Joplin Logo
Craft logo

Notes that sync.
No server needed.

Looking for a Joplin alternative? Beautiful notes without the setup headaches. Instant sync, native apps, and AI — no server configuration needed.

Try Craft Free

Which one is right for you?

Craft

Instant sync built-in — no Dropbox/WebDAV/server setup needed
Native apps that launch instantly — not slow Electron wrappers
Beautiful documents with covers, images, and rich formatting
AI assistant included; limits vary by plan — no plugins to install and configure
Live collaborative editing, comments, and shared spaces in one workspace

Joplin

Open-source and self-hosted privacy is non-negotiable
You want full control over where your data is stored
End-to-end encryption with your own keys is essential
You enjoy configuring sync backends and plugins

Joplin users value open-source and privacy, but many are frustrated by the technical setup required for sync, Electron's slow performance, and a UI that hasn't evolved. Craft gives you instant sync, native speed, and beautiful documents without any server configuration.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

See how Craft and Joplin compare across key features

Feature
Craft
Joplin
Performance
Native apps — instant launch, smooth scrolling
Electron-based — slow startup, high memory usage
Sync Setup
Built-in — works immediately, zero configuration
Requires manual setup: Dropbox, WebDAV, OneDrive, or Joplin Cloud
Document Design
Rich covers, typography, tables, and media embeds
Markdown and Rich Text editors, tables, media, and diagrams
AI Features
Included; limits vary by plan
Joplin Cloud AI (beta) and community integrations
Offline Access
Full offline with reliable cloud backup
Offline available — but sync reliability varies by backend
Apple Pencil
Full drawing and annotation support
Built-in mobile drawing with stylus support
Web Publishing
One-click beautiful web pages
Hosted note publishing with Joplin Cloud
Free Tier
Free plan with sync included
Free open-source app; optional paid Cloud and other sync providers
Organization
Spaces, folders, collections, tags, powerful search
Notebooks and tags — basic hierarchy
Collaboration
Real-time editing, shared spaces, comments
Shared notebooks with Joplin Cloud; not live co-editing

Why users switch to Craft

A

Anonymous review

“ I've been using Craft for about 3 years. I've tried almost every software on the market, but I keep coming back to Craft. What brings me back? UI/UX, absolutely the best mobile app for notes, publishing and sharing. Other apps? Mobile apps are so slow and usually not native to the OS.”
App Store Award
App Store Award
Mac App of the Year
Apple Design Awards
Apple Design Awards
Finalist
Webby
Webby
Awarded three times in various categories
German Design Award
German Design Award
Excellent Communications Design Interactive UX

What matters most

Craft gets it right

Quick idea capture

Open and start writing instantly — no Electron loading, no sync configuration, no server setup

Fast, beautiful writing

Rich Craft documents with covers, layouts, and typography alongside images and attachments

Offline access

Full offline with reliable sync built-in — no Dropbox/OneDrive/WebDAV configuration needed

Easy Organization

Spaces, folders, and collections with powerful search — no fighting with folder hierarchies

Task management

Tasks with due dates and daily notes alongside your Craft documents

API, MCP & Automations

Connect with Claude, ChatGPT, Apple Shortcuts, and build custom workflows

Compare the cost

Craft
Joplin
Free plan or trial
Free — 1,500 blocks, 1 GB storage
Free open-source app; optional sync services
Individual
$6.4/month, billed annually
Cloud Basic: €2.99/month or €28.69/year; free third-party sync also supported
Family
$12.0/month, billed annually; up to 6 people
No dedicated family plan
Team
$5/month, billed annually per member; minimum 3 members
Cloud Teams: €7.99/user/month or €80.28/user/year; minimum 2 users
AI Assistant Feature
Included; limits vary by plan
Joplin Cloud AI in beta; community integrations also available

Craft prices reflect your region and available offers. Competitor $ prices are USD unless stated otherwise; billing periods are shown with each price. Taxes, offers and plan limits may differ. Check Joplin pricing

See full pricing

Switch From Joplin To Craft

Export Your Notes

In Joplin, go to File → Export All and choose Markdown format. Your notes are saved as .md files.

