses open formats; Evernote uses proprietary
• Sync: Joplin offers choice of services; Evernote is cloud-only

Joplin vs Notion

• Offline: Joplin works fully offline; Notion is cloud-first
• Privacy: Joplin can be self-hosted; Notion stores on their servers
• Simplicity: Joplin focuses on notes; Notion is more complex
• Cost: Joplin is free; Notion has paid features

Joplin vs Obsidian

• Cost: Both have free tiers; sync costs differ
• Sync: Joplin includes free sync options; Obsidian charges for sync
• Mobile: Both offer mobile apps with different sync approaches
• Focus: Joplin for general notes; Obsidian for knowledge graphs

Community and Support

Joplin has an active open-source community:

• Forum: Community support and discussions
• GitHub: Issue tracking and development
• Plugins: Growing ecosystem of community plugins
• Documentation: Comprehensive official docs
• Translations: Available in 30+ languages

Conclusion

Joplin stands as the premier open-source note-taking application for users who value privacy, data ownership, and flexibility. Its comprehensive feature set rivals commercial alternatives while respecting your right to control your own information. Whether migrating from Evernote, building a personal knowledge base, or simply organizing daily notes, Joplin provides the tools you need without compromising your privacy or wallet.