Get Joplin Free: Download the Open-Source Note App

If you want an open-source alternative to commercial note apps that still syncs between your laptop and phone, Joplin is worth a look. Notes are written in Markdown and organised into notebooks and tags.

Key features

• Notebooks and tags: Organise notes the familiar way, with full-text search.
• To-do lists: Turn any note into a checklist with reminders.
• Sync your way: Sync through Joplin Cloud, Nextcloud, Dropbox, OneDrive or WebDAV.
• End-to-end encryption: Optionally encrypt notes before they leave your device.
• Web Clipper: Save web pages and screenshots from Firefox or Chrome.

Installing Joplin

1. The project’s own download page is on joplinapp.org.
2. Choose your system. The Windows installer is about 369 MB, and a portable Windows version is also offered.
3. Install, then open Tools → Options → Synchronisation if you want to sync with another device.

Coming from Evernote

Joplin can import notes exported from Evernote (ENEX files), which makes switching easier. The desktop and mobile apps are free; Joplin Cloud is an optional paid sync service run by the project.

Turning on end-to-end encryption

Encryption is off until you enable it, and the order matters if you use more than one device. Start on a single device: open the configuration screen, go to the Encryption section, click Enable encryption and choose a master password. Let that device finish syncing. Then sync each of your other devices one by one; they receive the encryption key during sync and ask for the same password. Joplin’s documentation specifically warns against enabling encryption on several devices in parallel. Choose the master password with care: it protects every note, and for security reasons it cannot be recovered if you forget it.