Craft
Joplin
| Feature | Craft | Joplin |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $5/mo | Free / from $2.99/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Best For | apple-users, writers, consultants, students, creative-professionals | privacy-advocates, developers, linux-users, evernote-migrants |
| Founded | 2019 | 2017 |
| Nested Docs | ✓ | ✗ |
| Collaboration | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ai Assistant | ✓ | ✗ |
| Templates | ✓ | ✗ |
| Export | ✓ | ✗ |
| Deep Links | ✓ | ✗ |
| Offline Access | ✓ | ✗ |
| Markdown | ✗ | ✓ |
| Encryption | ✗ | ✓ |
| Sync | ✗ | ✓ |
| Web Clipper | ✗ | ✓ |
| Plugins | ✗ | ✓ |
| Notebooks | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Craft Pros
- Stunning native macOS/iOS design
- Offline-first with seamless sync
- Nested documents for organized hierarchies
- Export to Markdown, PDF, Word, and more
✗ Craft Cons
- Best experience limited to Apple ecosystem
- Web app less capable than native apps
- Fewer integrations than Notion
✓ Joplin Pros
- Free and open-source
- End-to-end encryption
- Self-host option
- Import from Evernote
✗ Joplin Cons
- Less polished UI
- Sync requires setup
- Limited collaboration
The Verdict
Craft is built for apple users and writers, with a focus on nested-docs and collaboration. Joplin targets privacy advocates and developers and leads with markdown and encryption.
Pricing is close: Joplin starts at $2.99/mo versus $5/mo for Craft — not a deciding factor on its own.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
Feature-wise, Craft offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Joplin takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Bottom line: Craft has a slight overall edge — but if free and open-source matters most to you, Joplin may still be the right call.