Joplin
Photopea
| Feature | Joplin | Photopea |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $2.99/mo | Free / from $5/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Best For | privacy-advocates, developers, linux-users, evernote-migrants | designers, students, photo-editors, budget-conscious-creatives |
| Founded | 2017 | 2013 |
| Markdown | ✓ | ✗ |
| Encryption | ✓ | ✗ |
| Sync | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web Clipper | ✓ | ✗ |
| Plugins | ✓ | ✗ |
| Notebooks | ✓ | ✗ |
| Photo Editing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Psd Support | ✗ | ✓ |
| Layers | ✗ | ✓ |
| Filters | ✗ | ✓ |
| Batch Processing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Vector Tools | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 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
✓ Photopea Pros
- Free and browser-based
- Opens PSD files perfectly
- No installation needed
- Full editing capabilities
✗ Photopea Cons
- Ads on free version
- Can be slow with large files
- Limited batch processing
The Verdict
Joplin is built for privacy advocates and developers, with a focus on markdown and encryption. Photopea targets designers and students and leads with photo-editing and psd-support.
Pricing is close: Joplin starts at $2.99/mo versus $5/mo for Photopea — 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.
Bottom line: Photopea has a slight overall edge — but if free and open-source matters most to you, Joplin may still be the right call.