Last checked October 25, 2026
Joplin vs Standard Notes
Joplin and Standard Notes are free apps you can use instead of Evernote. Joplin has notebooks and a web clipper. Standard Notes is encrypted notes with a published client.
A full score means it matches our checklist. It is not a drop-in replacement. How this works
Instead of Evernote
Last checked October 25, 2026
Joplin is #1 (93). Standard Notes is #2 (64).
Joplin
#1 · Closest
6 of 6 checked features. A full score means it matches our checklist. It is not a drop-in replacement.You only get part of: find words in pictures and PDFs.
Standard Notes
#2
5 of 6 checked features. A full score means it matches our checklist. It is not a drop-in replacement.What you give up: a web clipper. You only get part of: notebooks or folders.
Scroll sideways to see both apps.
| Feature | Joplin#1 · 936 of 6 checked features | Standard Notes#2 · 645 of 6 checked features |
|---|---|---|
| Rich-text notesCounts for 10 | Full | Full |
| Notebooks or foldersCounts for 8 | Full | Partial |
| A web clipperCounts for 6 | Full | Missing |
| Search inside notesCounts for 8 | Full | Full |
| Sync across devicesCounts for 8 | Full | Full |
| Find words in pictures and PDFsCounts for 7 | PartialJoplin docs say OCR reads printed text in pictures and PDFs. It does not read handwriting. | Not checkedNot found in the project's public docs during this check. |
Where they differ
Notebooks or folders
Worth 8 points. Joplin does all of it. Standard Notes does part of it.
A web clipper
Worth 6 points. Joplin does all of it. Standard Notes does none of it.
Find words in pictures and PDFs
Worth 7 points. Joplin does part of it. Joplin docs say OCR reads printed text in pictures and PDFs. It does not read handwriting. Standard Notes was not checked. Not found in the project's public docs during this check.
Both do all of these: rich-text notes, search inside notes, and sync across devices.
Also ranked: Trilium is #3 (64). Logseq is #4 (45). SilverBullet is #5 (45).
Standard Notes (#2) and Trilium (#3) score 64 with the same share of the checklist checked. The order follows that tie.
The facts on file
Joplin
Notes, notebooks, and a web clipper.
- Rules
- Open source. AGPL-3.0-or-later (apps)
- packages/server is under the Joplin Server Personal Use License, not the AGPL that covers the apps.
- Run it yourself
- Setup: medium. Sync can use a filesystem, WebDAV, or Joplin Server. Read the server license before you offer accounts to other people.
- Free plan
- You can run the free version on your own server. You don't pay for each person. We don't list a price for the hosted version. Not checked.
- They host it
- No hosted price on file.
- Where it runs
- Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
Last checked October 25, 2026
Standard Notes
Encrypted notes with a published client.
- Rules
- Open source. AGPL-3.0
- The app repository LICENSE checked out as AGPL. Hosted account limits were not re-copied.
- Run it yourself
- Setup: medium. Plan on Docker or a small virtual machine. A paid hosted plan, if there is one, is separate from the free copy you run yourself.
- Free plan
- You can run the free version on your own server. You don't pay for each person. We don't list a price for the hosted version. Not checked.
- They host it
- No hosted price on file.
- Where it runs
- Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Web
Last checked October 25, 2026
Which one to pick
Joplin
Pick Joplin if you want notebooks and a web clipper marked full. Sync can use a filesystem, WebDAV, or Joplin Server. OCR for printed text in pictures and PDFs is partial. The apps are AGPL-3.0-or-later. The server package has a different license. Setup is medium.
Standard Notes
Pick Standard Notes if you want encrypted notes. Notebooks or folders are partial. A web clipper is missing. The app license on file is AGPL-3.0. Hosted account limits were not re-copied. Setup is medium.