Joplin
Scrintal
| Feature | Joplin | Scrintal |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $2.99/mo | Free / from $12/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Best For | privacy-advocates, developers, linux-users, evernote-migrants | researchers, visual-thinkers, writers, students |
| Founded | 2017 | 2021 |
| Markdown | ✓ | ✗ |
| Encryption | ✓ | ✗ |
| Sync | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web Clipper | ✓ | ✗ |
| Plugins | ✓ | ✗ |
| Notebooks | ✓ | ✗ |
| Infinite Canvas | ✗ | ✓ |
| Note Cards | ✗ | ✓ |
| Connections | ✗ | ✓ |
| Bi Directional Links | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mind Maps | ✗ | ✓ |
| Collaboration | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 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
✓ Scrintal Pros
- Visual note connections
- Infinite canvas
- Combines notes and mindmaps
- Good for visual thinkers
✗ Scrintal Cons
- Newer platform still maturing
- Limited integrations
- No mobile app yet
The Verdict
Joplin is built for privacy advocates and developers, with a focus on markdown and encryption. Scrintal targets researchers and visual thinkers and leads with infinite-canvas and note-cards.
On pricing, Joplin is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $2.99/mo compared to $12/mo for Scrintal. That $9.01/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.
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.