Obsidian vs Joplin
Obsidian: Local-first notes in a folder of Markdown files, with optional paid sync and publishing. Joplin: Open source note app with Markdown or rich text editing and end-to-end encrypted sync.
| Obsidian | Joplin | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free for personal use | Free app, optional Joplin Cloud |
| Free option | Free without limits for personal use, no sign-up required | The apps are free; sync works with Dropbox, OneDrive and other services as well as Joplin Cloud |
| License | Proprietary, free for personal use | Open source |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Terminal |
| Notes stored as | Plain Markdown files on your device | Local notes in an open format, synced to a service of your choice |
Choose Obsidian if
- you want your notes to stay as plain Markdown files you control
- you like extending your editor with community plugins
- you work alone or share notes by file rather than by live workspace
Strengths
- Your notes are ordinary Markdown files in a folder, so any other editor can open them
- Large plugin and theme ecosystem
- Backlinks and graph view for linked notes
- End-to-end encrypted sync (AES-256) if you pay for it
Limits
- The app itself is not open source
- Sync and Publish are paid add-ons
- No real-time multi-user editing like a shared workspace tool
Pricing details
- Sync: $4 per user per month billed annually, or $5 billed monthly
- Publish: $8 per site per month billed annually, or $10 billed monthly
- Commercial license: $50 per user per year, optional (the vendor says commercial use does not require it)
- Catalyst: $25 one-time optional license
Choose Joplin if
- you want free, open source notes with encrypted sync
- you want to pick your own sync backend
- you clip web pages often
Strengths
- End-to-end encryption
- Web clipper for Chrome and Firefox
- Plugins and themes, Markdown or Rich Text editor
- Syncs with Dropbox, OneDrive and other services
Limits
- Interface is more utilitarian than Obsidian or Bear
- Notes are stored in the app, not as a folder of files you edit elsewhere
Pricing details
- Joplin Cloud plans are listed on joplinapp.org/plans
Obsidian
Local-first notes in a folder of Markdown files, with optional paid sync and publishing.
Proprietary
- Price: Free for personal use
- Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
- Storage: Plain Markdown files on your device
Joplin
Open source note app with Markdown or rich text editing and end-to-end encrypted sync.
Open source
- Price: Free app, optional Joplin Cloud
- Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Terminal
- Storage: Local notes in an open format, synced to a service of your choice
Details come from each vendor's own website and were checked on 2026-10-18. Confirm current prices on the vendor page.