Open source notes, encrypted sync
Laurent Cozic (Joplin) · Productivity
Rating
4.1
6.9K · Google Play
Trust
8/9
checks passed · Jul 17, 2026
Platforms
3
Windows, macOS, Linux +2
Chart
#3
Productivity
Independently checked by Altapp where possible; developer-reported data is labeled as such. Last full review: Jul 17, 2026.
Builds are published by the developer with verifiable checksums and fully public source code.
Local-first storage with no telemetry by default and no advertising SDKs.
A mature open source project with a documented, actively patched security history.
Verification reflects the version listed above. Practices may change between releases. How we verify ›
Our verdict: the most trustworthy way to own your notes — open source, checksum-verified builds, optional end-to-end encryption, and zero trackers.
Joplin is an open source note-taking application built around a simple principle: your notes belong to you. Everything is stored locally in an open Markdown-based format, and synchronisation is optional — through Joplin Cloud, Dropbox, OneDrive or your own server — with end-to-end encryption available so that not even the sync provider can read your data. The desktop, mobile and terminal apps are maintained in a single public repository by founder Laurent Cozic and an active community.
The app covers serious ground for a free tool: a rendered Markdown editor, web clipper extensions for Chrome and Firefox, multimedia attachments, plugins and custom themes, and a much-improved OneNote and Evernote import path. Joplin Cloud, the paid companion service hosted in France under GDPR, adds collaboration, note publishing and email-to-note from €2.99 a month — but the core application remains fully functional without spending anything.
Private, local-first knowledge base
Choose Obsidian if
You want local Markdown notes with a bigger plugin ecosystem and graph-based linking
Local-first encrypted everything app
Choose Anytype if
You want local-first, encrypted-by-default workspaces that go beyond plain notes
All-in-one connected workspace
Choose Notion if
You want real-time team collaboration and databases more than data ownership
Yes — the pricing listed at our last review is “Free · Cloud €2.99/mo”.
Altapp's independent Trust Report (last full review Jul 17, 2026) shows 8/9 checks passed, covering source verification, data & permissions, and known risks. Verification reflects the version listed on this page.
Windows 10+ · macOS · Linux · iOS 15.6+ · Android.
Obsidian, Anytype, Notion — each with its own verified Trust Report on Altapp. See the full list ›
Developers: get the Altapp Verified badge ›