Import to Craft

In Craft, import your exported Markdown files and attachments. Review note links, formatting, and metadata after import.

Start Creating

Your notes are in Craft with instant sync. No more server setup — just write, and it works everywhere.

Ready for notes without the setup headaches?

Start for free. No credit card required.

Continue on webDownload on the App Store

Common Questions

For most users, yes. Craft offers reliable sync, native apps, rich formatting, and AI — without the setup complexity. If you specifically need open-source, self-hosted, or E2E encrypted notes, Joplin may still suit you.

Anyone tired of configuring sync backends, managing Electron app updates, or troubleshooting sync conflicts. Craft just works — native apps, instant sync, beautiful documents, no server setup required.

Craft supports live collaborative editing, comments, and shared spaces. Joplin Cloud supports sharing and editing notebooks with other users, including team administration on its Teams plan; this differs from live same-document co-editing.

Joplin is free and open source, with supported third-party sync providers and optional Joplin Cloud. Cloud Basic costs €2.99/month or €28.69/year, and Pro costs €5.99/month or €57.48/year. Craft has a free plan and paid upgrades; see current regional pricing. Craft AI assistant: Included; limits vary by plan. Craft includes reliable sync and native apps alongside its writing features.

Reliable built-in sync and native apps, live collaborative editing, rich document styling, covers, collections, and an integrated writing workspace are Craft strengths. Joplin also supports Rich Text editing, mobile drawings, and Joplin Cloud publishing, shared notebooks, and beta AI.

Yes. Craft works fully offline on all platforms with instant sync when reconnected. Unlike Joplin, you don't need to configure sync backends or worry about conflicts corrupting your data.

Export Joplin notes as Markdown and import the files into Craft. Review attachments, internal links, tags, and notebook organization after import; app-specific metadata may need to be recreated.

Craft offers rich visual formatting with covers, layouts, callouts, toggles, media, and typography. Joplin offers both Markdown and Rich Text editors, with tables, media, math, and diagrams. Choose Craft for a more visual document-design workflow.

Yes. Craft is a native app that launches instantly. Joplin uses Electron which is noticeably slower to load, especially with large notebooks. Craft also syncs faster without the complexity of configuring backends.

Craft offers Spaces, folders, collections, linked documents, and tags. Joplin uses notebooks and tags with a file-system approach. Craft's organization is more intuitive and visual.

Yes. Craft publishes beautiful web pages with one click. Joplin's sharing requires Joplin Cloud and produces basic pages. Craft's published pages look professional without extra work.

Yes. Craft supports Apple Pencil drawings in documents on iPad. Joplin also has built-in drawing on mobile with stylus and touchscreen support; desktop drawing is available through a plugin. The tools and workflow differ.

Craft has a built-in AI assistant: Included; limits vary by plan. Joplin Cloud offers Cloud AI in beta, and Joplin also supports community AI integrations. Compare the current models, access requirements, and features for your workflow.

If you value reliable sync, native performance, beautiful documents, AI, and collaboration — absolutely. The time you save not troubleshooting sync issues alone makes Craft worth the investment.

Craft. It offers a free Education plan, native apps that launch instantly, Apple Pencil support, and AI for writing help. Joplin requires technical setup that most students don't want to deal with.

Craft offers beautiful typography, rich formatting, distraction-free writing, AI assistance, and one-click publishing. Joplin also supports Markdown and Rich Text writing. Craft is a strong choice when visual document design and live collaboration matter.

Craft syncs instantly with zero configuration — sub-second across all devices. Joplin requires setting up Dropbox, OneDrive, WebDAV, or paying for Joplin Cloud. Users frequently report Joplin sync conflicts and data issues.

In Joplin, use File → Export All → Markdown to export your notes. Import the Markdown files into Craft. Your notes are now in Craft with reliable sync — no more server configuration.