Is Joplin the perfect OneNote alternative? Here's what you need to know before you decide.

While OneNote has long been a preferred digital note-taking tool, Joplin has emerged as a strong open-source competitor, offering advantages in user control, flexibility and privacy. This compelling alternative offers a unique combination of features to suit a wide range of note-taking styles and preferences. But is it an ideal replacement for Power OneNote users?

In this post, I'll review Joplin's strengths and weaknesses and provide a comprehensive analysis to help you determine whether it's the right OneNote alternative for your needs.

Areas where Joplin really shines over OneNote

Here are some of the key areas where Joplin has a clear advantage over OneNote.

Markdown support

Joplin is quite flexible with the built-in editor. You can either use a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editor with a familiar toolbar at the top, or try Markdown editing to format your notes with simple text symbols and shortcuts, focusing on the content rather than yourself fiddling with menus and buttons.

It can be a huge productivity boost, especially for those who write a lot or prefer a distraction-free writing environment. Additionally, because your notes are saved as plain text files, they are remarkably portable and ready for future use. You can use any other Markdown editor and open your files in no time.

Customization options

Joplin is pretty customizable. Like OneNote, it supports a number of keyboard shortcuts and can also switch between a dark and light theme. Joplin has an extensive plugin store that offers additional options. You can create your own scripts and plugins using the Extensions API or explore third-party scripts to unlock more features and theme options for your Joplin setup.

In the example above, I installed a macOS theme for Joplin to give it a modern look. The company has classified plugins into different groups such as: B. Appearance, productivity, themes, integrations, viewers, search, editor, files and more. Go to the Joplin Plugin Store to find and install them.

End-to-end encryption

Here Joplin has the upper hand over OneNote. It supports end-to-end encryption. This means your notes are encrypted on your device before they are synced to a cloud service. Only you own the decryption key, ensuring that no one else, not even Joplin developers or your cloud storage provider, can access your data.

After all, our digital vaults contain confidential information and must remain confidential and protected from prying eyes. While OneNote also offers encryption, it's not really end-to-end as Microsoft still has the key to decrypt your data.

Cloud storage flexibility

Unlike OneNote, which locks you into OneDrive, Joplin lets you choose from a variety of cloud storage providers. Whether you prefer Dropbox, OneDrive, or self-hosting options like Nextcloud, WebDAV, or AWS S3, you have plenty of options for storing and syncing your notes across devices.

This gives you complete control over where your data is stored and how it is synced. You can choose the provider that best suits your privacy preferences, cost considerations, or existing workflow.

Rich in features

In terms of features, Joplin competes effectively with well-known platforms such as OneNote and Evernote. You can embed images, videos, PDFs and audio files. Additionally, you can generate mathematical equations and charts directly in the app.

Unlike OneNote, Joplin also supports tags to organize your notes effectively. You can even create tasks with reminders to keep track of your daily tasks. I'm surprised that Microsoft still hasn't added reminder support in OneNote.

Major failures from Joplin

I don't want to overly glorify Joplin. It's important to be aware of some limitations before deciding to switch from OneNote.

An outdated user interface

Joplin's interface is strictly average. It gets the job done, but that The UI design is not at the visual level from OneNote and other modern tools. While there is an option to use a third-party theme from the plugin store (like I did), I would prefer a better out-of-box design.

Lack of AI features

You'll be disappointed if you want to use AI features to design, brainstorm ideas, or summarize notes. Microsoft integrates Copilot into OneNote and I would love to see ChatGPT integrated into Joplin.

Does not include drawing tools

The lack of drawing or inking tools can be a problem for many. OneNote has an extensive collection of drawing tools, including different types of pens, highlighters, pencils, and more, with a wide range of color options. It is an essential tool for tablet users. Look elsewhere or stick with your OneNote setup if drawing tools are an essential part of your workflow.

A worthy OneNote contender

Joplin makes a compelling case as a OneNote alternative, especially for users who value Markdown support, customization, flexibility, and strong security in E2EE. However, it is far from perfect. It looks dated, lacks AI features, and lacks drawing tools. If these shortcomings don't put you off, feel free to give it a try – you might end up finding your new favorite note-taking tool.

However, if you are keen to get a note-taking tool with AI features, take a look at our detailed list to discover the best alternative options.