Best Joplin alternatives in 2026

Looking for an alternative to Joplin? Whether you've outgrown it, find the pricing steep, or just want to weigh your options, these are the strongest note-taking apps alternatives in 2026 — ranked on pricing, features, and who each one fits best. Joplin itself has a free tier, so we've flagged where each option is cheaper, simpler, or more specialized.

1
Standard Notes
Best for: privacy-conscious users
Encrypted notes app focused on longevity and privacy. A popular note taking alternative to Joplin with a genuinely usable free tier — free – $90/user/yr. Particularly strong for privacy-conscious users.
4.5Free – $90/user/yrVisit
2
Trilium Notes
Best for: developers
If Joplin feels like overkill or over-budget, Trilium Notes is a leaner option with a genuinely usable free tier. Hierarchical open-source notes for building knowledge bases. Pricing: free.
4.4FreeVisit
3
Notesnook
Best for: privacy-conscious users
Notesnook goes head-to-head with Joplin on features with a genuinely usable free tier. Private, end-to-end encrypted note-taking alternative to Evernote. Best suited to privacy-conscious users. Free – $4.99/user/mo.
4.4Free – $4.99/user/moVisit
4
SilverBullet
Best for: developers
A well-rated note taking pick. Hackable, self-hosted markdown notebook for power users. SilverBullet offers a free plan and starts at free, making it a credible Joplin replacement.
4.3FreeVisit
5
Notion
Best for: startups
Connected workspace for notes, docs, and databases. A popular note taking alternative to Joplin with a genuinely usable free tier — free – $10/user/mo. Particularly strong for startups.
4.6Free – $10/user/moVisit
6
Bear
Best for: writers
If Joplin feels like overkill or over-budget, Bear is a leaner option with a genuinely usable free tier. Beautiful Markdown notes for Apple. Pricing: free – $2.99/mo.
4.7Free – $2.99/moVisit
7
Obsidian
Best for: researchers
Obsidian goes head-to-head with Joplin on features with a genuinely usable free tier. Local-first Markdown knowledge base. Best suited to researchers. Free – $4/mo.
4.7Free – $4/moVisit
8
Craft
Best for: apple-users
A well-rated note taking pick. Beautiful documents and notes. Craft offers a free plan and starts at free – $10/mo, making it a credible Joplin replacement.
4.6Free – $10/moVisit

Still considering Joplin itself? Read our Joplin review →

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Joplin alternative?

Standard Notes is our top-rated Joplin alternative for 2026. Encrypted notes app focused on longevity and privacy. Free – $90/user/yr.

Is there a free Joplin alternative?

Yes — Standard Notes, Trilium Notes, Notesnook all offer a free tier you can start on without a credit card.

Why switch from Joplin?

Common reasons are price, a simpler feature set, better fit for a specific use case, or platform support. Each tool above notes where it has an edge over Joplin.