Joplin
Polotno
| Feature | Joplin | Polotno |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $2.99/mo | Free / from $20.99/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4 / 5 |
| Best For | privacy-advocates, developers, linux-users, evernote-migrants | developers, saas-builders, budget-designers, quick-design-needs |
| Founded | 2017 | 2021 |
| Markdown | ✓ | ✗ |
| Encryption | ✓ | ✗ |
| Sync | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web Clipper | ✓ | ✗ |
| Plugins | ✓ | ✗ |
| Notebooks | ✓ | ✗ |
| Templates | ✗ | ✓ |
| Ai Image Generation | ✗ | ✓ |
| Background Removal | ✗ | ✓ |
| Sdk Embedding | ✗ | ✓ |
| Text Effects | ✗ | ✓ |
| Export Options | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 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
✓ Polotno Pros
- No account required to start
- SDK for embedding in your own app
- AI background removal and generation
- Clean and fast interface
✗ Polotno Cons
- Smaller template library than Canva
- Limited brand kit features
- Community-driven content
The Verdict
Joplin is built for privacy advocates and developers, with a focus on markdown and encryption. Polotno targets developers and saas builders and leads with templates and ai-image-generation.
On pricing, Joplin is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $2.99/mo compared to $20.99/mo for Polotno. That $18/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.
Both tools are a solid fit for developers — in those cases, the decision often comes down to workflow style and how your team prefers to organize work.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.