LibreOffice vs Joplin

LibreOffice: what it's good at

LibreOffice is a complete office suite with a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation tool, database and drawing application. It reads and writes Microsoft Office formats, and for the majority of everyday documents it is a straight replacement at zero cost.

• Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw, Base and Math
• Reads and writes .docx, .xlsx and .pptx
• No subscription, no account, no ads
• Actively developed by a non-profit foundation

Joplin: what it's good at

Joplin is an open-source note and to-do application with end-to-end encryption and the freedom to sync through whichever backend you prefer, including Dropbox, OneDrive, Nextcloud or WebDAV. A strong option for anyone leaving a proprietary notes app.

• End-to-end encrypted synchronisation
• Sync via Dropbox, OneDrive, Nextcloud or WebDAV
• Markdown notes with attachments
• Web clipper browser extension

Which should you choose?

Both are free, so the honest answer is that you can install either and decide for yourself — that is the advantage of free software over a paid trial.

Both run on Windows, macOS, Linux. Only Joplin supports Android, iOS. Both are open source, so neither locks you in.

We deliberately do not publish a star rating for either. We have no way to verify a rating that would be honest at scale, and an invented one would be worse than none — so we give you the facts and let you decide.

Frequently asked questions

Is LibreOffice better than Joplin?

Neither is universally better. LibreOffice the leading free office suite — a genuine Microsoft Office alternative, while Joplin open-source encrypted notebook with flexible sync. The right pick depends on your platform and workflow.

Are both really free?

LibreOffice is open source and Joplin is open source. Both can be downloaded without paying.

Can I install both?

Yes. Since neither costs anything, installing both and comparing them on your own files is usually the fastest way to decide.