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UpNote alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave UpNote: free version stops at 50 notes, and no end-to-end encryption. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces UpNote, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Joplin currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Joplin logoJoplinOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +31 of 369.8
2Notesnook logoNotesnookFree plan + paidYesWeb, Windows, macOS +45 of 562.6
3Simplenote logoSimplenoteFreeNoWeb, Windows, macOS +34 of 453.6
  1. Joplin logo

    1. JoplinTop pick

    Best for: Leaving Evernote for an open-source app with encrypted sync

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Self-hosted

    69.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from UpNote

    Free and open source, with notebooks and sync you control.

    Pros

    • Open source with end-to-end encryption
    • Sync with your own storage
    • Imports Evernote exports

    Cons

    • Interface is plainer than commercial apps
    • Collaboration features are basic
    Visit Joplin Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.15100
    Freshness ×0.1553
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Joplin a good UpNote alternative?

    Verified facts

    1 of 3 verified
    Open source
    Yes
    Not checked yetgithub.com(opens source in a new tab)
    End-to-end encryption
    Yes
    Checked Oct 24, 2026joplinapp.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Evernote import
    Yes (ENEX files)
    Not checked yetjoplinapp.org(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Notesnook logo

    2. Notesnook

    Best for: Privacy-conscious users who want an encrypted, Evernote-style notes app

    Free plan + paidOpen sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Self-hosted

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from UpNote

    Similar feel with end-to-end encryption and a free plan with unlimited notes.

    Pros

    • End-to-end encrypted by default
    • Apps and sync server are open source
    • Free plan with unlimited notes and devices
    • Rich editor with attachments

    Cons

    • Limited real-time collaboration
    • Storage and notebooks capped on lower plans
    • Fewer integrations than mainstream apps
    Visit Notesnook Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Notesnook a good UpNote alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free plan
    Unlimited notes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026notesnook.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    14 days on paid plans
    Checked Oct 25, 2026notesnook.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, web
    Checked Oct 25, 2026notesnook.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Open-source server
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026notesnook.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Simplenote logo

    3. Simplenote

    Best for: People who want fast, free plain-text notes on every device

    FreeWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    53.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from UpNote

    Completely free if you only need plain text.

    Pros

    • Completely free, with no paid tier or ads
    • Apps for every major platform plus the web
    • Fast and distraction-free
    • Markdown preview and version history

    Cons

    • No images, attachments or rich text
    • No folders or backlinks, only tags
    • Slow pace of new features
    • No end-to-end encryption
    Visit Simplenote Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.357
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Simplenote a good UpNote alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Price
    Free
    Checked Oct 25, 2026simplenote.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux, web
    Checked Oct 25, 2026simplenote.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Offline mode
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026simplenote.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Owner
    Automattic
    Checked Oct 25, 2026simplenote.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best UpNote alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Joplin logo

Best UpNote alternative for most people

Joplin

Free and open source, with notebooks and sync you control.

Simplenote logo

Best UpNote alternative for a free option

Simplenote

Completely free if you only need plain text.

Evernote logo

Best UpNote alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Evernote

More features such as web clipping and document search, at a higher price.

Notesnook logo

Best UpNote alternative for open source

Notesnook

Similar feel with end-to-end encryption and a free plan with unlimited notes.

Joplin logo

Best UpNote alternative for self-hosting

Joplin

Free and open source, with notebooks and sync you control.

Bear logo

Best UpNote alternative for Mac

Bear

A polished alternative if you only use Apple devices.

Zoho Notebook logo

Best UpNote alternative for Windows

Zoho Notebook

Free card-style notebooks with no note limit.

Joplin logo

Best UpNote alternative for Linux

Joplin

Free and open source, with notebooks and sync you control.

Joplin logo

Best UpNote alternative for iPhone and Android

Joplin

Free and open source, with notebooks and sync you control.

Evernote logo

Best UpNote alternative for working in the browser

Evernote

More features such as web clipping and document search, at a higher price.

UpNote alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to UpNote?

Joplin ranks first right now. Free and open source, with notebooks and sync you control. Evernote and Notesnook follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to UpNote?

Yes. Joplin (open source), Evernote (free plan + paid), Notesnook (free plan + paid) and Bear (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to UpNote?

Yes: Joplin and Notesnook. Joplin and Notesnook can also be self-hosted.

Which UpNote alternatives work on Linux?

Joplin, Notesnook and Simplenote run on Linux.

Why do people switch from UpNote?

The complaints we hear most: free version stops at 50 notes; no end-to-end encryption; no real-time collaboration.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces UpNote, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.