1 Free & Open-Source Evernote Alternatives
Evernote's free plan restricts how many devices you can sync to and how much you can upload each month, pushing regular users toward a paid tier. Joplin covers the same note-taking and organization workflow, free with no device limit, and syncs through storage you already control (Dropbox, Nextcloud, or your own server).
The best Evernote alternatives
Joplin
Our top pickOpen sourceSelf-hostedA free, open-source note-taking app with end-to-end encryption.
Joplin covers notes, notebooks, tags, and to-dos with Markdown formatting, syncing through a storage backend you choose yourself rather than a proprietary cloud — genuinely free with no device or upload cap.
- Notebooks, tags, and to-do lists with Markdown support
- End-to-end encrypted sync
- Sync via Dropbox, Nextcloud, WebDAV, or your own server
- Free, open-source, apps for desktop and mobile
Licensing and pricing models change over time — confirm current terms on each project's own site before making a procurement or compliance decision.
Frequently asked questions
Can I import my existing Evernote notes into Joplin?
Yes — Joplin has a built-in Evernote import tool that reads Evernote's export format (.enex), including most formatting and attachments.
Does Joplin sync across all my devices like Evernote?
Yes, though you choose the sync backend yourself (Dropbox, Nextcloud, a WebDAV server, and others) rather than Joplin hosting it for you — a bit more setup, with no artificial device limit once configured.
Is Joplin as good for web-clipping as Evernote?
Joplin has a browser extension for clipping web pages and articles, covering the most common Evernote use case, though Evernote's clipper has more formatting options for complex pages.
More free alternatives
Not sure which way to go?
A free Growth Audit can help you weigh self-hosting against the tool you already pay for.