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Joplin Logo
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Notes that sync.
No server needed.

Beautiful notes without the setup headaches. Instant sync, native apps, and AI — no server configuration needed.

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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 — no plugins to install and configure
Real-time collaboration — Joplin is personal-only

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
Plain markdown with dated UI — no visual design
AI Features
Built-in AI for writing, summarizing, organizing
Plugin-only — requires API key configuration
Offline Access
Full offline with reliable cloud backup
Offline available — but sync reliability varies by backend
Apple Pencil
Full drawing and annotation support
Not available (no iPad app)
Web Publishing
One-click beautiful web pages
Not available natively
Free Tier
Free plan with sync included
Free + open source (sync requires own server or $3/mo)
Organization
Spaces, folders, collections, tags, powerful search
Notebooks and tags — basic hierarchy
Collaboration
Real-time editing, shared spaces, comments
No collaboration — personal use only

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 documents with covers, images, and beautiful typography — not just plain markdown in a dated UI

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

Built-in tasks with due dates and daily notes — no plugin installation required

API, MCP & Automations

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

Compare the cost

Plan
Craft
Joplin
Starter
Free
Free
Plus Personal
$4.8
Free (self-host) / $3/mo (cloud)
Plus Family and Groups
$9.0 /person
N/A
AI Assistant Feature
Included
In Business plan only
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, use Import to bring in your Markdown files. Formatting and links are preserved.

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.

Yes. Craft supports real-time collaboration, shared spaces, and team folders. Joplin has no collaboration features — it's designed for personal, single-user note-taking only.

Joplin is free and open-source (Joplin Cloud is $2.99-$5.99/mo for sync). Craft has a generous free tier with AI included, and Plus starts at $7.99/month. Craft's price includes reliable sync, native apps, and AI — things Joplin can't match.

Reliable built-in sync, native apps (not Electron), real-time collaboration, web publishing, Apple Pencil support, AI assistant, beautiful document design, and collections. Joplin is a basic markdown editor with optional sync.

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.

Yes. Export your Joplin notes as Markdown files (File → Export All → Markdown). Import them into Craft via the Import feature. Formatting and structure are preserved.

Craft offers rich visual formatting: covers, layouts, callouts, toggles, media, and beautiful typography. Joplin uses plain markdown with a split-pane editor — functional but visually dated.

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 has full native Apple Pencil support for drawing and annotating on iPad. Joplin has no handwriting or drawing capabilities — it's text/markdown only.

Yes. Craft includes an AI assistant in all plans for writing, editing, and summarizing. Joplin has no built-in AI features — only community plugins with varying quality.

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. It offers beautiful typography, rich formatting, distraction-free writing, AI assistance, and one-click publishing. Joplin is a plain markdown editor — fine for tech notes, but not a writing tool.

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.