If you’ve been using Evernote, OneNote, or even just sticking sticky notes to your monitor, this week’s Free & Open Source Software spotlight is for you.
Today we’re looking at Joplin—the professional, privacy-first note-taking app that ensures your data belongs to you, not a corporation.
Many popular note-taking apps have recently moved behind expensive paywalls or restricted how many devices you can use for free. Even worse, your notes are often stored in “proprietary” formats, making it difficult to leave if you ever want to switch.
Joplin is a free, open-source application that handles everything from simple to-do lists to complex research projects. It’s designed with an “Offline-First” philosophy, meaning your notes live on your computer or phone, making them incredibly fast and accessible even without an internet connection.
If you are a student, a small business owner, or just someone who wants a reliable place to store passwords (though I recommend a dedicated manager for that!), recipes, or project plans without a monthly bill, Joplin is the gold standard.
Joplin is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. You can download it for free at JoplinApp.org.
If you’re moving from Evernote, Joplin even has a “One-Click Import” tool that brings over all your existing notebooks and attachments automatically.
Explore our full list of recommended tools here: Totten Computers FOSS Guide
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