Joplin
Notion
| Feature | Joplin | Notion |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $2.99/mo | Free / from $10/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Best For | privacy-advocates, developers, linux-users, evernote-migrants | startups, students, freelancers, small-teams |
| Founded | 2017 | 2016 |
| Markdown | ✓ | ✗ |
| Encryption | ✓ | ✗ |
| Sync | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web Clipper | ✓ | ✗ |
| Plugins | ✓ | ✗ |
| Notebooks | ✓ | ✗ |
| Databases | ✗ | ✓ |
| Kanban | ✗ | ✓ |
| Docs | ✗ | ✓ |
| Wikis | ✗ | ✓ |
| Api | ✗ | ✓ |
| Templates | ✗ | ✓ |
| Ai Assistant | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 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
✓ Notion Pros
- Extremely flexible
- Great free tier
- Powerful databases
- Template marketplace
✗ Notion Cons
- Slow with large pages
- Steep learning curve
- Offline support limited
The Verdict
Joplin is built for privacy advocates and developers, with a focus on markdown and encryption. Notion targets startups and students and leads with databases and kanban.
On pricing, Joplin is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $2.99/mo compared to $10/mo for Notion. That $7.01/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
Notion edges out on user ratings (4.6 vs 4.2). While both are well-regarded, that gap reflects real differences in user satisfaction worth considering.
Feature-wise, Notion 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: Notion has a slight overall edge — but if free and open-source matters most to you, Joplin may still be the right call.
